Alfa Romeo is a marque which has always been synonymous with performance motoring, so a diesel Alfa might at first seem a bit of an anomaly.
But if you get behind the wheel of the Giulietta 2.0-litre JTD and move the DNA switch by the gear lever to Dynamic you will realise very quickly just how wrong you can be.
The transition is startling. It’s as if an invisible foot suddenly pushes down on the accelerator as the car goes into performance mode.
In the standard setting the Giulietta feels cool, calm and collected but with still enough torque for enjoyable motoring.
Slip it into Dynamic and its whole personality changes.
This sedate hatchback suddenly grows horns and offers the sort of performance that has made enthusiasts return to the Alfa stable again and again.
The change means the response to the accelerator is far quicker, the steering sharper and the engine delivers better performance.
You are suddenly driving a sports car rather than a family saloon. Several other manufacturers offer similar features allowing you to switch to a sports mode but in a lot of cases the difference is minimal.
In the Alfa it most certainly is not.
The Giulietta is the car for those people who want a sports car but need the practicality of five seats.
But even though it’s a five seater it still has coupe looks thanks to the concealed handles on the rear doors, making it appear to be a three-door.
With its round, muscular lines, distinctive teardrop headlights, central Alfa shield grille and offset front number plate the Giulietta is not a car you will confuse with anything else on the road.
Inside the sporting theme continues with aluminium pedals – but sadly no left foot rest, high backed sports front seats with distinctive red stitching – to match that on the steering wheel and gear shift – and deep-set sporting dials.
There is more than adequate leg and shoulder room for all five passengers and generous boot space.
On the road this diesel offers refined comfort with sporting handling and good feedback from the steering.
The road holding is impressive even with five people on board.
The 2.0-litre engine offers an abundance of torque and while responsive in normal mode you will get more fun by leaving the car permanently in Dynamic mode, although you have to switch to this every time you re-start the car.
A third selection is also available on the DNA system, the all weather mode, which gears the car up for driving in snow or heavy rain.
The Giulietta offers a good combination of performance motoring with sensible economy, not to mention an abundance of Italian flair.
It really is a car for someone who wants to stand out in the crowd and drive something with a little bit of panache.
And let’s face it, most of us want that.
Fast Facts
Model: Alfa Romeo Giulietta JTD Veloce
Price: £22,550
Mechanical: 1956cc, 4 cyl, 140bhp diesel engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox.
Max speed: 127 mph
0-60 mp h: 9.0 secs
Combined mpg: 62.8
CO2 emissions: 119 g/km
Insurance group: 20
Warranty: 3 years/unlimited mileage
