Alfa Romeo Giulietta Cloverleaf/QV review

Now Alfa is down to selling just three car ranges in the UK, there’s a lot riding on the success of the Giulietta. It has sensibly broadened the appeal of mainstream models but, as a sporting brand, there’s a considerable burden of expectation on any performance range-topper: the bar for the Cloverleaf is automatically set high by real motoring enthusiasts.

The hot hatch sector is a pretty unfriendly place anyway, with the mind-boggling talents of the Golf GTI, the superb handling of the Renaultsport Megane and the surprise all-round abilities of the latest Ford Focus ST. And there’s the catch: pretty and individual the Giulietta Cloverleaf may be, it still can’t unsettle the big boys.