Alfa has been struggling in recent years, running up huge losses and selling
fewer and fewer cars. The reasons are many, but continuing poor reliability,
weak resale values, unrealistic prices and a failure to find new customers to
replace the dying faithful are just some of Alfa’s problems.
Its most
recent effort is the Giutietta, a five-door hatch that competes with the Golf.
At
$38,990, the base Giutietta runs Fiat's 125kW 1.A-litre MultiAir engine with a
six-speed manual.
The
MultiAir uses ultra-trick technology, with solenoids instead of a camshaft to
operate the inlet valves so that, in theory, you get more precise control over
mixture and timing.
In
practice, it’s a surprisingly uninspiring, sluggish drive, even when you flick
the “dial a digital tune'’ toggle to Dynamic and go hunting for some Alfa-style top- end zip.
It's there, but in a fairly sedated stat, sadly.
The
softish suspension also lets the body roll too early and too often, probably
because they've tried to make it feel like a Golf.
As with
too many Alfas, the base Giutietta is overpriced. Compare it with the Golf
118TSi and you'll wonder why it costs $9400 more.
It should
cost less.
The
Giulietta QV, though, is an entirely different story. At $41,990, its target is
the Golf GTi, and the price gap is only $1500 in the Golf favour. Drive both
and you just might take this Alfa home.
Its
direct-injection 1.7-litre turbo (1750TBi in Alfa-speak) donk produces 173kW —
18kW more than the Golf’s 2.0 turbo — and 340Nm of torque, 60Nm more than the
VW. The Alfa also weighs 40kg less. A six-speed manual is standard with both
engines. Alfa’s TCT six-speed automated manual adds $2000 to the base model,
but if it's as diabolically inept as it is on the Mito, and you must have only
two pedals, leave it alone and buy the Golf with the seven-speed DSG box
instead.
A
125kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel, with TCT as standard, costs $40,990. Buy a
2.0 turbodiesel/DSG Golf instead. You’U get less grief and an infinitely
superior drive.
The 1.7
is everything an Alfa engine should be except it's gutless under 4000rpm. Alfa’s
claim of 6.8 seconds to 100km/h is certainly believable.
The QV's
suspension is lower and stiffer than the base model.
Ifs got
18s with Pirelli PZeros and Alfa’s under steer-arresting electronic front diff.
On a tight road you can punt the QV twice as hard as the base car and I reckon
it might clean up a Golf GTi. It should torque steer like mad but it doesn't,
and the ride is reasonably forgiving, even on mangled bitumen.
Inside,
there’s a stylish, well- screwed-together dash with a control layout that's
much more user-friendly than usual from Alfa.
Sadly.
Alfa doesn’t do its beautiful, supportive sports seats any longer, but the
Giulietta’s are reasonably comfortable.
The
pedals are crowded in the footwell, a common Alfa legacy of a
not-quite-comfortable right-hand drive configuration.
Back-seat
space isn’t overly generous for this class, but the boot is large, with the
same volume as that in the Golf.
The
Giulietta QV is a real Alfa. There’s has been plenty of talk of an Alfa
revival, and more models to come. Hopefully, they won't just be re-badged Fiats
with ridiculous pricetags.
THINGSWE LIKE
✓
Cracker 1.7-litre
engine
✓
Strong, light. safe
body
✓
A genuinely sporty front-drive hatch
✓
Well equipped
✓
QV looks beautiful with the big wheels
THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE
X The usual Alfa caveats
X Weak resales
X Problematic reliability
X Base rnodel is too expensive
SPEX (QV)
•
Made in Italy
•
1.7-litre turbopetrol/six-speed manual/front-wheel
drive
•
173kW of power at 5500rpm/340Nm of torque from 1900rpm
•
0-100km/h in 6.8 seconds Iclaimed)
•
5.817100km highway; 10.8L/100km city; 95 octane
premium; CO. émissions are 177gkrn
•
Warranty: Three
years/100.000 kilométrés
•
Standard: Six airbags, stability control. 17-inch
alloys, Bluetooth, USB connectivity, cruise control, rear parking sensors. QV
adds sports suspension and seats (with partial leather upholsteryl. 18-
inch alloys, Bose audio, red brake calipers and side skirts
•
Redbook future values:
3yr: £3%;
5yr: 32%
