Alfa Romeo Giulietta vs Rivals

...but you can't have the Golf, because it says you're boring and staid. So the Alfa wins. Unless you're a cock - then you have to buy a Audi A3.

By gherkins123 on 8 July, 2010, 7:48am

Give me the Focus every time

With its superb chassis and capacious interior, as well as most dealers' willingness to haggle, the Ford is a tough overall package to beat.
I'm unconvinced by the Alfa's looks. Sadly, the Competitzione-aping front looks wrong on the MiTo and looks worse here. The Brera and 157 are beautiful Alfas, and even the GT has a certain bluff appeal but the new small-car design language lacks the flowing lines of its larger siblings.

By snappyuk on 8 July, 2010, 8:31am

Well for me the Alfa wins everytime.

I have owned Fords and others makes, but Alfa has the edge on spirit and overall driving experience.

When you get behind the wheel of a Alfa Romeo you instantly know you are in something special. And that for me as a driver is that extra ingredient I look for, that seperates Alfa from a Ford or a Volkswagen.

Alfa Romeo have and will always design and build beautiful cars
and I have nothing but repect for their considerable contribution to the world of motoring.

moosetoronto

By moosetoronto on 8 July, 2010, 9:45am

Well for me the Alfa wins everytime.

I have owned Fords and others makes, but Alfa has the edge on spirit and overall driving experience.

When you get behind the wheel of a Alfa Romeo you instantly know you are in something special. And that for me as a driver is that extra ingredient I look for, that seperates Alfa from a Ford or a Volkswagen.

Alfa Romeo have and will always design and build beautiful cars
and I have nothing but repect for their considerable contribution to the world of motoring.

moosetoronto

By moosetoronto on 8 July, 2010, 9:54am

If it's your own money...

Yes, there's alwaysbeen an emotional pull with Alfa's and it seems they are getting their mojo back somewhat. But if it was my money I was spending, it would have to be the Golf. Say what you like but they are great to drive, reliable, well built and suffer from the lowest depreciation in their class - so as an ownership prospect they are very hard to beat. It's early days yet for this new Alfa and I wish it well and if your employer is picking up the tab, then it would be tempting.

By thorntonjames on 8 July, 2010, 11:23am

Wrong comparison

Surely, the natural competitor to compare the Giulietta with was the SEAT Leon? SEAT are often regarded as the Spanish version of Alfa - similar spirit, inidvidual and (arguably) stunning designs, and that latin flair that is missing from the VW Golf and Astra - and virtuallty everything else.

As an ex Alfa owner, it would take little to persuade me to go back to the marque, as I have retained a love for them ever since I parted company with my last Alfa. This Giulietta could well be the car to persuade me back to the Alfa dealers, to look at the very least. The only thing is - I love my SEAT Leon FR every more than I did my Alfa's and its going to take one hell of a car to get me away from SEAT. Only time will tell if it is the Giulietta. One thing is for certain - it isn't the Golf (Boring style) or Astra (Depreciation) and certainly not the Focus, which is boring again and even worse in its forthcoming re-style.

By Debbie312 on 8 July, 2010, 11:35am

Not Convinceda

I'm not convinced about the styling of this car ether to be honest. That said, as is so often the case, it's possible that the photos may not be showing the car up in its true light, namely, they're not doing it justice. It's very difficult to portray the looks and even colours of something like a car without doing it a certain disservice so maybe the Alfa looks better in the flesh than in these pictures. Since I only have the pics to go on, it isn't doing a lot for me, especially when I think of Alfas that have been and gone, like the Alfasud for example.

I'd need a hell of a lot more convincing to stop me from buying the two alternatives offered here.

By nick7 on 8 July, 2010, 12:03pm

Giulietta simpatico

I like this car, the grille is so distinctive. To beat the Golf would be a tough ask. I own a focus but these two cars are at the top of my list for a replacement.

By midolan on 8 July, 2010, 12:29pm

Giulietta simpatico

I like this car, the grille is so distinctive. To beat the Golf would be a tough ask. I own a focus but these two cars are at the top of my list for a replacement.

By midolan on 8 July, 2010, 12:33pm

personally I think the Alfa looks bug eyed and frankly ugly. Give me a Mazda 3 anytime!

