2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia

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Rating7.1
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$37,995 - $72,000
Starting Price 
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Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on May 3, 2024

ProsConsWhat's New

Refined and powerful 2.0L engine

Cramped rear seats

This is an all-new offering from the Italian manufacturer

Elegant exterior

Tight cargo space

Nimble and precise handling

Top safety features

Specs & Features

$72,000

price

505 hp @ 6500 rpm

horsepower

443 lb.-ft. @ 2500 rpm

torque

8-Speed Automatic w/od

transmission

2.9L 6cyl RWD 8A

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia is a sporty four-door compact sedan. The car is an all-new offering from the European manufacturer aimed at the German rivals. The Giulia has beautiful looks, staying true to its Italian heritage; and offers impressive performance and an elegant interior. The Giulia has top safety ratings and simple and modern technology on offer. The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia gets a powerful 2.0L turbo engine with an eight-speed transmission and comes in two trim levels. The Giulia, however, has questionable reliability and comes with tight rear seats and a cramped cargo.

Buying Advice

The base trim of the Alfa Romeo comes with features like a seat memory system, coupled with lumbar support and premium upholstery.

However, the Ti variant is the one to go for as it is not much of a price difference, but it has things like a Touchscreen radio and reverse parking sensors.

Comparative Analysis against Competition

The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged engine that comes with an eight-speed transmission. The Giulia comes in two trim levels, and also gets a performance trim known as the Quadrifoglio which will be covered in a review later on. The Giulia offers excellent handling, chassis control, with a decent fuel economy and an exceptionally good-looking interior. The Giulia however follows in line with Alfa's reliability concerns and also has a tight rear space.

The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan has a major competitor in the form of the 2017 BMW 3-Series, and also goes up against the 2017 Audi A4 and the 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-class. The rivals have been in the game for a long time now, and have a well-established market share in the compact car segment. Can Alfa Romeo improve their market share with this all-new Giulia? Let's find out.

Features
5.0/10

The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan is offered in two trim levels: Base, and Ti. The pricing for these trims starts at $37,995 and goes up to $41,995 for the top trim. The Giulia comes with FWD as standard and has AWD as an optional extra with a premium of $2,000. Both the trims come with power-adjustable front seats, keyless ignition, remote start, a 7-inch TFT instrument cluster, leather upholstery, Bi-Xenon headlamps, LED DRLs, and LED taillights.

Trims Base Ti
MSRP (RWD) $37,995 $39,995
MSRP (AWD) $39,995 $41,995
Key Features Heated and power-folding mirrors Adds/Replaces features from Base trim
  Rain-sensing wipers Standard dark gray oak wood trim
  Push-button ignition 8.8-inch widescreen radio (navigation is extra)
  Rear camera with dynamic guidelines 12 months of satellite radio
  Rear park assist sensors Heated front seats and steering wheel
  Dual-zone climate control 18-inch alloy wheels
  Acoustic laminated windshield Front park-assist sensors
  Cruise Control Adaptive xenon headlights

Both the trims come with specific packages, namely the Sport Appearance package, Sport interior package, Navigation package, Cold Weather Package, Premium Audio Package, Leather Package, Ti Performance package, and two safety packages, Driver assistance package, and the Driver assistance plus package.

We Recommend

We recommend the AWD Ti version of the Giulia. It has more luxurious features over the Base trim, and more functional features as well. In terms of safety, the Ti is well equipped and has a ton of advanced safety features. The available packages on the Ti offer a vast range for customization, in terms of interior, exterior, and even performance. With all these packages, the Ti costs close to $45,000 which is a lot but is worth the money.

Fuel Economy
7.0/10

The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan returns 24 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 27 mpg combined, with the RWD setup. The AWD Giulia drops the returns to 23 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined. The car gets a 15.3-gallon fuel tank that provides it with a combined range of 413.1 miles. 

Model 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia 2017 Audi A4 2017 BMW 3-Series 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-class
City (MPG) 24 24 23 24
Highway (MPG) 33 31 34 31
Combined (MPG) 27 27 27 27
Fuel capacity (gallons) 15.3 15.3 15.8 17.4
Range (city/highway) (miles) 367.2/504.9 367.2/474.3 363.4/537.2 417.6/539.4

The lighter BMW and the Mercedes do not benefit much in terms of fuel economy compared to the Alfa. All four cars have the same combined mileage at 27 mpg. In terms of city mileage, apart from the BMW, all three cars have a mileage of 27 mpg. The BMW returns 23 mpg in the city, and has the most highway mileage at 34 mpg. The most range is offered by the Benz, at 417 city miles and 539 highway miles, thanks to its 17-gallon tank. The Alfa has a range of 367 city miles and 505 highway miles.

Interior
6.0/10

"What the performance and creature comforts gain, the comically awkward infotainment system takes away." - TheCarConnection

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Seating and Comfort

The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia's interiors are super stylish and true to their Italian origins. Everything about the interior, from the layout, to the materials, to the placement; all are very appealing and satisfying. The design follows the traditional Alfa design, with materials and trim inserts to match Giulia's luxury levels. Now, this is not luxury as you would see on luxury cars: the Giulia still has a few hard plastic surfaces here and there, but the consistent use of soft-touch materials and carbon trim make the interior very sporty and substantial. This interior is better on the Ti than on the Base trim, and the creature comforts do help. The main stand-out point about this interior is the well-isolated noises from the outside. There is little road noise, however.

The car seats five people. As a driver-centric car, the comfort levels in the Giulia are limited. In both the rows, the seats have a flat bottom, making this a good car for shorter journeys. There is just enough support as well, with the bolstering not doing a good job. Also, the front row is roomier compared to the second row, where there's a slightly tight headroom and limited legroom. Ingress and egress are not at all an issue, as the doors open wide and the seats are just the right height. In terms of visibility also, the Giulia has good visibility all-around except for a few blindspots due to the side mirrors. There are a lot of interiors and trim customization options on offer as well.

Model 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia 2017 Audi A4 2017 BMW 3-Series 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-class
Passenger Capacity 5 5 5 5
Front Head/Shoulder/Leg Room (in) 38.6/56.1/42.1 38.9/55.9/41.3 40.3/55.1/42 37.1/54.7/41.7
Second Head/Shoulder/Leg Room (in) 37.6/53.6/35.1 37.4/54.5/35.7 37.7/55.1/35.1 37.1/55/35.2

The 2017 Giulia and its rivals all seat five passengers. The rivals offer more room, however. Upfront, the BMW has the most headroom and the Giulia has the maximum legroom. In the second row, the BMW again offers the most headroom, and the Audi offers the most legroom. Some interior features on the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan are:

  • Keyless entry
  • Leather seats
  • Dual-zone climate control
  • Cruise control
  • Heated Leather Steering Wheel

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Infotainment

The 2017 Giulia has a simple and sorted infotainment system. It has great touch responses, with no lag and a composed operation. The buttons are different to touch and do not merge well with the car's remaining interiors. The 8.8-inch touchscreen on offer has vibrant colors. As standard, all Giulias get a 6.5-inch screen, voice recognition, AM/FM radio, HD radio, three USB  ports, Bluetooth, and an eight-speaker sound system.

Some other salient features of the infotainment unit are:

  • Speed Compensated Volume Control
  • Window Grid Diversity Antenna
  • Satellite radio
  • 10-speaker audio system
  • Harman Kardon premium audio system
  • Graphic Equalizer

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Cargo Capacity

The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia has a compact truck. It is not very spacious, and pretty tight in this class, but is on par with its competition. The cargo capacity stands at 13 cu-ft. The opening is shallow and narrow as well.

Folding the rear seats down does open up some extra cargo space. 

Model 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia 2017 Audi A4 2017 BMW 3-Series 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-class
Trunk Volume (cu-ft) 13.0 13.0 13 12.6

The Giulia, the A4, and the BMW all three share the same cargo space at 13 cu-ft. The C-class has a lower cargo capacity at 12.6 cu-ft, 0.4 cu-ft less than the rivals.

