Is there a more romantic name in the auto industry than Alfa Romeo? I mean, sure it gets a bit messy when you start thinking about WW2 and Mussolini but putting that aside, the name just has a certain romantic connotation to it. Maybe it’s just me, or maybe it’s packed deep in its Italian sensibilities…but either way, there’s something unique about it within the historical and dreamy pages of our nation’s love for cars.
Romantic notions of cruising through the Italian countryside or eating fresh pasta with red wine won’t help you when it comes to shopping for a vehicle. So, let’s put all that aside for a moment (and just a moment, because I want to get back to that pasta and wine) and look at what Alfa Romeo actually offers these days. To put it simply, there are three models available in the 2019 lineup, offering a little something for most people – though if you’re looking for a pickup truck, then you’re out of luck. Let’s take a closer look at that lineup and see what these three vehicles have to offer. Motortrend helps with a buyer’s guide as well.
If you’re considering an Alfa Romeo, then hopefully this will help point you in the right direction.
2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia
Let’s start with the 2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia, as good a place as any for getting into what the current lineup has to offer. First things first, this is a sedan, which you might not expect from a manufacturer more synonymous with racecars, but it still offers incredible overall performance. It has a sleek and stylish exterior, though perhaps not quite as much so as the 4C Spider, although it will turn heads on the road.
There are quite a few different trim levels available, which means you can customize the Alfa Romeo Giulia substantially, which is always good. It is available with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, depending on what you want, and both are solid options overall. The standard engine is a 2.0L 4-cylinder beauty that offers up to 280 hp and 306 lb-ft of torque for excellent overall performance.
Inside the 2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia, you get a lot of great features and a sleek design that reminds you you’re in a beautiful Italian vehicle. You get the technology you’d expect like support for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with Bluetooth connectivity. An available Harman Kardon sound system really kicks up the entertainment features in the Giulia. There is also an available driver assistance package that includes a lot of great active safety features such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, forward collision warning, and available blind-spot and cross-path detection.
If you want even more impressive performance, then there is the available Quadrifoglio edition that really ramps up the power. The Giulia Quadrifoglio features a 2.9L Twin-Turbo V6 engine that produces up to 505 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. With this model, you can go from 0 to 60 in just 3.8 seconds, and it has a top speed of 191 mph. The Quadrifoglio edition will definitely cost you, starting at nearly $74,000; while the standard Alfa Romeo Giulia starts at a more modest $38,545.
2019 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider
If you’re looking for more of a classic roadster with a sleek, high-performance design, then the 4C Spider is probably going to scratch that itch. While the Giulia is a sedan with the soul of a sports car, the 4C Spider is a coupe through and through, with a targa roof for that extra touch of style. This really is a high-performance model from the get-go, so if that’s not what you want, then you’ll certainly want to look elsewhere.
On the other hand, if a sports car is just right for you, then the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is a great option. First of all, this car has a mid-engine configuration for incredible handling and performance – it is an absolute pleasure to drive. That engine is a 1.7L Turbocharged 4-cylinder beauty that offers up to 237 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 6-speed twin-clutch automatic transmission. Thanks to its lightweight design, that’s more than enough power to propel this Spider from 0 to 60 in just 4.1 seconds. Car and Driver shows this speed.
One of the few criticisms the 4C Spider has among those who have driven it is the somewhat barebones interior in terms of overall features. Everything about the Spider is designed for performance and keeping weight down as much as possible. You still get a rich interior, but you won’t forget that you’re in a sports car first, and a luxury model second.
There’s only one trim level to choose from, with no Quadrifoglio option available, but considering how fast this thing already goes, that seems just fine to me. The 4C Spider starts off at about $67,000 before any additional features or options. Considering the design of this sleek little monster, however, no one is going to miss the fact that you splurged on something special.
2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
And now for something completely different: you probably don’t think of “SUV” when you hear the name “Alfa Romeo” but that’s exactly what we have here. There 2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is an SUV with the high-performance heart of an Italian sports car. It’s kind of an interesting creature if I’ve ever seen one, with a lot of features and innovations to offer.
Just like with the Giulia, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio has a lot of different trim levels available, so there’s something for pretty much everyone here. The Stelvio comfortably seats 5 with plenty of interior cargo space – more than you’d probably expect for a model designed to be fast and sporty. And that’s something that really sets this apart from a lot of other SUVs on the market; it really is as quick and nimble as you would expect for an Alfa Romeo. They might be new to the SUV market, but they’ve caught on quickly, and this is a great overall model.
While it’s available with either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, most folks agree that the all-wheel drive is the way to go, especially when paired with the Ti trim levels for better interior features and options. In terms of performance, the Stelvio features an impressive 2.0L Turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that provides up to 280 hp and 306 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. With this engine and its lightweight design, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio can go from 0 to 60 in just 5.4 seconds and has a top speed of 144 mph.
If that’s not good enough for you, and you really want to push the boundaries of what an SUV can do, then there’s a Quadrifoglio edition available for truly incredible performance. The 2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio features a 2.9L Twin-Turbo V6 engine that can offer up to 505 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, letting it go from 0 to 60 in just 3.6 seconds and providing a top speed of 176 mph. Yes, it’s still an SUV, and yes, you read that right.
The standard Alfa Romeo Stelvio starts off at $40,545, which is a fair price for a high-performance SUV. Kelly Blue Book gives you a true value price. If you really want to crank up what you can do and make people wonder how that SUV just flew past them on the highway, then the Stelvio Quadrifoglio starts off at a more robust price just under $74,000. An ultra-high-performance SUV might not be in everyone’s wheelhouse, but you have to admit that it’s unique.
