Used Alfa Romeo Giulia 2016-present review

Category: Executive car

A used Alfa Romeo Giulia is a fine car to drive and a stylish alternative to the usual executive suspects.

Alfa Romeo Giulia used 2016 - present
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia used 2016 - present
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia back seats
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia used
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia used
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia infotainment
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia used
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia used
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia used
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia infotainment
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia rear
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia used 2016 - present
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia back seats
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia used
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia used
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia infotainment
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia used
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia used
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia used
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia infotainment
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia rear
Used Alfa Romeo Giulia 2016-present review
Star rating

What's the used Alfa Romeo Giulia saloon like?

It’s fair to say that a number of people might have bought a used Alfa Romeo in the past simply because it looked really good and its value had dropped faster than a lift with the cable cut.

But times change, and the Italian firm has made great efforts over the past few years to improve its build quality and make its cars more competitive. Take the Giulia. With it, you have a really compelling alternative to the usual executive car suspects. It competes with these cars on performance and running costs and also offers a great driving experience to boot. It's well screwed together and, of course, it wears that wonderfully evocative badge.

Overview

A used Alfa Romeo Giulia is a fine and stylish alternative to the usual executive suspects

  • Good to drive
  • Well equipped
  • Strong performance
  • Awkward boot opening
  • Disappointing interior quality
  • Rear seat space

Those usual suspects include the German big three: the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class. But you can also include the Jaguar XE, because both it and the Giulia put plenty of emphasis on being fun to drive, since they’re both available with rear-wheel drive and come with sophisticated suspension setups.

Powering the Giulia is a choice of petrol and diesel engines in a number of different outputs. Initially, the range started with a 197bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol, but this could be increased to 276bhp with the Veloce and Veloce Ti versions. The diesel range stems from a 2.2-litre four-cylinder with either 148bhp or 177bhp. Then there’s the top-of-the-range Quadrifoglio with a 2.9-litre V6 that kicks out 503bhp. All engines come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Standard equipment is decent, with all models getting an 8.8in infotainment system that in earlier models is controlled with a rotary dial, plus cruise control, dual-zone climate control and a host safety systems such as lane departure warning, forward collision alert and automatic emergency braking.

It came initially in four trims: Giulia, Super, Speciale and Veloce. The entry-level Giulia trim equips the Alfa with 16in alloy wheels, cruise control, rear parking sensors, a chrome exhaust pipe, LED rear lights and a wealth of safety technology - including that autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and forward collision warning, as mentioned - as standard. Inside there are manually adjustable front seats, a leather-clad steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, automatic wipers and lights, and Alfa's infotainment system complete with a 6.5in display, a DAB radio, and USB and Bluetooth connectivity.

Upgrade to Super and 17in alloys, aluminium door sills and part-leather seats are included alongside an uprated infotainment system with a larger 8.8in display and sat-nav, while opting for the Speciale adds numerous luxuries to the package. These include 18in alloy wheels shod in run-flat tyres, bi-xenon headlights, electrically adjustable and heated front sports seats, a heated steering wheel, electrically folding door mirrors and a sporty bodykit.

The range-topping Veloce model gets an unique set of alloys, an upgraded braking system, front parking sensors and lovely crafted aluminium paddle shifters. Those after a more thrilling drive can opt for the lunacy of the Quadrifoglio, which not only gets you a 2.9-litre V6 punching out 503bhp and the ability to propel the Giulia to 191mph at full chat, it also gets a wealth of additional equipment as standard too. These include 19in alloys, more powerful bi-xenon headlights, blind-spot monitoring system, interior ambient lighting, a bespoke leather and Alcantara upholstery, a rear-view camera and a quad-exhaust, not to mention Alfa's clever active aerodynamics package, active torque vectoring system, chassis control and dedicated race mode.

To drive, the Giulia is a lesson in how even a ‘dull’ executive car can be made to handle well. The first thing you’ll notice is the light yet lightning-quick steering that you get used to within a few miles. It helps to disguise the size of the Giulia and makes it feel really nimble, along with the added boon of making parking a breeze, as you can get a lot of steering lock with relatively few turns of the wheel.

The ride has a fluid quality over bumps and is particularly good on Giulias fitted with the adaptive dampers that come as part of an optional Performance Pack. They stiffen up in Dynamic mode, but when you enter a town or come across a poorly maintained bit of Tarmac, you can simply hit a button to slacken them off in an instant.

