Alfa Romeo Giulia review - MPG, CO2 and running costs

The refreshed Alfa Giulia is only available with one engine: a 276bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine which is paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The 197bhp version of the same unit has been removed from the price list, along with the 2.2-litre diesel engine.

Under the latest WLTP tests, the Giulia with its 276bhp four-pot was able to return 39.2mpg on the combined cycle. This figure only apples to the base Sprint model though, with Alfa claiming Veloce and Competizione spec models will return 38.2mpg at best. Based on our experience however, you're not going to achieve anywhere near those figures if you're in the habit of flexing your right foot and exploiting the Giulia's performance – when we ran a Veloce model as a long-term test car, we achieved 33mpg during our time with the car.

Everyday running costs should be fair, though not as low as you'd see with a Mercedes C-Class or BMW 3 Series, both of which feature mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology. One benefit of electrification is less CO2 emissions, which attracts a lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rating for company car drivers, but even so the Giulia emits 162g/km of CO2 and attracts a 37 per cent BiK rating.

Prices for the Alfa Romeo Giulia start from around £43,000 in the entry-level Sprint trim and rise to around £47,500 for the Veloce spec model and over £52,000 if you go for Competizione trim. Meanwhile the fire-breathing 503bhp Guilia Quadrifoglio is priced at around £75,000. That means the highest-spec versions of the Giulia are subject to a premium that bumps up road tax (VED) to £520 for years two to six of ownership.

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The now discontinued 158bhp diesel offered fuel economy of up to 53.3mpg and emissions of 128g/km, while the 187bhp diesel isn't far behind at 52.3mpg and an identical 128g/km. However, when we tested the more powerful diesel, we recorded a disappointing 35.1mpg.

Buyers looking towards the Giulia Quadrifoglio probably won't be overly concerned by fuel economy, which is fortunate as the super saloon averages around 28mpg – although again, you'll struggle to see this figure in rea-world driving.

Insurance 

Insurance premiums for the Giulia shouldn't be too expensive if you opt for the base Sprint model which sits in group 32 (out of 50), while Veloce or Competizione trim cars sit in group 34 and 37 respectively. The standalone Giulia Quadrifoglio lands in group 46.

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Depreciation

Unfortunately, the Giulia doesn't have the best residual values compared with close rivals – it should hold onto around 44 per cent of its original value after three years and 36,000 miles, while the Quadrifoglio fares a little better on 49 per cent.

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