2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia

Pros: High performance; Italian style; wide range of available safety features

Cons: Reliability not yet established; few dealers

CG Says: The 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia revamps its model lineup and shuffles equipment. The base model is now badged Sprint. The Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan is a BMW 3-Series challenger, that’s available in high-performance Quadrifoglio trim with a 505-hp turbo V6 or in tamer turbocharged 4-cylinder models.

This premium compact sedan has standard rear-wheel drive, but also offers all-wheel drive. Quadrifoglio packs a Ferrari-derived twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 engine that is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Alfa Romeo claims a 0-60 time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 191 mph. Cylinder deactivation and engine start/stop help fuel economy. The turbo four is a 2.0-liter unit that develops 280 horsepower and is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Available high-performance features include an active-aero front splitter, which adjusts the carbon-fiber front spoiler for optimal aerodynamics and downforce; adaptive damping suspension; a torque vectoring differential that optimizes torque to each wheel separately; Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes; and Alfa DNA Pro drive mode selector, which modifies dynamic behavior among Dynamic, Natural, Advanced Efficiency, and Race settings.

Available safety features include forward-collision warning, automatic braking, blind-spot alert, rear cross-traffic alert, and bi-xenon headlamps with adaptive cornering and washers. The Alfa Romeo Giulia brings Italian style and performance into the highly competitive premium compact market.