2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia

History/Overview

The Alfa Romeo Giulia has been gracing Canadian roads for five years now. This model, which competes in the entry-level luxury compact segment, remains relatively unknown to the general public, but it's just waiting to be discovered.

What's New for 2021

For 2021, the model returns unchanged, as it benefited from minor aesthetic changes in mid-2020, particularly in the cabin. What caught attention were the improvements made to the multimedia system. Let's just say it was badly needed. The screen interface (which went from 6.5 to 8.8 inches) is now touch-enabled. In short, these 2020 updates, introduced late in the year, are of course carried over to 2021.

Available Versions

The lineup has been simplified this year with four variants in the catalogue: Sprint, Ti, Ti Sport and Quadrifoglio models. The first three come with all-wheel drive, while the last is a sports car that doesn't mind wagging its tail. There are also different engines between the first three models and the last one. Right off the bat, there's a turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine offering 280 horsepower and 306 lb-ft of torque. With the unleashed Quadrifoglio version, you get a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 that pumps out a whopping 505 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. In all cases, an eight-speed automatic transmission manages the power.

Standard Equipment

Note that at the time of writing, some information was still to be confirmed regarding the 2021 editions.

With the Sprint model, equipment includes leather upholstery, heated front seats with 10-way power adjustment (4-way lumbar) and memory function for the driver, an 8.8-inch screen for the multimedia system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto apps, satellite radio, keyless entry, push-button start, 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, as well as a host of safety features including forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.

Moving up to the Ti model, you add 18-inch wheels, a Harman/Kardon audio system, wireless charging for cell phones, heated rear seats, higher-quality leather, 12-way power adjustment for the front seats, wood trim inside, as well as a sunroof.

As for the Ti Sport variant, the model benefits for the first time from a mechanical limited-slip rear differential, black exhaust tips, a two-section panoramic sunroof, as well as 3D navigation. The model offers 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, a sportier-styled front end, a rear diffuser, black window surrounds, sport seats with 14-way power adjustment for the driver (12-way for the passenger), aluminum paddle shifters, as well as aluminum trim inside.

Finally, with the Quadrifoglio model, nothing is missing. The wheel size is 19 inches, but six-piston Brembo brakes handle the stopping. A carbon package (hood, roof, spoiler, and front diffuser, among others) is standard, as is a cabin that makes use of Alcantara and suede.

Main Options

With the base version, it's possible to add blind spot alert and parking sensors to the model. For the Ti version, the 14-speaker audio system becomes available, as well as other safety features like traffic jam assist. In the case of the Ti Sport trim, the carbon fibre package appears in the catalogue. Finally, for the Quadrifoglio, a Brembo ceramic brake system is offered, as are carbon fibre racing seats.

Drive modes, adaptive suspension and a rear torque vectoring differential are also on the list of amenities for this variant. A second carbon package is also offered (mirror caps, logos, steering wheel and grille, among others).

Fuel Economy

Official figures for 2021 have not yet been published for this model, but since there have been no changes under the hood, we expect the same ratings as for 2020. Those showed an average of 10.5 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 7.7 litres on the highway. With the Quadrifoglio version, the ratings jump to 13.5 and 9.3 litres per 100 kilometres for city/highway driving.

Competition

Competition is very strong in the entry-level luxury compact segment. You only have to mention the names BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class to understand. Then, in 2021, models like the Lexus IS and the Acura TLX arrive redesigned, which doesn't make life any easier for the Giulia.