Alfa Romeo Giulietta Pre Model 1.4 TB MultiAir Lusso 5dr Car Review - January 2012

One of the most distinctive and interesting features for a car of this class is the adjustable driving settings, with the car's performance being adjusted into three settings which are dynamic, normal and all-weather. Most people will simply opt for the normal settings when they are driving in an urban area, because the dynamic is fun to drive, but can be a bit of a handful around town.

The handling is good, although there isn't too much feedback to be had through the wheel it is very accurate. Those looking for a more complete driving experience may want to look at the Veloce version of the car which comes with sports suspension to deliver better handling, and the TCT gearbox in higher specified models can be a good upgrade to consider. The Giulietta offers a top speed of 135mph, and can get from 0-60mph in 7.8 seconds.

The distinctive styling of Alfa Romeo will appeal to some people more than others, and the 'V' shaped grille at the front end has been a distinguishing factor for Alfa drivers over recent generations. Sharing many of its looks with the beautiful MiTo, the Giulietta does not conform with the style of other cars in its class, and offers a lot of space in the attractive package.

The Giulietta comes with a raft of features as standard, with the rear parking sensors and cruise control particularly welcome additions to the package. In terms of the driving position the seats are easy to adjust, but the seats to the rear are not the most spacious when compared with other competitors.

Safety is certainly one of the major selling points for the Giulietta, and the Alfa Romeo designers have been hard at work with this car creating a wonderfully safe car that had some record breaking scores in the Euro NCAP safety tests. The 87% final score given to the car was the best ever awarded to a compact car in these tests, and has received a range of other awards relating to these features too.

The vehicle comes with a three year warranty, and also has the added reassurance of three years AA roadside breakdown cover, which should help to ease any worries about the reliability of Alfa Romeo cars. Although the space in the back seats may not be the best available, the folding seats and good boot space means that the Giulietta is a practical car and ticks many of the boxes that people will be looking for.

The Giulietta does not suffer the same problem as many other Alfa Romeo's that have preceded it, because it is competitively priced in terms of the competition, and doesn't carry the premium that it has done historically. Although the car is listed at £20,505, there is a lot of competition in the market on price at the present moment. It is also worth noting that the Giulietta has a slightly higher insurance group than some of the cars in the competition.

In terms of the running costs of the vehicle, the combined mpg of 48 is reasonably good when compared with other cars in its class, but this would be reduced significantly for those who use the dynamic driving settings regularly. The performance in urban areas is significantly reduced, but this is to be expected and is typical when compared with the other vehicles in its class.