Alfa Romeo has been the butt of jokes for years. Even—especially—during those years, it hardly sold any cars in the United States. (In 2016, it posted 516 total U.S. sales.) Older Alfas are known for their propensity to rust and for any number of frustrating mechanical hiccups that happen with no apparent consistency or common theme, while electrical and software “issues” have plagued modern examples in recent years. (Then there was that embarrassing day at the track with BMW and Mercedes, which may have been an isolated event but wasn’t great for street cred.)


Noticeable Adaptability By now, the Giulia as a model is not new. It debuted in late 2016 and started production in 2017. But it is worth examining the updated 2018 version, especially the Giulia Ti RWD edition, because it embodies this car’s raison d’etre: to offer a bold, value-conscious, different-looking and -feeling alternative to the German-made sedans that have dominated the segment for decades.





The Giulia gets 24 miles per gallon in the city and 33mpg on the highway. Photographer: Hannah Elliott/Bloomberg

In general, Alfa Romeo has produced a sedan that drives far lighter and more athletically than expected, without feeling overstrung. Photographer: Hannah Elliott/Bloomberg