By frenchpress2 on 8 July, 2010, 5:35pm

No to Giulietta

Having owned two Alfas, most recently a 159, I am very disappointed in the looks of the Giulietta. The front is just ugly. It just doesn't say anything to me and the distinctive interiors that Alfa have allegedly been famous for, have been watered down into a BMW clone in this model.
Top that off with premium prices and the sparse and still-flaky dealer network and I would say its appeal is limited.
Rightly or wrongly, the Golf and Focus rule this class and will continue to do so at this rate.

By ukmike2000 on 9 July, 2010, 12:05am

Depp

Astra here - winn. Focus is better than all of these, of course, we must wait a newcomer. Alfa is unquality car and that car is only, only for Alfa - lovers. Golf is best quality, but bore. Astra have best design and much car for money. Focus is tehnical and drive setuped best, like every european Ford. Fun to drive. But, you in England have your specificaly taste. Sorry because gramatical unprecision writing.

By Depp1 on 9 July, 2010, 10:29am

lets hope its better built than a fiat

i hope this alfa is better built and more reliable than the current fiats.It looks interesting,its hard to make a modern euro box look very different,thanks to platform sharing and health and safety.I saw a few of these Giulietta's on the road in Gran Canaria last week and they do look pretty good,certainly more balanced than the odd looking Mito.Alfa just need to offer a 5year Warranty to lure drivers away from other premium brands and inspire confidence.Fiat do make great Diesel engines so this should help Giulietta shift a few.

By nickbsmooth on 11 July, 2010, 3:44pm

Why would any one buy a golf now!

Lets make one thing very clear here, Alfas do not suffer reliability issues like the days of old, my 7 year old 147 has never put a single foot wrong, ever. My mates golf in the same time has had 2 turbos, a gearbox rebuild, a new cam shaft seal, new valve seats and just to top it and a complete rebuild of the rear suspension system, so i ask you who has the reliability issues now? So can we now put this out dated judgement behind us!

The golf and astra, on the looks front are just so bland, they have not one single interesting design feature about them same goes for the interiors more typical german blandness from the golf and an interior that simply inspires nothing at all in the astra. The alfa is stunning both inside and out and will make you stand out from a crowd unlike the other 2.
If you have given up and let your head rule (or the missus as we like to call it) buy a golf, its a very steady car and will do what you need, if you want excitement, a big grin on your face and constantly straining your neck to see your reflection this has to be the car for you!

I have already been down to my local dealer and will be the proud owner of a black and tan 2.0l Diesel on release date!

By AndyG on 12 July, 2010, 9:00pm

To be expected.

Auto Express begins by stating that the safe, dull old Golf is their favorite, and then go on to consolidate that position.

In fact Alfa beats VW in the German reliability league, by a large margin, and VWs have more than their share of problems. But that's not the point. Nobody would spend their own money on a Vauxhall white good, nor a Ford for that matter. VW is always a safe buy, but Alfa Romeo is just in a different, and greater league. And on the road it shows.

In the case of the Giulietta it simply looks like something special, and it has the technology to back this up. This is one handsome car, and the only one that will get people looking with appreciation. The fact that it has the best engine, is the quickest and the most economical are just more pluses - easily forgotten by Auto Express by the way. No safe middle of the road magazine is going to step outside of the suburban box and award top honours to an Alfa though, just as nobody with taste and passion will by an insipid Golf in favour of a fantastic looking car from a prestige marque that delivers the best drive, the best looks and the greatest feel-good factor.

By Alexan14 on 13 July, 2010, 9:47am

Most desirable in class!

Let's be honest, the Alfa Romeo marque is much more prestigious than VW & Ford! The fact that the Giulietta has superior engines (multiair) and is better-looking than both is enough to persuade me!

By JTravolta77 on 16 October, 2010, 11:28pm

The Golf is a better car

People buy the Golf because i is a better all rounder and easier to live with everyday. For starters, you can see out of the back of a Golf, plus there is somewhere to rest your left foot when driving!.
In comparison, the Alfa is dark and claustrophobic.

By penncv3 on 9 December, 2010, 1:26pm

The Golf is a better car

People buy the Golf because i is a better all rounder and easier to live with everyday. For starters, you can see out of the back of a Golf, plus there is somewhere to rest your left foot when driving!.
In comparison, the Alfa is dark and claustrophobic.

By penncv3 on 9 December, 2010, 3:21pm