Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce long term test – can Italy beat Germany?

I seem to have spent my life in the Giulia since taking over custody from John Barker. Pretty much the first thing I did in it was a road trip to the Swiss Alps to visit my in-laws. Preferring wheels to wings, the 1500-mile round-trip is one of the most comprehensive tests of a car’s all-round capabilities I know.

The Alfa proved to be a great partner, making swift, smooth progress and remaining extremely comfortable throughout the 12-hour each-way journeys. It’s got a really useful 450-plus mile range, which meant we could really make some progress, and was nudging 37mpg by the time we arrived in the mountains. Not bad considering we were cruising at a decent lick, at least until we crossed into Switzerland.

> Alfa Romeo Giulia review – get one while you still can

At the other end of the scale, we pressed the Giulia into service transporting Mrs M and her beautiful, handcrafted aprons (visit napron.co.uk with your bank card at the ready) to a local Christmas market. We got quizzical looks from the other traders – all in vans or estate cars – as we unloaded a 3m x 3m Easy Up shelter, 1.2m table, lights, mannequin, clothes rails and two enormous boxes from the sleek four-door saloon. There really is a ton of space when you fold the rear seats down. And now, of course, I’m imagining a GTA estate version. What a car that would be.

I grew-up around an assortment of Alfas (’Suds and GTVs) so I’ve always had a soft spot for them. The Giulia’s interior reminds me of them, especially the hooded instruments, which have more character than most LCD displays. The heavily bolstered seats are yielding but brilliantly supportive, and the driving position is pretty much spot-on – unlike my folks’ old Alfas, which defined the ‘Italianate’ description so beloved of motoring journalists of the day.

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We had snow a few weeks ago, which would ordinarily be fun in a rear-drive saloon, but the Giulia’s electronics cannot be disabled. I really don’t understand why, as it completely neuters the car’s behaviour. You can slither around a bit in the snow, but only momentarily. There’s very little fun to be had in the rain, and in the dry it could pass for a front-wheel-drive car with uncorrupted steering. It’s tidy and poised and rides very nicely, but an Alfa should go further than that. This car clearly could, if only Alfa would allow it.

Similarly, while capable and likeable, the 2-litre four-cylinder engine doesn’t have the sparkle I’d hoped for. Reverting to the lexicon of 1980s motoring journalists, I’d describe it as lacking brio. It was never going to be like an old 156 Twin-Spark unit, but it could be a bit more vocal and have some more interesting topography mapped into its power and torque delivery.

And yet, despite the areas in need of Alfa‑fication the Giulia is a lovely car. It looks gorgeous (those wheels!) and has that rare quality of just feeling ‘right’ as soon as you settle into it. It’s certainly a much more desirable car than the equivalent Audi, Benz or Beemer. It just needs a metaphorical shot of espresso to give it that missing something.

This story was first featured in evo issue 318.