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Alfa Giulietta vs. MINI Countryman

Want something a little different in the family hatch class? Alfa Romeo’s Giulietta and the MINI Countryman fit the bIll. We see which is our favourite

Alfa Giulietta vs. MINI Countryman

Photos: Pete Gibson November 2010

Family car buyers are spoilt for choice these days – but with so many options, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. The Alfa Romeo badge and MINI logo are sure to do just that, making the two cars in this test the perfect antidote if you want a break from the norm. 

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Giulietta

 

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta failed to knock the VW Golf off the top step of the family car podium on its road test debut, while the MINI Countryman couldn’t unseat the all-conquering Skoda Yeti when
it made its bow – but they’re both bursting with charisma 
and style. We can see what their enthusiastic followers get so excited about – but which one gets our vote as the ultimate hatchback head-turner?

To find out, we put a pair of diesels head-to-head. The Italian brand is famed for its lively petrol engines, but its latest oil-burner could be the pick of the range. 
Its 170bhp output dwarfs the 110bhp of the MINI, but the Countryman Cooper D ALL4 
has four-wheel drive for added security on winter roads. Will its extra traction give it the edge, 
or will the Alfa steal our hearts? 

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10 Comments

3 rd Option

Both cars are a good option,there is possibly a third which is also quite unique and beats both for 0-60MPH,handing,MPG & feel-good factor.
Try a BMW 123d -its understaded , reliable,rear wheel drive & the best 4 pot diesel in the world with 204BHP & 400NM torque.

By 610510MAJ1 on 29 November, 2010, 12:53pm

Err but the 1 series is butt ugly! This is about head turning!

So a real third option:

The MG 6, this car has the badge, the handling and a price tag to kill these two dead £15,995 for a 1.8 Turbo with reverse camera, full leather, sat nav and Dynamic Stability Control. As with the 1 series it's not going to win awards for it's looks but it will still turn heads.

But as it covers the criteria for this test; It is a hatch back, is unusual and will turn heads and in addition you get a lot more for your money

By Focus_your_mind on 30 November, 2010, 11:29am

Instant preference for Mini Countryman

Having owned an earlier version Gulietta (and Alfasud) and even if rust and support problems have been solved, my lifelong preference is for any other make.

By ide02 on 30 November, 2010, 11:32am

Instant preference for Mini Countryman

Having owned an earlier version Gulietta (and Alfasud) and even if rust and support problems have been solved, my lifelong preference is for any other make.

By ide02 on 30 November, 2010, 11:38am

Instant Alfa hater?

" Having owned an earlier version Gulietta (and Alfasud) and even if rust and support problems have been solved, my lifelong preference is for any other make. "

The latest Giulietta was a 4-door sedan, produced 1977-85... I'm sure there must be owner of any other car brand from '70 or '80 that has a horror story to tell!?

What's Your point? Alfas rust because they used to rust 30 years ago???

By mko_20vt on 30 November, 2010, 1:55pm

£22,000 for a Mini! Get a grip!

With a little haggling, you can buy a real car for the money that Mini are asking - For example a C Class Mercedes for £22k. Why would you buy the pug ugly Mini?

By penncv3 on 2 December, 2010, 10:04am

Really?!

You're comparing Mini Countryman with the Giulietta?! And the Mini is winning?!!!! What on earth were you smoking?

By chickenfeed on 2 December, 2010, 5:00pm

good comparison

I agree with the 3 main choices here.
Take the Mini for cool & style,the Alfa for looks & the BMW for power , handling & unique style.

The MG is does not have any of the above & is the sort of car that you will have to convince yourself after you have bought it that you have made the right choice.Look at the reported sales figures for any of the above 3 cars-my guess is the MG6 has sold less than 1000-mainly to people with no idea what makes a car special.

By euro4 on 3 December, 2010, 1:56pm

"Old Giuliettas" Lover "Non dimenticar"!

" Having owned an earlier version Gulietta (and Alfasud) and even if rust and support problems have been solved, my lifelong preference is for any other make. "

The latest Giulietta was a 4-door sedan, produced 1977-85... I'm sure there must be owner of any other car brand from '70 or '80 that has a horror story to tell!?

What's Your point? Alfas rust because they used to rust 30 years ago???

Well well, I owned a Giulietta 1,8 lt Model 1978, and I still remember it as "The car" once upon the time!

Yes, you had to look for it, as it could easily rust, but in its time it had unparalleled qualities and it was very beautiful.

It could compare it only to the BMW 318, which anyway had only two doors.

I remember driving my Giulietta in very stormy weather at 100 kms/hr , when all other cars could only manage 80 Kms/hr.

Nikishi San

By nikism on 4 December, 2010, 4:14pm

Giuliettas and the Marque

Indeed, my Alfas were "The Car" with fine qualities but were rustbuckets by 4 years old.
Suffice to say that experience offsets passion and the taint of manufacturer support of past times carry far forward.

By ide02 on 12 December, 2010, 12:20am

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Facts and Figures

Verdict

If you think pitching a four-wheel crossover against a sporty diesel hatch is a mismatch, think again. Buyers searching for head-turning alternatives to the raft of family hatchbacks on sale will see the appeal of both cars in this test.

So does the rough and tough MINI take the win or will the elegant Alfa secure the honours? Given the Giulietta’s power and price advantage it came into this contest as the hot favourite, but the Countryman caused an upset. 

The Alfa is faster and more affordable, but its interior doesn’t feel special enough and the driving experience is disappointing. In contrast, the MINI exceeded our expectations. It’s packed full of character, fun to drive and has low running costs. The Giulietta driver may arrive at their destination faster, but the MINI owner will be the one wearing the bigger smile – and in this test, that proved to be critical.

1. MINI Countryman ALL4
You won’t buy the Countryman because it provides more practicality than its crossover rivals, because it doesn’t. But it matches the Alfa for interior space and makes up for its power deficit with more engaging dynamics. The Italian brand’s cars are famed for their character, but the MINI has more personality and charisma.

2. Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2.0 JDTm Lusso
We wanted to love the Giulietta, and its diesel engine is arguably the best in the current line-up. But the rest of the package fails to live up to the promise of its distinctive styling. It’s fast and refined, but lacks sparkle. The DNA set-up also detracts from the driving experience. 
 
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