Exterior
8.0/10

"The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia's design combined elements of the past with a modern look and a sporty stance in a unique and exciting way matched by few cars today." - TheCarConnection

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Exterior Dimensions

The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia is Italian on the outside as much it is on the inside. This compact car has a long wheelbase. The overall body style and profile of the car are long and very sporty, with a sharp front, deep wheel arches, and a sleek tail. Upfront, we see the familiar trefoil grille as seen on other Alfa cars, matched with the sleek headlamps. The hood is long, but sweeps down into the front bumper. Along the side, the deep wheel arches, with the thick lines and the curved roof all give this 4-seater a distinctive look.

At the rear, we have LED tail lamps and a sporty bumper with a dual exhaust setup. The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan measures 182.5 inches in length, 73 inches in width, and is 56.5 inches tall. It has a curb weight of 3632 lbs, with a wheelbase of 111 inches, which keeps it on par with its German rivals.

Model 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia 2017 Audi A4 2017 BMW 3-Series 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-class
Curb Weight (lbs) 3632 3626 3410 3594
Length (in) 182.5 186.1 182.5 184.5
Width (in) 73.7 72.5 71.3 71.3
Height (in) 56.5 56.2 56.3 56.8
Wheelbase (in) 111.0 111 110.6 111.8
Track Width, Front/Rear (in) 61.3/63.9 61.9/61.2 60.3/61.9 61.5/60.9

Placed next to each other, dimensional differences are hard to make out on these four cars. The Audi is the longest car, with a length of 186 inches, 4 inches more than the Giulia. The Giulia is the widest of all, whereas the C-class has the better height. In terms of wheelbase, the cars come very close, except the BMW which has a slightly shorter wheelbase.

Some exterior features on the Giulia are:

  • Alloy wheels
  • LED DRls and taillights
  • Bi-Xenon headlamps
  • Rain-sensing wipers
  • Power-folding and heated mirrors
  • Optional active suspension

Safety
9.9/10

The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan has not received any ratings from the NHTSA, but the IIHS gave it a rating of 'Good' and the Giulias manufactured after May 2017 were rewarded with the Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. As standard safety fitment, the Giulia gets eight airbags, rear park assist, a rearview camera, traction control, stability control, and hill start assist.

Some other safety features are:

  • Blind-spot monitoring system
  • Rear cross-path detection system
  • Forward collision system with emergency braking
  • Lane departure warning with active lane control
  • Tire Pressure Monitoring system
  • Adaptive Cruise control

Competition
6.0/10

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia vs 2017 BMW 3-Series

The 2017 BMW 3-Series is a great all-rounder. It has a variety of engine outputs on offer, and comes with RWD and AWD. In terms of handling, both the cars are very well on par with each other with good corner stability and controlled steering. The BMW is a better daily driver thanks to its more plush suspension setup and better-cushioned seats. The BMW has less city mileage, but has more highway mileage and more range overall because of a larger fuel tank.

The interiors on the BMW are more balanced than the ALfa in terms of seat comfort and space and interior features. The BMW is well-equipped in terms of driver assistance features and has a better reliability record as well. 

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia vs 2017 Audi A4 

The 2017 Audi A4 is available in a long trim list, with every trim suiting as per requirements. The Audi A4 has a powerful engine, but makes less power and torque compared to the Alfa. In terms of handling, the Giulia is a mark ahead because of its sharp steering which the Audi lacks. The fuel economy and range are very similar but the Audi is less efficient on the highway. Inside, the Audi A4's interiors are much more premium than the Giulia's and are better equipped as well.

The interior space on the Audi A4 is excellent as well. The Giulia lacks in some creature comforts seen on the Audi. In terms of pricing, the Alfa is affordable, even with the affordable packages. The A4 however, has a better safety rating and is more reliable than the Giulia.

Final Verdict

The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan surely does have the raw power to go up against the German cars, with enough strength in its performance and comfort. It is the least expensive car on the lot, and has a very quiet, composed, and consistent ride. The suspension might be on the stiffer side, but it's bearable. The Giulia however lacks the seating comfort and the creature comforts that the rivals offer, and lacks overall refinement. It has great safety ratings as well, and as a cumulative opinion, we would recommend you to stop over at the Alfa dealership before deciding on your next compact car.

