Alfa Romeo Giulietta (2010-2020) - Interior, design and technology

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta was facelifted in 2016, refreshed with a tweaked front bumper and a new grille. Different alloy wheels, extra colour choices and a slightly updated interior also helped improve the car’s appeal, and there’s no doubt it’s one of the most stylish hatchbacks on the market.

In fact the Giulietta has very few competitors in the style stakes. Rivals like the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf are far more conservative, and well-finished details like the eye-catching front and rear LED lights, and hidden rear door handles really help the Alfa to stand out.

14

The Giulietta Veloce hot hatch serves as the flagship of the range with its large alloy wheels, leather and alcantara interior and red brake calipers, plus lowered suspension, larger exhaust outlets, sports seats and Veloce badges.

The interior mirrors the Giulietta’s exterior, with a heavy focus placed on style. There’s a good balance between simplicity and head-turning design elements that add extra appeal, meaning the cabin is easy to use day-to-day, but still feels special.

However, the interior isn’t ultimately as pleasing as the exterior. Alfa has addressed some of the old car’s flaws, with sturdier seat bolsters, better quality leather on the steering wheel and anti-scratch paint finishes added, but the Giulietta just isn’t up to VW group levels of quality. The plastics used on the door inserts and lower down on the dash are of a poor quality.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

14

The entry-level car comes with a six-speaker audio set-up with DAB radio, Bluetooth, CD player, voice recognition and smartphone connectivity – all accessed via Alfa’s Uconnect colour touchscreen system. It’s a good-looking screen with a clear menu sysetm that should prove easy to get to grips with. Sat-nav with voice recognition and a larger screen are available as options, although due to the Giulietta's age there's no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity.