2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia

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Rating7.5

Ranked #8 in 

Midsize Sedan
Write Review
$40,350 - $75,250
Starting Price 
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on January 31, 2024

ProsConsWhat's New

Strong engine

Restricted cargo capacity

The 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia gets no updates or a design overhaul. All the features including the powertrain are carried over from the outgoing model year.

Excellent driving dynamics

Stiff ride quality

Eye-catching looks

Cramped rear seats

Sleek and luxurious interior

Specs & Features

$42,350

price

280 hp @ 5200 rpm

horsepower

306 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm

torque

TBD

transmission

2.0L 4cyl AWD 8A

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

The affordable sedan from Alfa Romeo, the Giulia returns to the market as the 2021 model year with no major changes. The car gets powered by the same 2.0-liter turbo inline-4 which is among the powerful engines in the segment. There is another variant of the Giulia named Quadrifoglio which is powered by a 2.9-liter Ferrari V6 engine that pushes out a bonkers 505 horses. However, it is priced at $34,995 over the standard MSRP of the base trim. 

Buying Advice

Among the three trims, we think that the Ti would be a better choice. The Ti packs heated and ventilated seats, 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, a leather steering wheel with heating functions and auto-climate control among other features, making it a truly value-for-money option.

Comparative Analysis against Competition

The Giulia is a fun-to-drive car with excellent driving dynamics and punchy performance figures. However, it may not be a suitable daily driver as it lacks quite a bit of practicality. Overall, it is a great car in terms of performance and you will get a healthy dose of luxuries inside the cabin with decent electronics and safety features. The 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia competes with the 2021 BMW 3 Series, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C300, and the 2021 Genesis G70.

Features
7.0/10

The 2021 iteration of the Giulia is represented by three trims- Sprint, Ti, Ti Sport. The price range starts from $39,450 and goes up to $47,900 with the top-of-the-line Ti Sport trim. All trims share the same powertrain which is a turbocharged 2.0-liter mill coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission system. The standard features available on the Giulia include a backup camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment display.

All the trims come with leather-wrapped seats with power adjustability and heating function. The Ti and Ti Sport gets a genuine wood interior which makes it plusher. The optional features and packages are on the expensive side and they include the Active Assist package, Lusso package, Premium package, and Sun & Sound package.

Trim Sprint Ti Ti Sport
MSRP (FWD) $39,450  $42,700  $45,900 
MSRP (AWD) $41,450  $44,700  $47,900 
Key Features Dual-zone climate control Add-ons/ Replacements from Sport trim Add-ons/ Replacements from Ti trim
  17-inch alloy wheel Dual-zone climate control with auto-temperature control Leather seats.
  Backup camera with gridlines Genuine dark gray oak interior trim  Dual-mode quad exhaust
  6.5-inch display with Bluetooth connectivity Leather seats with heating functionalities for the front row and a heated steering wheel Front sport fascia with rear diffuser
  Wireless charging 18-inch polished aluminum wheels Steering wheel with cruise control, transmission, and audio controls
  Android Auto & Apple CarPlay Multi-level driver and passenger heated seats. 19-inch alloy wheels with signature colored calipers
  8-speaker audio system Front and rear parking sensors Front sport seats w

Which trim should you buy?

Among the three trims, we think that the Ti would be a better choice. The Ti packs heated and ventilated seats, 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, a leather steering wheel with heating functions and auto-climate control among other features, making it a truly value-for-money option.

Fuel Economy
5.0/10

Although the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine is the most powerful in the competition, the fuel economy provided by the Giulia is outstanding with 24MPG in the city, 33MPG on the highway, and a combined fuel economy of 27 MPG. These numbers make it more accessible for many enthusiasts who would want a performance sedan with a good fuel economy. The AWD variant of the 2021 Giulia has a combined fuel economy of 26 MPG which is decent for the setup. The top-of-the-line Quadrifoglio offers 17MPG in the city, 24MPG on the highways, and a combined economy of 20MPG. 

Models

2021 Alfa Romeo Guilia

2021 BMW 330i

2021 Mercedes-Benz C300

2021 Genesis G70

MPG (City)

24

26

23

22

MPG (Highway)

33

36

35

30

MPG (Combined)

27

30

26

25

Fuel Capacity (Gallons)

15.3

15.6

17.4

15.8

Range (City/Highway/Combined, in Miles)

367/505/413

405/561/468

418/609/487

348/474/395

No doubt the Alfa Romeo Giulia offers some stellar fuel economy numbers as compared to the competition but has the smallest fuel tank capacity which makes it suffer in the overall driving range. The BMW 330i offers the highest fuel economy and driving range in the competition with the Mercedes-Benz C300 following closely in terms of driving range. The 2021 Genesis G70 is the least fuel-efficient car in the competition.

Interior
6.0/10

The 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia interior is well-designed with upscale materials, design, and adequate luxuries on offer. The maximum seating capacity is up to 5 people but it is best suited for 4 people as the rear seats have lower than average shoulder and legroom making it a more driver-focused car. Apart from that, the standard cabin offers a black and tan color combination. The dash upfront is beautifully laid out and has a soft-touch feel to it. The higher trims get leather and wooden accents on the dash, giving the entire cabin an opulent touch.

The steering wheel is leather-wrapped and comes with cruise control buttons and has heating functionalities. The seats are very comfortable and are leather-covered. The front row is spacious and has enough head and legroom for an average American which the rear row suffers in. The Ti Sport trim has most of the interior features with wireless charging, leather upholstery, and a lot more. The $2,300 Premium package will bring a lot of additional interior features with a better audio system and more quality enhancements.

The cargo capacity on offer is on the lower side too, with 12 cubic feet; it is not the lowest and is decent considering the segment. 

Models

2021 Alfa Romeo Guilia

2021 BMW 330i

2021 Mercedes-Benz C300

2021 Genesis G70

Seating Capacity

5

5

5

5

Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg, in inches)

38.6/56.1/42.4

38.7/56/42

37.1/55.3/41.7

39.7/56.3/42.6

Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg, in inches)

37.6/53.6/35.1

37.6/54.6/35.2

37.1/55/35.2

36.9/54.6/34.8

Cargo Capacity (cubic feet)

12

17

12.6

10.5

All four cars in the competition are not the best for the lower rear row space. The Merc has the least front row space in the competition. In terms of cargo capacity, BMW takes the lead offering a whooping 17 cu-ft of trunk space. 

Standout interior features:

  • Leather steering wheel with heating functionalities and tilt and telescoping adjustability.
  • 10-way power-adjustable and heated driver and front passenger seat.
  • Dual-zone automatic climate control.
  • Leather upholstery.
  • Leather dashboard.
  • Genuine dark gray oak interior.

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The infotainment system on offer inside the 2021 Giulia is similar to the outgoing model which means it holds the same 8.8-inch touchscreen display at the center of the dashboard. And it is no doubt one of the best displays in the competition with a smooth interface. The system is quite refined too with loads of customizations on offer. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity come as standard and so are Bluetooth connectivity and navigation. You also get an 8-speaker stereo system as standard for your music needs.

Standout infotainment features:

  • 8.8-inch touchscreen display.
  • Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
  • Bluetooth connectivity.
  • SiriusXM.
  • Navigation.
  • 8-speaker audio system as standard. 
  • 14-speaker flagship Harman Kardon audio setup on the higher trims. 

Exterior
8.0/10

Without any exterior design changes, the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia is one of the best-looking performance sedans in the competition with all the sharp and modern-looking elements. The front sports a set of sharp LED headlamps with DRLs which looks phenomenal, especially with the signature Alfa Romeo-styled intake grille. 

The sides of the car have a lot of curves and cuts to make it more aerodynamic in nature. The rear has sporty-looking LED tail lamps with dual chrome exhaust cutouts. The car comes with 17-inch alloy wheels with the base trim and 19-inch aluminum wheels with up trims. 

Models

2021 Alfa Romeo Guilia

2021 BMW 330i

2021 Mercedes-Benz C300

2021 Genesis G70

Curb Weight (lbs)

3,498

3,582

3,472

3,580

Length (inches)

182.6

185.7

184.5

184.4

Width (inches)

73.7

71.9

71.3

72.8

Height (inches)

56.5

56.8

56.8

55.1

Ground Clearance (inches)

N/A

6.1

3.8

5.5

Wheelbase (inches)

111

112.2

111.8

111.6

The Alfa Romeo Giulia is one of the tallest cars in the competition and it is the lightest too. The BMW on the other hand is the longest in the competition with a ground clearance of 6.1-inch. All cars have almost similar wheelbase, length, width, and height. The Merc has the lowest ground clearance and that would be the same for the Alfa Romeo.

Standout exterior features:

  • 17-inch alloy wheels.
  • Tinted windshield.
  • Performance exhaust system with dual outlet.
  • Alfa Romeo signature shield grille.
  • Colored brake calipers.

Safety
9.9/10

The 2021 Giulia has not been crash-tested by the NHTSA but on the other hand, the IIHS has rated it ‘Good’ in almost every category. The car is equipped with all the necessary safety features and for the full experience, there are two assistance packages. 

Standout safety features:

  • Automated emergency braking.
  • Lane-keeping assist.
  • Adaptive cruise control.
  • Hill-start assist.
  • Blind-spot monitoring.
  • Lane-departure warning. 
  • Semi-autonomous driving mode. 

Competition
9.0/10

2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia vs 2021 BMW 330i

The BMW 3 Series comes at a slightly more expensive price tag than the Giulia but offers a lot better interior room and standard features. But the Giulia outperforms the BMW 330i with its stunning performance but in terms of fuel economy, the latter takes home the crown. The BMW 3 Series is an all-rounder with a considerably higher price tag which is definitely worth it.

2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz C300

The C-Class is not as interesting as the Giulia as it lacks punchy performance, sips more fuel than the Alfa Romeo. However, the Merc is slightly better in terms of interior passenger volume and creature comforts but it is priced $2,000 higher than the Alfa Romeo. 

2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia vs 2021 Genesis G70

The 2021 Genesis G70 is the cheapest competitor in comparison to the Giulia. The cabin features a lot of opulence with a bit more comfort than its European counterparts. It is more of a comfortable sedan. On the other hand, the Giulia is a sportier option among the two but is priced higher and the cabin is more driver-focused. 

Final Verdict

The 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia is one of the most powerful mid-size sedans available in the market with all the sporty ingredients available to take control over the road. The engine power and outmatched fuel economy are a plus point. And it is a car for enthusiasts who want to prioritize performance over comfort and practicality. 

Trims

    Base
    $40,350 onwards
    • A-Spec Sport Seats
    • Dual zone automatic front air conditioning
    • Heated mirrors
    • Keyfob (all doors) Remote keyless entry
    • Rear Fog/driving lights
    Sprint
    $40,350 onwards
    • Engine: 2.0L 4cyl RWD 8A
    • Horsepower: 280 hp @ 5200 rpm hp
    • Torque: 306 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 5.5 sec
    • Top Speed: 142 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 27 mpg
    Ti
    $43,200 onwards
    • 1St row Sliding and tilting glass Sunroof
    • Heated Front Seats
    • Parking assist
    • SiriusXM AM/FM/HD/Satellite, Radio
    Ti Sport
    $46,400 onwards
    • Front and rear parking sensors
    • Heated mirrors
    • Keyless ignition
    • Tilt And Telescopic Steering Wheel
    • Turn Signal In Mirrors
    Quadrifoglio
    $75,250 onwards
    • Engine: 2.9L 6cyl RWD 8A
    • Horsepower: 505 hp @ 6500 rpm hp
    • Torque: 443 lb.-ft. @ 2500 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 4.5 sec
    • Top Speed: 155 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 20 mpg

Compare to similar cars

Price

$39,100- $49,800

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

7.35

Horsepower

201 hp @ 4200 rpm

Torque

236 lb.-ft.

Capacity

5

Read Review

$33,090- $52,590

Gasoline

7.72

255 hp @ 6200 rpm

260 lb.-ft. @ 1400 rpm

5

Read Review

$36,700- $57,850

Gasoline

7.12

300 hp @ 6400 rpm

295 lb.-ft. @ 1500 rpm

5

Read Review

$36,000- $48,200

Gasoline

7.55

252 hp @ 6200 rpm

260 lb.-ft. @ 1400 rpm

5

Read Review

$72,950- $79,200

Gasoline

7.75

365 hp @ 6000 rpm

376 lb.-ft. @ 1300 rpm

5

Read Review

$40,000- $49,000

Gasoline

8.13

302 hp @ 6600 rpm

267 lb.-ft. @ 4700 rpm

5

Read Review

$41,250- $43,250

Gasoline

8.26

255 hp @ 5000 rpm

294 lb.-ft. @ 1550 rpm

5

Read Review

$41,600- $56,700

Gasoline

8.06

255 hp @ 5800 rpm

273 lb.-ft. @ 1800 rpm

5

Read Review

$40,350- $75,250

Gasoline

7.51

505 hp @ 6500 rpm

443 lb.-ft. @ 2500 rpm

5

Read Review

$37,750- $48,000

Gasoline

7.99

250 hp @ 5500 rpm

258 lb.-ft. @ 1500 rpm

5

Read Review

2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    5.5 sec14.0 sec142 mph
    5.3 sec--
    5.5 sec13.8 sec152 mph
    5.6 sec14.1 sec130 mph
    5.9 sec--
    6 sec14.4 sec-

    2021 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.
      26 mpg36 mpg30 mpg15.6 gal.405.6/561.6 mi.
      25 mpg35 mpg29 mpg13.5 gal.337.5/472.5 mi.
      23 mpg35 mpg27 mpg17.4 gal.400.2/609 mi.
      23 mpg34 mpg27 mpg17 gal.391/578 mi.
      2021 Audi A4

      Ranked #3

      25 mpg31 mpg27 mpg15.3 gal.382.5/520.2 mi.

      2021 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.4 in.111 in.
        204.9 in.75.4 in.58.9 in.5.1 in.124.4 in.
        195.9 in.73.4 in.56.9 in.5.9 in.113 in.
        190.2 in.73.6 in.55.1 in.-114.4 in.
        189.6 in.71.8 in.57.2 in.5 in.112.2 in.
        2021 Audi A4

        Ranked #5

        187.5 in.72.7 in.56.2 in.5.2 in.111 in.

        2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          12 cu.ft.97.4 cu.ft.13.1 cu.ft.
          13 cu.ft.143.2 cu.ft.72.2 cu.ft.
          15.7 cu.ft.113.2 cu.ft.62.9 cu.ft.
          10.7 cu.ft.93.5 cu.ft.52.7 cu.ft.
          12.6 cu.ft.-48.9 cu.ft.
          23.3 cu.ft.93.8 cu.ft.40.9 cu.ft.

          2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            SourceCompare
            15.1 cu.ft.12 cu.ft.13.1 cu.ft.-
            72.2 cu.ft.13 cu.ft.72.2 cu.ft.76 ft.
            61 cu.ft.15.7 cu.ft.62.9 cu.ft.70 ft.
            40.9 cu.ft.23.3 cu.ft.40.9 cu.ft.-
            5.3 cu.ft.10.5 cu.ft.5.3 cu.ft.-
            16.7 cu.ft.16.7 cu.ft.16.7 cu.ft.-

            2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              905 lbs.3521 lbs. -
              1158 lbs.3472 lbs.
              905 lbs.3690 lbs.
              975 lbs.3715 lbs.
              1158 lbs.3516 lbs.
              -3422 lbs.

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              0-60 : 5.5 sec

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