Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatchback

Drive

It's the way in which the Alfa Romeo Giulietta blends comfort and performance that impresses the most. It's fun on faster, twisty roads, but quiet and refined on bumpy city streets. All versions come with the DNA system that debuted in the MiTo supermini. It offers three settings - Dynamic, Normal and All-weather - the sportiest Dynamic setting makes the steering heavier and the throttle more sensitive. The two TCT models include a semi-automatic gearbox, fitted with optional shift paddles behind the steering wheel. Every engine is turbocharged, but the more powerful petrol and diesel options are the best - particularly the 1.4 MultiAir petrol with 170bhp. It has lots of low-rev punch for overtaking. The 105bhp JTDm diesel is noisier than the more powerful 2.0 diesel, but both pack plenty of punch.

Comfort

The Giulietta's cabin shuts out wind, road and tyre noise at cruising speed. It also glides over poorly surfaced roads. However, a poor driving position spoils comfort. The main issue is a cramped foot well - which means the pedals are placed too close together and there's no footrest for your clutch foot. The steering wheel is too far away and the pedals too close, regardless of how you adjust the wheel and seat. Rear visibility isn't great thanks to a small rear window and thick door pillars, and the dashboard layout takes time to figure out. Those in the rear will find there's less headroom than in a Ford Focus.

Reliability

The Giulietta is launched in the hope that it will banish Alfa's poor reliability record. Certainly the quality of materials is excellent, if not quite up to VW Golf standards. Its safety credentials are exemplary, though - class leading in fact. It's a five-star Euro NCAP car, and scored 97 per cent in the adult occupant crash tests.

Practicality

The 350-litre boot is a little small and the lip is high, so it can be awkward to load. All versions get a 60/40 split folding seat though. Rear storage, like rear space, is tight, while up front it's a similar story, with a minuscule compartment in the central armrest and an averagely proportioned glovebox.

Value for money

It's not cheap, but all versions of the Giulietta come with air-conditioning and electric windows all round as standard. Turismo models look basic with their plastic wheel trims, though. Higher spec Lusso and Veloce versions feel plush, with sportier styling and Alfa's excellent Blue&Me combined Bluetooth phone and MP3 player connections.

Running costs

The 170bhp 1.4-litre MultiAir petrol engine is more economical than the 120bhp 1.4-litre petrol version - boasting 48.7mpg compared to 44.1mpg. They’re both impressive, although neither matches the 60mpg economy of the diesel versions. Even the high-performance 235bhp Cloverleaf comes close to 40mpg. The Giulietta's safety and security strengths contribute to relatively low insurance costs as well.