This Is the Cheapest New Alfa Romeo You Can Buy In 2022, Should You Go For It?
In 1910 Alfa Romeo was founded in the city of Milan, Italy. Almost immediately after producing their first vehicle, the company ventured into motor racing, competing in the 1911 Targa Florio endurance race. And it is from motorsport that Alfa Romeo gets its guiding mission when building cars.
Known for excellent handling and stunning good looks, Alfa Romeo has been in operation for 112 years, making some of the fastest, prettiest, and most desirable cars on the planet.
In 2022, the cheapest new Alfa Romeo you can buy is the Giulia sedan. The Giulia Sprint starts at $42,950, but is the base spec car worthy of the iconic badge, or should you opt for another trim?
2022 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint: Power, performance, and economy
The Giulia comes in four trim levels from the base Sprint to the Ti, Veloce, and the hot Quadrifoglio. Except for the Quadrifoglio, all trim levels come with the same 280 horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. An eight-speed automatic is standard as well as rear-wheel drive. Selecting the all-wheel drive option adds $2000 to the base price.
The Giulia Sprint will hit 60 mph from a standstill in 5.5 seconds and top out at 149 mph. The EPA estimates you will get 24 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.
Where the Giulia really shines is in the handling department. Alfa Romeo has done a great job making the Giulia feel sharp, responsive, and driver-focused. It feels more engaging to drive than a BMW 3 Series and more controlled, with better feedback than the Mercedes-Benz C Class.
Exterior design and features
The current Giulia has been available, nearly unchanged, since 2017. That is not necessarily bad, as the Alfa is a great-looking car. The Sprint trim gets 17-inch wheels, Bi-Xenon headlights, power-folding and heated mirrors, as well as LED taillights.
Unfortunately, there is only one color offered as standard, white. All other paint options, including the correct Alfa Rosso red, add $330 to $660 to the cost. A sunroof is a $1,350 option, which is standard on other cars in this class.
Comfort and multimedia
On the inside, you’ll find black leather seats that are heated front and rear. You also get an 8.8-inch infotainment display with navigation and an eight-speaker sound system. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity are supported.
The interior is very driver-centric, which is excellent since this is a driver’s car. Controls are easy to operate, and the interior has a nice, high-end feel. The rear seats are tight, and if you have a rear-facing car seat or have passengers above six feet tall, it will be a bit of a squeeze to get everyone to fit comfortably.
Safety features
The standard safety features are pretty basic and include automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. A backup camera, park assist, and traction control are also included, but if you want more advanced features, you’ll need to select the Ti trim to get the Active Assist Plus Package ($1,000).
The NHTSA and IIHS have not crash-tested the Giulia, but over in Europe, it has a five-star crash test rating.
Is the 2022 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint worth it?
Let’s address the elephant in the room, reliability. The Giulia, and all Alfa Romeos, have a checkered history with reliability. If you buy a Giulia, don’t expect it to have the same trouble-free running as a Honda Accord. With that said, there is no other car in its class that handles and feels as good as the Giulia.
If sporty driving is your number one criteria in a new car, then yes, you should consider the Giulia. However, BMW’s 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz’s C Class have more standard features, more comfort, more luxury, and more space for less price.
From a purely numbers-based analysis, the Giulia Sprint is just not up to the same standards as its competitors. But if you ignore logic and listen to your heart, this car makes perfect sense. That really does sum up the Alfa Romeo ownership experience; it tugs at your heartstrings in ways that other vehicles don’t.
Related: The Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm We Want Can’t Be Bought In the US
