2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia

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.

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.

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.

The 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia comes equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 under the hood that puts out an impressive 280 horsepower and a class-leading 306 pound-feet of max torque kicking in at just 2,000 rpm. This engine is mated to an 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission which also has steering-mounted paddle shifters. The drivetrain config includes an RWD system as standard with an optional AWD for an extra cost. The Giulia Quadrifoglio, the more performance-focused sedan, derives power from a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine which puts out a whopping 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of max torque. 

The Giulia is the quickest car in the competition covering the 0-60MPH in just 5.1 seconds and does the standing quarter-mile in just 14.1 seconds. All these performance bits ensure that the Giulia does not fall back in the competition where it has to beat a few of the best-selling luxury sedans. 

The Giulia is the most powerful one here along with the quickest 0-60mph and quarter-mile times. It is followed by the BMW 330i which is surprisingly not too far behind in the drag race. The Genesis G70 and the Merc C Class fall back in the competition but among the two, the C-Class performs a bit better. 

How well does the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia handle?

The 2021 Giulia handles like a true sports car with a precise steering and sporty suspension setup which helps in the overall performance. While taking corners, the car feels very confident with minimal body roll. The ride quality can be further upgraded with the assistance packages that will bring in the active suspension. The riding modes- Dynamic, Natural, and Advanced Efficiency alters the engine power, suspension, and electronics according to the driver’s needs.

Braking Performance

The braking performance of the 2021 Giulia is as impressive as it can get with 13-inch front rotors and 12.5-inch rear rotors. Also, it is the lightest in the competition. The braking distance is not available at the moment but Alfa Romeo claims that the Giulia has impeccable stopping power, coupled with the sportier suspension system and excellent handling dynamics coming into play. 

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz C300 has the biggest brake rotors in both front and rear in the competition but the 60-0 miles per hour numbers are not available. All four cars offer decent braking performance with the Guilia being a bit more aggressive with sportier suspension and lower curb weight. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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.