2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce Review

What’s the spec?

It’s a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 280bhp and 295lb ft, comparable to hot-hatch power these days. Alfa also claims up to 33.6mpg. An eight-speed automatic is standard, and while the Veloce comes with all-wheel drive in other markets, it’s available only in rear-wheel drive for the UK. As we’ll find out, that’s no bad thing.

What’s the Giulia Veloce like to drive?

It’s every inch the poor man’s Quadrifoglio, with a driving experience quite unlike rival German brands and perhaps most comparable to a Jaguar XE. The steering ratio is incredibly fast and light, but lacks nothing in accuracy, and the suspension has a far more soft and relaxed gait than taut German rivals. Yet it still grips hard and never feels sloppy. This combination allows the Alfa to drive with a deliciously light, nimble and responsive ease as it flows smoothly over even badly scarred surfaces. It’s such a sweetly balanced and rear-biased chassis that some drivers will feel frustrated at being unable to completely disengage traction control – there’s certainly the poise and power here to make the chassis dance.

The four-cylinder engine can’t replicate the Quarifoglio’s V6 quite so faithfully and it does run out of steam at pretty modest revs, but it makes a reasonably purposeful growl and punches with real conviction at low- and medium revs to make the Veloce seem faster than 276bhp suggests – something helped by rapid-fire changes and a low (for a saloon) 1429kg kerbweight.

Any must-have options?

Ideally you’d get both Veloce Ti trim (actually a model in its own right, at £45,995) and the Performance Pack (£1950). The Ti mostly introduces visual cues that join the dots to the Quadrifoglio (and there is worthwhile extra equipment too), but our test car does without and still looks drop-dead gorgeous with its curvaceous body and18-inch alloys.

The Performance Pack, however, is essential. It brings the adaptive suspension that can soften or firm up at the press of a button and helped our test car ride so nicely, plus there’s a limited slip-differential and extravagantly long paddleshift controls for the eight-speed auto.

Like much of the interior, the paddleshifts lend the Giulia a Ferrari feel, something accentuated by the starter button on the steering wheel and a dashboard that swoops down and coils round the air vent on the far passenger side, just like a Ferrari 488 GTB. There’s also a fantastically low-set driving position, and exceptionally desirable ribbed leather seats that hug you firmly but comfortably.

I’m sold. Are there any downsides?

There are. The rear seats are impossibly cramped for a saloon, some of the fit and finish isn’t up to par, and the infotainment is way behind the Germans. If all of this stuff is high up your list, you’ll be better off with the latest BMW 3-series.

In a nutshell

If you’re thinking about a used Alfa Romeo, the Giulia Veloce successfully translates the excitement of the excellent Quadrifoglio to a significantly lower price bracket. The new BMW 330i offers more space, better interior quality and vastly superior infotainment, and is undoubtedly the more complete car, but even it can’t match the Alfa’s sublime driving dynamics or desirable exterior design, great as it is. You’ll know what matters most to you. You can view the whole range of used Alfa Romeo Giulia’s to buy on finance with ChooseMyCar.

Similar car reviews

If you’re still undecided on the Alfa Romeo Guila Velcoe, the Audi S7 offers thumping mid-range performance with excellent handling. The classy BMW 330i which is arguably the best 3-series BMW has produced in years that delivers a fantastic driving experience on a sensible budget. Let’s not forget the humble Ford Focus which has been consistently in the top ten best selling cars in the UK. If you’re looking for something with a larger boot and headroom, the estate version Peugeot 508 SW could be an excellent choice. Finally, if you have a slightly bigger budget available to you and you’re looking for your first EV, the Jaguar i-Pace and its supercar-meets-SUV design will give you an impressive range of 292 miles.