Trims

    Base
    $37,995 onwards
    • 6.5-Inch central display
    • Driver information display
    • Dual-Zone climate control
    • Eight-Speaker audio system
    • Power-Adjustable front seats
    • Rear parking sensors
    • Remote keyless ignition and entry
    • Xenon headlights
    Ti
    $39,995 onwards
    • 12 months of satellite radio
    • 8.8-Inch touchscreen infotainment display
    • Front and rear parking sensors
    • Front park-assist sensors
    • Heated Front Seats
    Quadrifoglio
    $72,000 onwards
    • Engine: 2.9L 6cyl RWD 8A
    • Horsepower: 505 hp @ 6500 rpm hp
    • Torque: 443 lb.-ft. @ 2500 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 4.1 sec
    • Top Speed: 172 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 20 mpg

Compare to similar cars

Price

$37,995- $72,000

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

7.11

Horsepower

505 hp @ 6500 rpm

Torque

443 lb.-ft. @ 2500 rpm

Capacity

5

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$32,000- $44,900

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206 hp @ 6800 rpm

182 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm

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186 hp @ 4400 rpm

221 lb.-ft.

4

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Gasoline

8.33

190 hp @ 4200 rpm

236 lb.-ft. @ 1450 rpm

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Gasoline

8.02

252 hp @ 5000 rpm

273 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm

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Gasoline

8.43

400 hp @ 7000 rpm

354 lb.-ft. @ 1700 rpm

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Gasoline

8.47

186 hp @ 4400 rpm

221 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm

-

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Gasoline

7.61

180 hp @ 5000 rpm

200 lb.-ft. @ 1250 rpm

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Gasoline

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248 hp @ 5200 rpm

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Gasoline

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320 hp @ 5500 rpm

330 lb.-ft. @ 1380 rpm

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2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    5.4 sec13.9 sec142 mph
    3.9 sec12.5 sec155 mph
    4.54 sec-113 mph
    4.7 sec--
    2017 Audi S3

    Ranked #3

    4.7 sec13.6 sec155 mph
    2017 BMW M3

    Ranked #4

    4.9 sec13.3 sec130 mph

    2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      24 mpg33 mpg27 mpg15.3 gal.367.2/504.9 mi.
      41 mpg38 mpg40 mpg13.5 gal.574/532 mi.
      40 mpg39 mpg40 mpg17.2 gal.688/670.8 mi.
      2017 Audi A4

      Ranked #2

      27 mpg37 mpg31 mpg15.3 gal.413.1/566.1 mi.
      45 mpg61 mpg30 mpg13.2 gal.- -
      28 mpg34 mpg30 mpg10.8 gal.-

      2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        182.6 in.73.7 in.56.5 in.9 in.111 in.
        204.1 in.74 in.58 in.7 in.122.4 in.
        201.4 in.75.3 in.58.5 in.6 in.117.9 in.
        195.7 in.76.6 in.57.5 in.4.5 in.118 in.
        195.5 in.72.2 in.57.2 in.6 in.114.6 in.
        195.2 in.78.2 in.57.4 in.4.1 in.116.5 in.

        2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          21.7 cu.ft.95.4 cu.ft.49.5 cu.ft.
          14.7 cu.ft.91 cu.ft.15.9 cu.ft.
          10.4 cu.ft.91 cu.ft.10.4 cu.ft.
          15.4 cu.ft.96.5 cu.ft.15.4 cu.ft.
          11.1 cu.ft.96.4 cu.ft.11.1 cu.ft.
          15.3 cu.ft.108.2 cu.ft.15.3 cu.ft.

          2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            SourceCompare
            49.5 cu.ft.21.7 cu.ft.49.5 cu.ft.144 ft.
            81.6 cu.ft.11.1 cu.ft.11.1 cu.ft.-
            41 cu.ft.13 cu.ft.15.2 cu.ft.98 ft.
            53.2 cu.ft.-53.2 cu.ft.-
            2017 BMW M3

            Ranked #5

            41 cu.ft.13 cu.ft.15.2 cu.ft.98 ft.
            -13.1 cu.ft.--

            2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Towing Capacity
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              -905 lbs.3632 lbs.
              2017 Audi A3

              Ranked #1

              7700 lbs.1102 lbs.3428 lbs.
              3500 lbs.890 lbs.3619 lbs.
              1000 lbs.-3373 lbs.
              1000 lbs.-3739 lbs.
              -1080 lbs.3450 lbs.

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