Inside the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia: Beautiful Power

How do you say “You’ve been warned” in Italian? Or maybe that should be in German, since many of the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia’s competitors originate from Deutschland. Either way, the newest Giulia is just as potent as last year’s model, if not more. With plenty of fine features and compelling power, you’d be silly not to check out what the Giula has to offer.

We’ve got all the basic information you need to know when it comes to the 2021 Giulia. From the carbon fiber driveshaft to the Ferrari-inspired engine housed beneath the Quadrifoglio model’s hood, this luxury sedan should give you pause.

Performance Specifications

Alfa Romeo equips 2021 Giulia models with a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It’s capable of 280 horsepower and 306 lb-ft of torque. This engine can be purchased in either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive format. It’s mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

If you’re looking for a bit more pep, consider the Ferrari-derived Quadrifoglio engine. This upgrade features a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 capable of 505 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. This luxury sedan isn’t all about the looks. It has enough force under the hood to back up any challenge.

Available Colors

You can expect the following colors choices on your 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia.

• Alfa Black
• Vulcano Black Metallic
• Alfa White
• Alfa Rosso
• Stromboli Gray Metallic
• Silverstone Gray Metallic
• Montecarlo Blue Metallic
• Anodized Blue Metallic
• Misano Blue Metallic
• Verde Visconti Metallic
• Lunare White Metallic

Trimlines and Pricing

Sprint

Starting at $39,450, the base 2021 Giulia might be more affordable than you first thought. Standard features include an 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, leather seating, 17-inch wheels, and power front seats. Remote start, keyless entry, and push button start make driving this Giulia a pleasure. Driving modes include dynamic, natural, and advanced efficiency, otherwise known as “DNA.”

Ti

Choose this model for the dual panoramic sunroof, navigation, 18-inch wheels, leather heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. There are plenty of packages available on this trim as well, including the Lusso and Premium Package, which add additional safety features, stereo upgrades, or as 12-way adjustable driver seat with lumbar support. The Giulia Ti model starts at $42,700.

Ti Sport

A Carbon Fiber Package sets off the best of this trim, which includes features like a limited-slip rear differential, dark exhaust tips, 19-inch wheels, sport seating, a sport steering wheel with paddle shifters, and aluminum pedals. Carbon fiber interior trim, rocker panels, mirror caps, and side skirts may shed weight, but they also add plenty of flair to this already-stylish sedan. This performance focused model starts at $45,900, but still only has the base engine.

Quadrifoglio

With a price tag of $74,750, the Quadrifoglio won’t be parked in every driveway on your block. Chances are that owners won’t even be leaving this model sitting for long, with 505 horses beneath the hood begging to roam free. Top-tier features also include 19-inch wheels that house six-piston Brembo brakes, a carbon fiber hood, roof, rocker panels, spoiler, driveshaft and front splitter, and Alcantara seat trimmings. The 2021 Giulia Quadrifoglio holds nothing back.

Safety

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet rated the 2021 Giulia. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) did award the model a “Good” rating in all categories.

Alfa Romeo equips the 2021 Giulia with a slew of standard safety features. These include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Beyond the standard equipment, you can also choose to add on highway assist with enhanced adaptive cruise, traffic jam assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane keep assist traffic sign recognition, and driver attention alert. If you plan on paying for the Quadrifoglio trim, we recommend purchasing these extra safety features as an insurance policy. Those 500 horses know no bounds.

Fuel Efficiency

The EPA reports the 2021 Giulia achieves 24 city and 33 highway miles per gallon (MPG) when purchased with the base engine and rear-wheel drive configuration. Alternatively, all-wheel drive models dip down to 23 city and 31 highway MPG. If you opt for the Quadrifoglio, you’ll see around 17 city and 25 highway MPG. It’s a significant drop, but who cares when you’re trading it for all that power?

Pros and Cons

A carbon fiber driveshaft gives this luxury sedan a cool factor most others can’t match. After all, how awesome would it be to look underneath the car and see that ultra-light drivetrain spinning as fast as you can mash the pedal to the floor?

Chances are you won’t often be beneath the car, though. So it’s a good thing Alfa Romeo saw fit to put as much attention into the exterior and interior as they did the mechanical components. Edmunds noted the “infotainment system has an easy user interface,” which makes it much easier to enjoy the road ahead. You won’t be fiddling with buttons and menus and removing your attention from where it should be directed.

MotorTrend appreciated the “elegant Italian design,” “tight sport seats,” and “excellent ride/handling balance.” “This Alfa Romeo is a superlative sport sedan,” they gush. Upon first glance, it’s hard to find fault in that sexy Italian design.

However, there are a few things you might find issue with on the 2021 Giulia. For instance, Edmunds pointed out the “rear-seat space is tight for the class” and that “trunk space is adequate but awkward to access.” With only two engine choices, you’re really deciding between paying an affordable prices for a luxury sedan or close to $80,000 for a BMW-slaying racecar that’s more comfortable on a track than daily driving the city streets. There’s not much in between for the Giulia. Even though carbon fiber might be an awesome bragging right, it’s a steep price for replacement if anything goes awry.

Competitors

The 2021 Giulia competes with models such as the Genesis G70, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Tesla Model 3, and the Volvo S90. Interestingly enough, the Volvo S90 can be purchased as a hybrid. The Benz starts out around the same price as the base Giulia, but it may appeal to different audiences with a look that is more refined instead of sporty and aggressive. This can be said for the Genesis G70 as well — although some customers may shy away from a luxury brand still so fresh to the market.

One fresh new addition to the Giulia lineup is the GTA, or the Gran Turismo Allegerita. Only 500 models of this high-performance vehicle will be available. In fact, it hasn’t even been confirmed if any will come to America’s shores. No price has been announced either. “There’s no doubt Alfa Romeo’s German rivals are paying very close attention here,” says CarBuzz. The rest of the public is watching too. Stay tuned to Alfa Romeo’s website for more details.

The Last Word

Style, sportiness, and grace make the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia stiff competition for any other luxury sedan. An aggressive stance, prime interior accoutrements, and enough power beneath the hood to keep up with any German contender put this sedan ahead of the curve — if you can afford it.

Now that you know a bit more about the 2021 Giulia, visit your local Alfa Romeo dealership for a test drive. While you’re there, you might even consider the 2021 Stelvio, which we’ve reviewed as well. Stay tuned for more reviews on the newest models.

Source: Alfa Romeo