Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce 2020 Review

So here we have the updated Model Year 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia, designed to offer a more compelling proposition to prestige car buyers.

The rear-drive Giulia range has been condensed down to just three variants with this mid-life update – fast (147kW), faster (206kW) and bonkers (375kW). Or, to use the official nomenclature, Sport, Veloce and Quadrifoglio.

Simplifying the menu will make things easier for customers to pick and choose, but with the previous entry-level Alfa Romeo Giulia variant gone, the Sport’s starting price of $63,950 plus on-road costs means it’s now $3050 more expensive to join the Giulia club.

However, equipment levels have been boosted significantly.

Detailed information is provided in our Giulia pricing story, but drawcard features include the fitment of 19-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, ribbed leather sports seats (for your driving pleasure, of course) and a wireless phone charger.

The mid-spec Giulia Veloce on test here is priced from $71,450 plus ORCs, which represents a $1450 price cut and, compared to the Sport, adds adaptive suspension, eight-way power-adjustable front seats, a sports body kit, adaptive Xenon headlights and a limited-slip rear differential.

The range-topping, tyre-scorching, BMW M3-fighting 375kW Quadrifoglio is pegged at $138,950 plus ORCs (shaving $6950 from the price) and is still defined by its Ferrari-tuned V6 engine, bigger brakes, louder exhaust and lots of carbon-fibre bits.

With this latest update, however, Alfa hopes to appeal to a wider spectrum of buyers – not just petrol heads – via more advanced driver assist features, redesigned cabin elements and a larger, more intuitive 8.8-inch touch-screen infotainment system.

The struggling Italian car-maker has responded to customer feedback concerning a lack of interior finesse, with a new gear shifter and steering wheel improving the touchy-feely bits.

Storage areas have improved, even the cup holders have been redesigned, and in overall terms the cabin looks seriously classy and has generally good material quality.

But that said, the plastics around the central controls near the gearstick still feel second-rate, as do the volume and drive mode selector dials.

The Alfa also lacks the digital eye-candy of its German rivals’ LCD instrument panels, but the new 7.0-inch digital screen is effective and the raised analogue dials look great and suit the car’s driver-focused attitude.

Rear seat passengers are fairly well catered for, the Giulia offering decent legroom, twin air vents, a fold-out arm rest with cup holders and two USB ports.

Boot space is 480 litres, which is considerably more than in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (435L), and this expands into the cabin with the 40/20/40-split folding rear seats.

Like all Alfa Romeo vehicles sold in Australia – which will soon be down to just one other, the Stelvio SUV – the Giulia is backed by a three-year/150,000km factory warranty that is on par with BMW and Audi (which have no limits on the kilometres travelled) but off the pace of Mercedes’ five-year/unlimited coverage.

Service intervals are set at 15,000km or every 12 months, capped at $685, $1095 and $685 for the first three visits/years.

The major tech advancements in the 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia include the fitment of adaptive cruise control backed up by traffic sign recognition with intelligent speed control, lane keep assist, traffic jam assist, active blind spot assist and high beam assist.

Basically, the Giulia can almost drive itself on the freeway if the corners aren’t too sharp, and all these assistance systems work well. Activating them is also easy via the steering wheel buttons.

The new infotainment system is also a vast improvement, both in terms of visuals and interface. It’s not as powerful or customisable as systems from Audi and Mercedes-Benz, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mirror the smartphone nicely onto the LCD screen.

Two regular USB ports and a fast-charging USB-C port are also provided, and the standard-fit wireless phone charger is one of the best cradles in the business, keeping your smartphone secure during high-intensity driving and cornering.

However, a 360-degree parking camera, automatic parking function and a head-up display – all items offered by its German rivals – are missing, so while the upgrades that are on-board are appreciated, it still feels as though Alfa Romeo is playing catch-up in the tech stakes.

Alfa Romeo hasn’t altered the Giulia trio’s powertrains for MY20, but in the case of the 206kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol we’re flexing here in the Veloce, it didn’t really need massaging.

Throttle response is excellent, the engine generating generous thrust from low speeds – enough to push bodies gently into seats – as peak torque of 400Nm joins the party at a low 2250rpm.

This hefty and accessible slab of torque motivating the rear wheels makes the sleek Alfa feel muscular and light on its feet. It moves with an approachable aggression that’s surprisingly addictive.

The Italian executive sedan is charming to drive, with virtually no turbo lag; even mundane cruises around town or commuting feel like an occasion.

The eight-speed automatic transmission is relatively benign, working well at high and low intensities, and on the open road the Giulia proves to be a quiet and smooth cruiser as well. To be honest, I kind of wanted a more vocal exhaust note to match its significant pace.

Peak power is generated at 5250rpm, providing a well-rounded 3000rpm power band, which delivers a respectable 0-100km/h acceleration time of 5.8 seconds.

Running on the required high-octane diet of 95 RON premium unleaded petrol, our fuel economy in the Giulia Veloce didn’t match the manufacturer claim of 6.1L/100km, but the 8.1L/100km still ensured a good cruising range from the 58-litre fuel tank.

Like discovering the chocolate cake you just purchased from a pit stop at a small town bakery had salted caramel ganache hidden inside, the 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia’s powertrain is made all the more enjoyable thanks to its exceptionally competent chassis.

It’s a delightfully balanced car to drive that exudes confidence thanks to its 50:50 front/rear weight distribution, and whether you’re on an empty winding coastal road or just meandering through the ’burbs, the Giulia is very satisfying to drive.

The combination of a stiff body shell, an excellent platform underneath (codenamed Giorgio, of course), a sporty suspension calibration (with two-stage adjustable dampers) and direct steering conspire to create a vehicle you won’t want to stop driving.

Grip levels from the 19-inch alloy wheels with staggered Pirelli P Zero tyres (225/40 front, 255/35 rear) are excellent, and the 330mm front and 320mm rear disc brakes deliver plenty of stopping power, allowing the car to dive deep into corners before eagerly turning in.

If you’re looking for an involving prestige sedan, the Giulia does not disappoint. The car’s everyday useability is good too, delivering decent ride comfort over most surfaces and only falling short over sharper cracks and holes in the road.

Convincing Aussie buyers to park a circa-$70,000 Alfa Romeo in their driveway or garage when viable choices from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz carry more prestige – and technology – has made life challenging for the voluptuous Italian-built Alfa Romeo Giulia. And will continue to do so.

The MY2020 mid-life update improves the breed but I’m not sure it’s going to be enough to peel premium executive sedan buyers away from the established German brands.

Perhaps it’s a sign of the times that a car that stokes something primal within, a car that makes you feel alive and has a real emotional attraction – that compels you to drive it even if you have no good reason to do so – is less appealing than one with better resale value.

Alfa Romeo’s reputation – merited or not – will also keep some buyers away.

An Alfa Romeo is purchased with the heart, not the head, but I reckon those who pick the curvy Giulia will have many valid reasons to justify their choice.

How much does the 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce cost?
Price: $71,450 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 206kW/400Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 141g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2016)