After the 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia received terrible reviews from Consumer Reports (although consumers at Kelly Blue Book loved the 2020 Giulia), the Italian carmaker looked to restructure the Alfa Romeo Giulia line in 2021. According to MotorTrend, one of these changes included cutting down the number of trims offered for the 2021 Giulia from seven to four. These four trims include the Sprint (the base model), Ti, Ti Sport, and the Quadrifoglio.

One notable fact about the 2021 Alfa Giulia is that none of the trims come standard with all-wheel drive (AWD). AWD is an available add-on on all Giulia trims except the Quadrifoglio trim (which is exclusively rear-wheel drive). This article will break down how AWD would be useful and how much it would cost to add-on AWD to the 2021 Giulia. 

The 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia 

The Alfa Romeo Giulia is a competitor to the BMW 3 Series. Although Consumer Reports gave the 2021 Giulia 12th place out of 14 other luxury compact vehicles, they still thought there was a lot to love about the 2021 Giulia. 

The 2021 Giulia scored well in its style and exterior appearance – rocking the trademark Alfa Romeo look. Furthermore, the 2021 Giulia pleased testers when it came to handling, with Consumer Reports stating that it drives like a sports car. It also did well in safety with standard forward collision warning and emergency braking coming standard with all 2021 Giulia trims. What Consumer Reports did not love so much was the 2021 Giulia’s tight rear space, limited cargo, and lower scores in quietness and solidness than the BMW 3 Series. 

The Quadrifoglio trim is exclusively rear-wheel drive 

When it comes to the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, the model has a much more powerful engine (550 hp in comparison to 280 hp in other trims). Additionally, the Quadrifoglio struts superior handling and grip when compared to the other trim. The Quadrifoglio also comes standard with track-oriented tires and a 2.0-liter turbo V6 engine 

As mentioned earlier, the Giulia Quadrifoglio is exclusively rear-wheel drive. Unlike all other 2021 Giulia trims which have the option for AWD at a $2,000 premium, the Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn’t come with this option. An even starker contrast is the 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio with AWD coming standard on all trims except the base Sprint trim on the luxury SUV. 

How is all-wheel drive useful?

When it comes to rear-wheel drive (RWD), the rear wheels are receiving power from the engines and pushing the vehicle forward. This provides the driver with a more spirited and sporty drive but is not always practical. AWD is when the vehicle is pushed and pulled forward as all four wheels are being powered by the engine, giving AWD the best handling and quickest acceleration. 

AWD can be very useful in a vehicle, as it can help provide drivers with a more handy driving experience. This can be especially useful if you live in a snowy state, you’re driving in the mountains, you frequently drive on beaches, or you frequent dirt roads. Therefore, the omission of an AWD option on the 2021 Giulia Quadrifoglio can be especially troublesome if you frequent the driving mentioned above.

How much do the different Alfa Romeo Giulia trims cost? 

When it comes to pricing, the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia has a starting price of $40,750 for the Giulia Sprint (the base model). The next trim is the Giulia Ti which has a starting price of $43,995. This is followed by the Giulia Ti Sport with a starting price of $47,195. Lastly, there is the Quadrifoglio, with prices for the best trim starting at $76,045.