Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce Carbon 2021 Car Review

Instead, the 2021 Giulia has had several upgrades to its interior, as well as some key safety systems that only help increase the appeal of this Italian beauty.

The Giulia Veloce Carbon starts from $89,990 (+ORC).

It's a looker

Where do we start? Alfas have a reputation for being good looking cars, and the Giulia Veloce Carbon does not disappoint.

The famed triangular grille of Alfa is very prominent, and is further accentuated by the sleek headlights that almost point towards it.

At 4,643mm in length, the Giulia comes in slightly shorter than its German counterparts the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C Class, which come in at 4,762mm, 4,709mm and 4,686mm respectively. Despite this we’d argue it has more road presence, but that’s perhaps due to the fact you seldom see Giulias out and about.

The darkened 19-inch alloy wheels complimented the traditional red colour of our test vehicle, and worked well with the black exhaust tips and carbon fibre accents on the rear spoiler, sills and wing mirrors.

Interior upgrades

The carbon fibre also garnishes the inside of the Giulia, and is found across the centre console, on the dash and around the interior door handles.

There is a new infotainment system which now includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and it’s intuitive and easy enough to use. The screen is 8.8-inches in size, and can be controlled either via touch or by the click wheel located behind the gear selector.

Your favourite playlists can be heard through an impressive 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and we’re happy to report that wireless charging is included for your smartphone.

Some of the largest paddles we’ve seen in a car are mounted either side of the steering wheel, which also mounts the start/stop button – a feature we were very impressed with.

The leather sport seats are heated and are comfortable to sit in – they grip you around the waist thanks to the design. Leather is also found across the dash and on the inside of the doors. Besides some of the plastic components like the indicator stalks and buttons on the steering wheel, the whole interior feels very high quality and makes the driving experience all the more better.

Rear space is ample for a sedan, so too is the 480 litres of boot space (which is on par with the A4 and 3-Series).

How does it drive?

An excellent transmission and the Alfa Active Suspension system help make the Giulia an absolute dream to drive.

There’s a certain driving experience that only cars like an Alfa Romeo can produce, and the aforementioned placement of the start/stop button, the amount of carbon fibre on show and the aluminium sports pedals only adds to that.

The 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine produces 206kW and 400Nm, which equates to a 0-100km/h time of just 5.7 seconds. Although not overly loud, it certainly packs a punch despite having just four cylinders. Economy-wise, the Giulia is surprisingly frugal at 6.1L/100km with a CO2 fuel efficiency rating of 141g/km.

Alfa uses its ‘DNA’ system to allow the driver to flick through three pre-set driving modes. The sportiest mode, Dynamic, is where the Giulia really comes to life – perfect for those windy country roads. In Dynamic, the engine’s response time is enhanced and the overall feel of the car improves, giving you even more confidence in the corners.

The eight-speed automatic transmission drives power to the rear wheels and is simply brilliant. It’s responsive, and always seems to find you the perfect gear, no matter the situation.

Safety

One of the most important aspects of this model upgrade is the inclusion of a handful of new safety systems. These include Lane Keep Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking, Driver Attention Alert and more.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia received a five-star ANCAP rating back in 2016.

Verdict

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce Carbon is a world-class sedan that drives very well and has exceptionally good looks. On top of this, it’s also more affordable than the 3-Series, A4 and C Class that we mentioned earlier.

Safety systems

• Lane Keep Assist
• Active Blind Spot Assist
• Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking
• Driver Attention Alert
• Rain Sensing Wipers
• Active Cruise Control
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Six airbags

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