The Top Gear car review:Alfa Romeo Giulietta

£19,700 – £29,635

Alfa Romeo Guilietta white front quarter

Full screen

1/5

6/10

Overall verdict

A beautiful, entertaining and fundamentally different hatch.

For:

Great looks, a sharp driver and some interesting engines

Against:

Not as solid as the German rivals, only available as a five-door

Overview

What is it?

A hugely important play for Alfa Romeo in Europe, the Giulietta is tasked with bringing the Italian firm into the top flight, up against the all-conquering VW Golf. Despite best intentions, and Alfa’s glittering heritage, it’s failed in this challenge to date – so Alfa’s having another go with a facelifted version. Which, sensibly, leaves the face well alone: a car as pretty as this needs no surgery. The improvements come inside, under the bonnet and on the road. Is it all enough?

Title	0–62	CO2	MPG	BHP	Price
The fastest 1.75 TBi 240 Veloce 5dr TCT	6.0s	157g/km	41.5	240	£29,635
The cheapest 1.4 TB 5dr	9.4s	144g/km	45.6	120	£19,700
The greenest 1.6 JTDM-2 120 5dr	10.0s	99g/km	74.3	120	£20,805