Inside the Giulia, the fit and finish can’t match that of the 3 Series or A4, but it is smarter than the XE. Space is also better in the Giulia than its British rival, although leg room in the rear still isn’t a patch on that of the A4. The boot, although its opening is rather awkward and hampers usability a little, is among the deepest in the class, and on Speciale versions there's a highly useful 40/20/40 split-folding rear bench as standard.

In 2020 the Giulia was treated to a number of minor updates, with a redesigned centre console and the infotainment system being upgraded to a touchscreen affair, albeit still with a rotary dial to control certain functions, and the interior materials being improved. Quality overall was said to be improved, too, with added advanced driver assistance systems and the Giulia's connectivity upgraded with smartphone mirroring now standard.

Trim names were changed at the same time, to Super, Sprint, Veloce, Veloce Ti and Lusso Ti. The 2.2-litre diesel engines were enhanced to 160 (158bhp) and 190 (187bhp) versions.

Further updates in 2022 trimmed the range to just the 197bhp 2.0-litre petrol and the 276bhp 2.0 280 Veloce, as well as the Quadrifoglio. Trims were renamed Estrema, Sprint and Veloce.

If you're interested in buying a used Alfa Romeo Giulia, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our used car classifieds site here.

Alfa Romeo Giulia back seats

Ownership cost

What used Alfa Romeo Giulia saloon will I get for my budget?

Prices for a 2016 or early 2017 Giulia with an average to high mileage start at around £15,000, this probably for a lower-powered diesel model. Meanwhile, below-average mileage Super models of the same vintage come in at about £16,000. A 2017 Speciale model with plenty of equipment is roughly £16,000, while a 276bhp Veloce begins at around £18,000. Spend around the same on a good condition 2018 car, and maybe around or up to £22,000 on a 2019 car with a nominal mileage. Expect to spend £25,000 on a post-facelift 2020 or 2021 car, and between £25,000 and £35,000 on a used 2022 car.

Quadrifoglio versions understandably cost more, but you can put one on your driveway now from as little as £40,000.

Alfa Romeo Giulia used

How much does it cost to run a Alfa Romeo Giulia saloon?

As long as you aren’t going for the Quadrifoglio (an official WLTP fuel economy figure of 27.2mpg), it shouldn’t cost you the earth to run a Giulia.

Diesel models are particularly frugal, since both the 148bhp and 177bhp versions of the 2.2-litre engine get a combined figure of 53.3mpg. The 197bhp 2.0-litre petrol gets 36.2mpg, while the 276bhp version is a little down of this at 33.6mpg.

All four-cylinder petrol Giulias should cost you £195 per year in tax. However, any Giulia registered after 1 April 2017 will be subject to the new flat rate fee currently £165 per year in road tax, although if your car was worth more than £40,000 when new (this includes the price of options), it will also be penalised by the £355 luxury car surcharge until the car is more than six years old.

Alfa Romeo servicing can be pricey through main dealers, although the brand offers an Easy Care servicing package for used cars that allow you to set up direct debit payments for upcoming services.

Our recommendations

Which used Alfa Romeo Giulia saloon should I buy?

This depends on how you’re planning to use your Giulia. If you do lots of miles, you’ll need the cheaper running costs of one of the earlier diesel models. While it is a slightly noisier engine than you’ll find in some of its rivals, it isn’t overly so and the eight-speed automatic does a good job of quietening things down at a cruise.

As an alternative, if you can afford the extra money both to buy and to run, or if your annual mileage is a little lower, we do love the 2.0 280 Veloce model. Petrolheads should look no further.

The standard Giulia comes with plenty of equipment, but of the early cars it’s the Super version that we would recommend because it has a slightly better interior and part-leather seats that give it a more premium feel.

Our favourite Alfa Romeo Giulia: 2.2 JTDM-2 Super

Alfa Romeo Giulia used

Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used Alfa Romeo Giulia saloon?

The Jaguar XE puts a similar emphasis on being very nice to drive as the Giulia does, thanks in no small part to its clever suspension that soaks up bumps with aplomb. However, it does take up a lot of space, which means the boot is on the small side and rear leg room is poor.

Remarkably, a used BMW 3 Series of the 2012-2019 vintage is not much more than an equivalent Giulia. This is most likely due to the fact that this generation has been replaced by an all-new version that has captured the public imagination but is too new to have made a dent on the used market yet. Either way, this version is still one of the best executive cars you can buy.

The Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class are also worth a shout. The latter has glitzier looks, while the former is more practical and its interior is made out of nicer materials.

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If you're interested in buying a used Alfa Romeo Giulia, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our used car classifieds site here.

Alfa Romeo Giulia infotainment