Used 2022 Alfa Romeo Giulia

The 2022 Alfa Romeo Giulia premium compact sedan’s Italian verve and style shake up a class dominated by German cars. Stand on any street corner, and it won’t be long until a BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, or Mercedes-Benz C-Class goes by. You might need a packed lunch and maybe a sleeping bag before an Alfa Romeo Giulia sighting.

Exclusivity is a good thing in the rarefied world of luxury cars. Up to a point. Trying to find a dealer for the next service is less attractive. And once inside a Giulia, it isn’t quite as special as one might hope, given the arguably fine exterior design.

Fire up either of the two engines, though, and any misgivings evaporate, feel-good pheromones kick in, and then comes the sudden realization — nothing else drives quite like an Alfa Romeo.

When a luxury car comes with a sport suspension and a carbon-fiber driveshaft as standard, it’s a good omen for driving enthusiasts. That latter item is, of course, lighter than a steel version. So there’s less mass to get spinning, resulting in sharp reactions to throttle inputs.

It’s predictable for purists to choose rear-wheel drive (RWD), but it really does make a difference. There’s a better balance over something with front-wheel drive. And it’s great that the 2022 Giulia offers all-wheel drive (AWD) for those who live in regions that experience bad weather, but the majority of the top driver’s machines only send their energy to the rear axle.

The turbocharged 4-cylinder engine in the three lower trims makes 280 horsepower. That’s a wonderful amount and more than equivalent models from the competition. This mix of a lively engine and a chassis with that particular Alfa Romeo magic makes the Giulia highly entertaining.

Turning the entertainment factor up to maximum, the 505-horsepower Giulia Quadrifoglio has an adaptive suspension as standard, a torque-vectoring differential for optimum grip and traction, a Race setting among its driving modes, and an operatic quad-pipe performance exhaust system.

German rivals have infotainment systems with onboard digital assistants, summoned by saying something like “Hey, BMW” or “Hey, Mercedes” — depending on the car’s make.

Drivers in the 2022 Giulia can say “Hey, Alfa” all they want, but they’re not going to get a response. Which is an indication of how behind the tech curve the Giulia is compared with more modern competitors.

Alfa Romeo cares more about different kinds of curves. The type that thrill as the driver steers around them and accelerates toward the next. Hence the sport seats up front, the way the dashboard angles toward the person behind the wheel (speaking of, the Quadrifoglio has a carbon-fiber steering wheel), and the ease with which the ideal driving position is found.

The twin cowls over the instruments are a traditional Alfa Romeo touch, adding to the specialness of the driving experience. The shallow sunshades add virtually nothing. And rear-passenger space is not that great for the class. The trunk area of 13.4 cubic feet will swallow three sets of golf clubs, but the BMW 3 Series can take four.

This is the aspect that draws in potential buyers. It’s the test drive that clinches the deal. Arguably the most handsome premium compact sedan, the 2022 Giulia enhances modern appearances with reminders of the marque’s fine heritage.

The triangular grille is known as a scudetto (little shield) and has been on the nose of many classic Alfa cars. The 5-hole alloy wheels that come standard on the Veloce are just the most contemporary iteration of a design that’s been used for decades. Over those years, Alfa Romeo has won fans who care about the marque and its styling in a heartfelt way that cars from other countries just can’t seem to inspire.

The Giulia Quadrifoglio comes standard with a carbon fiber hood, roof, and rear spoiler. They help keep weight down and lower the center of gravity compared with a tin-topped Giulia.

White is the only “free” exterior paint choice with the regular Giulia. Others cost from $330 to $2,200.

Q4 ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM
Alfa Romeo’s Q4 all-wheel-drive system is optional in the Sprint, Ti, and Veloce versions of the 2022 Giulia. So people who live in areas that sometimes suffer Mother Nature’s darker moods can still brighten their day with a drive in an Alfa Romeo that sends up to 60 percent of torque to the front wheels if necessary.

QUADRIFOGLIO
It means 4-leaf clover and was a lucky charm for Alfa Romeo back in those motorsport days when hay bales were considered adequate for track safety. This graphic device has adorned many a sporty Alfa since. That’s just decoration, though, on what is a stunning high-performance sports sedan capable of sprinting from standstill to 60 mph in about 3.6 seconds. With a Ferrari-derived engine, no less.

The basic Sprint version of the 2022 Giulia is not really basic at all. It comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, front brakes from Brembo (a highly regarded Italian brake manufacturer), rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry/ignition, remote start, selectable drive modes, self-dimming mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated/leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather upholstery, heated/10-way power-adjustable front seats, aluminum pedals, and ambient LED cabin lighting.

An 8.8-inch touchscreen controls an infotainment system that includes navigation, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, wireless charging, four USB ports, satellite radio, and an 8-speaker audio system.

Advanced driver aids include full-speed forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop/go, automatic high beams, front/rear parking sensors, and lane departure warning.

After Sprint comes Ti, Veloce (an Italian word for fast), and Quadrifoglio. The Ti adds a dual-pane sunroof and 18-inch alloy wheels, both of which are optional in the Sprint. Veloce trim has 19-inch alloy wheels, aluminum interior accents, aluminum shift paddles, and a limited-slip differential.

These three models are eligible for all-wheel drive. As far as extra driver aids are concerned, though, they’re only available in the top three trims. The Active Assist Plus package brings blind-spot monitoring, along with assistance for highway driving and traffic jams.

The Quadrifoglio high-performance variant has upgraded Brembo brakes at each wheel, 19-inch alloy wheels wearing Pirelli performance tires, adaptive suspension, leather-covered front sport seats, and a 14-speaker/900-watt Harman Kardon surround-sound system. You can also order the Ti and Veloce versions with this audio setup. The Quadrifoglio offers even more track-focused front seats from respected motorsport supplier Sparco, covered with leather and simulated suede (Alcantara).

In the base and Ti models, the 2022 Giulia deploys a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine generating a muscular 280 horsepower. An 8-speed automatic transmission is standard, along with rear-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is optional with this engine.

The Quadrifoglio has a Ferrari-developed, twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6. It generates 505 horsepower and connects to an 8-speed automatic transmission. This model is resolutely rear-wheel-drive.

Both engines have a fuel-saving stop/restart function that saves a few drops of fuel at idle. And both require premium gasoline.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
280 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm
306 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000-4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/33 mpg (RWD), 23/31 mpg (AWD)

2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6
505 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
443 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500-5,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/25 mpg