Before I drove this Giulietta I looked into the time we first got to drive this. That was in april of 2010. To be exact: the sixteenth week of 2010.
That's exactly 6 years ago. Normallly, after six years you'd expect you'd have a completely new model,
but no. This Giulietta just received some minor changes. The update came just before the release of the new Giulia, which we'll be driving in a month.
Something we're really looking forward to do.
At the same time, we're going to find out if the Giulietta still comes along with it's recent changes
The most important part of the update is present underneath the hood.
A 1.6-litre diesel engine with 120 hp which is now available with a TCT-transmission. An automatic gearbox with a double clutch, but I'll get back to that.
There have been some changes to the exterior as well, best seen on the Veloce. Luckily, that's just the car we're driving right now.
A little red edge in the grille, which is nicely finished in black. The headlights have also been darkened and the car has got beautiful 18" inch wheels
with hard and sporty tyres. It sure does look good, still.
Yes, because this car has been designed in the previous decade. Speaking of which, you can see the designers enjoyed making this. Especially in the interior.
It's covered in that typical Alfa-flavour. It's dark and cozy. The materials might not be the most modern in it's kind,
there are competitors who have used better materials, but still, this car really has that Alfa-taste.
Also, the multimediasystem UConnect has been changed. It started on top of the dash, but that has been replaced with a storage compartment.
Instead, the system is now present in a more central place on the dashboard. Well within reach, and, it now has a touchscreen.
That's something modern competitors use as well, so on that part it does come along. It's also pretty quick. The only flaw is the size, it only goes up to 6,5".
In other cars, the screens go up to 8,5". We can forgive the Giulietta though.
Right, the 1.6 diesel. 120 horsepower. Previously, the TCT-gearbox was only available with a 2,0-litre JTD engine,
then you'd immediately have the strongest diesel available with 170 horsepower. But now, with 120 horsepower, it still comes along pretty well.
The CO2-emission is very low, only 99 G/km. That means 21% taxes. Very good and very up to date.
The gearbox absolutely matches the personality of the engine in my opinion. If the DNA-button stays in Natural-mode, the engine stays between 1500 and 2500 RPM
which will get you off the line pretty quick if you decide to accelerate.
The car is pretty quick by itself, 0-100 is done in 10,2 seconds, which is decent. You could change the DNA-settings to "Dynamic" but you won't really gain anything.
It'll rev to 3000 RPM's but you'll notice the engine doesn't really care.
Now, where does the car show it's age?
The steering wheel for example, it still has buttons the FIAT Group has been using for years now. Also, you still have to operate the cruise control with this stick, and not with a button.
That's something more modern cars have done better. It isn't the most ergonomical, and that does show it's true age.
What I do like however, is how dynamic the car still is. The steering is very direct. The car responds at the slightest turn of the wheel.
It feels great on the roads, it turns well, and the nose turns in very quickly. What I did notice however, is that these flat Dunlop Sportmax-tyres translate bumps very well.
It isn't the most raffined suspension available to be honest. You can hear a lot of rolling sounds, but the Giulietta does have a personality.
And personality is something I find very important when it comes to Alfa's. Because of that personality, it still is the Alfa it was when it was launched in 2010.
So yeah, is the Alfa Giulietta a car for 2016? Absolutely. When it comes to the price, it comes along with it's competitors pretty well.
If you want the 1.6 JTD-version with the TCT-gearbox, you can get one for just under 30k. Only 21% taxes. Not bad, not bad at all!