Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio 2022 Review

Refreshed, and yet every bit as impressive as before, the 2022 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio landed in Aussie showrooms in mid-2021, sporting a revised interior and new technologies as part of an updated MY21 Giulia line-up.

Increasing in price to $143,500 plus on-road costs from February 2022, the Giulia Quadrifoglio tested here is considered the range-topping variant, unless you include the very expensive and strictly limited $270K-plus GTA and GTAm, which cut weight by a considerable amount and add even more horsepower and an uber-aggressive exterior to match.

Returning back to reality, the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia range opens with the entry-grade Sport, priced from $63,950 before on-road costs and powered by a 147kW/330Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, paired to an eight-speed automatic and driving the rear wheels like the rest of the range.

From there, the slightly faster Giulia Veloce ($71,950 plus ORCs) uses a more powerful version of the same engine, outputting 206kW and 400Nm. Meanwhile, the 375kW Giulia Quadrifoglio, or Q for short, we’re testing here in bright Alfa Red is priced from $139,950 plus ORCs, bringing power from a Ferrari-derived twin-turbo V6 engine.

Changes for MY21 include more driver assistance aids and a larger 8.8-inch infotainment system, along with cabin tweaks and fresh materials that make it feel a little more upmarket than before. 

Riding on 19-inch QV forged alloy wheels wrapped in low-profile Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres, other standard equipment in the Giulia Q includes a quad-outlet Monza exhaust, leather/Alcantara-clad seats, a premium Harman Kardon sound system and dual-zone climate control.

Beyond the surface level stuff, adaptive ‘Alfa Active’ suspension comes fitted to every Q, as does Alfa DNA Pro drive modes and a torque vectoring system.

As with all Alfa Romeo vehicles sold Down Under, the Giulia is backed by a three-year/150,000km warranty, in line with BMW’s warranty period, although the latter’s coverage is unlimited kilometres and trailing Mercedes-Benz and Audi’s five-year offering.

Servicing will set you back $2465 for the first three years, or an eye-watering $5245 over five years.

As with the MY21 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, the updated Giulia range now brings a fairly comprehensive suite of safety and driver assistance features, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, auto high beam, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and driver attention warning.

ANCAP has also awarded the 2022 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio its maximum five-star safety rating, based on a Euro NCAP score, though the rating is from February 2017.

Unlike some of the fiddly tech we encountered on a recent test with the related Stelvio Veloce SUV, our Giulia sedan was all but faultless during our seven-day test.

Admittedly, one error code did pop up during some wet weather driving: a code relating to the ATV (Active Torque Vectoring) system. Although there were no disturbances to the actual driving experience, pulling over, turning off the car and then turning it back on saw the warning light disappear for good.

In better news, the rain-sensing wipers worked really well in this Alfa, as did the rest of its tech.

Reverse camera quality is still sub-par, especially compared to German rivals, while the larger central touch-screen is fiddly until you become familiar with it. Thankfully, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mean connectivity is easily accessed for anyone with a smartphone.

The standard LED headlights light up more than enough road at night, while ambient interior lighting, smart entry with push-button start (via a big red button on the steering wheel), electric seats up front (eight-way for driver, four-way for passenger) and a 7.0-inch driver’s instrument display round out its tech. 

It’s difficult to choose which of the 2022 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio’s attributes is our favourite: its beating twin-turbo heart or outstanding dynamics.

Power delivery from the Giulia Q’s 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol is outrageous, especially considering its 375kW of power and 600Nm of torque is deposited directly to the rear wheels.

Mated exclusively to an eight-speed ZF-sourced automatic transmission and accompanied by a quad-tip exhaust that outputs a deliciously ear-piercing orchestra, the Giulia Q isn’t what you buy to blend in.

It takes all of the Giulia Q’s mechanical components to get power to the ground, and even then, the sports sedan’s rear tyres will break traction whenever you want them to.

Once you’re off, it’s difficult to imagine the Giulia Q ever reaching a dynamic ceiling.

The Ferrari-fettled V6 is always on, and a jerky ride caused by a super responsive (ferocious, even) throttle – particularly in Race mode – is a price most will happily pay for power that’s always at the ready.

The brakes take some warming up before their full force can be felt – potentially a sign of our test car’s previously hard life – and perfectionists won’t like the fact that after a mere few thousand kilometres, the painted Alfa Romeo logo on one of the brake callipers is almost completely burnt off.

Elsewhere, the Giulia Q’s leather-clad steering wheel is plush underhand, finished with lashings of Alcantara at the 9- and 3-o-clock positions, however, buttons on the steering wheel are unduly loud when pressed.

On the other hand, big metal shift paddles give the driver the ability to manually shift gears, with the Alfa doing so with lightning speed and precision.

Topping out at an eye-watering 307km/h – which you’re unlikely to ever see – the Giulia Quadrifoglio is good for a much more achievable (and believable) sprint from zero to 100km/h in just 3.9 seconds.  

You can probably forget about ever trying to hit Alfa’s combined fuel consumption claim of 8.2 litres per 100km.

There isn’t one single adjective in the book that accurately describes what the 2022 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is like to drive. It’s alluring, euphoric, devilishly fast and simply outstanding.

Understandably, its firm suspension is best-suited to smooth tarmac, while the four-door sedan’s exceptionally balanced body makes it the perfect match for long, flowing corners, hairpins, sharp S-bends… heck, it makes a mockery of just about any corner. 

For everyday driving, the flagship Giulia has a slightly softer and more sensitive side, too. But, like the devil dressed in white – or red, in this case – there’s a hellish layer to the Giulia Quadrifoglio that may leave you questioning whether the road rules are in fact there to break.

When it comes to highways or high-speed country roads, the Giulia Quadrifoglio is able to set aside its athleticism in favour of a more sensible side, providing the kind of quiet ride you’d expect of a luxury saloon.

Proving its versatility as an all-rounder, the Q’s plush cabin is complemented by a ride seemingly unfazed by small niggles or bumps in the road, at least in its more compliant Normal drive mode. 

Meanwhile, the Giulia’s boot will carry a generous 480 litres of cargo, but while it’s relatively deep (and comes with a luggage net and tyre inflator kit), the area itself is quite narrow.  

The rear seats, which feature outboard heating, air vents and a pair of USB-C ports for good measure, are best reserved for small-to-average-sized adults, with sufficient head room for most.

That said, taller people may feel cramped by the dark cabin and minimal leg/toe room courtesy of low-slung front seats.

The 2022 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is easily one of the most enjoyable cars I’ve ever driven.

It truly is difficult to fault. Or at least care too much about the few faults you do find.  

The interior, while still not quite on par with its German counterparts, now feels much more upmarket, with higher-quality materials that make pre-facelift versions of the Giulia Quadrifoglio feel underdone.  

With oodles of performance, a family-friendly cabin (when it needs to be) and an incredible driving experience that’ll impress even those that don’t care for fast cars or shiny toys; the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio feels worth every cent of its $140K-plus asking price.

How much does the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio cost?
Price: $143,500 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol
Output: 375kW/600Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 189g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2017)

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