--- title: "The 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti Group Review: If Only More Sedans Had This Much Character" description: "Alfa Romeo's four-door may have its weak spots, but they make its many strengths seem all the sweeter." date: "2018-04-03" modified: "2018-04-03" authors: - name: "Andrew Siceloff" job_title: "Senior Video Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/andrew-siceloff" - name: "Mike Spinelli" job_title: "VP of Content" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/mike-spinelli" - name: "Will Sabel Courtney" job_title: "Contributor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/will-sabel-courtney" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/19831/the-2018-alfa-romeo-giulia-ti-group-review-a-sport-sedan-with-flaws-that-add-character" categories: - "Alfa Romeo Giulia" - "Alfa Romeo Reviews" - "Car Reviews" tags: - "Alfa Romeo" - "Car Reviews" - "Giulia" - "sedan" - "slack review" - "sports car" --- # The 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti Group Review: If Only More Sedans Had This Much Character ![]() *\www.thedrive.com\* *Three of* The Drive*’s staffers—*[*Mike Spinelli*](), [*Will Sabel Courtney*]()*,* *and* [*Andrew Siceloff*]()—*recently spent time with the* [*2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia*]() *Ti**. They discussed the finer merits and detractors of this hybrid crossover via* [*Slack*]()*, an instant message program with a fun ability to summon random gifs based on what users type. The following is a partial transcript of that conversation.* **willscourtney** So, how about [that Alfa Romeo Giulia]()? **mikespin** I really liked it **asiceloff** Yeah same. even through the NY grime that had accumulated...still looked real perdy **mikespin** The Quadrifoglio is excellent, but I wasn't expecting the two liter to be as sharp as it is **willscourtney** Me neither. It was damn peppy Engine didn't have a lot of character but it made up for it with that midrange **asiceloff** Definite pep **mikespin** Yeah. The engine is all midrange. It's kind of a workaday engine, but it's got decent torque at a pretty wide band. Kind of a perfect performance-commuter engine. **willscourtney** \*midrange\* ![giphy-downsized.gif]() **GIPHY** **asiceloff** Yeah agreed, I only had it in city driving and it seemed like a great daily **willscourtney** And those giant paddle shifters made keeping it in said midrange really enjoyable. They look like some sort of terrifying ninja weapon. **asiceloff** But if we are talking that, I'd like to talk comfort, that backseat is pretty small one of few cars that was hard to pile in to **willscourtney** Yeah. When we crammed four people in there for that Whole Foods run, it was...tight. Admittedly, I was one of the four. But still. **mikespin** They did their best with the space. The carveouts for the front seatbacks were enough for me, though arguably I'm only in the mid fives in height. **asiceloff** You should be able to fit four adults somewhat comfortably **willscourtney** I don't think there's anything arguable about that, @mikespin. You are absolutely in the mid-fives. I did think the interior was well-designed. The seats, in particular, looked and felt nice. **mikespin** I was disappointed with the interior design and materials, though. Hard to get out of an Audi and into this. ![message-editor%2F1522693571182-alfa-int.jpg]() **Alfa Romeo** **willscourtney** Was just about to say that. Well, the material part. **asiceloff** I mostly felt that in the back, seemed like they ran out of budget **mikespin** I like the gauges. **willscourtney** They did a great job blending the infotainment screen into its surroundings. All those companies that basically superglue iPads onto the dash could learn a thing or two. **asiceloff** Yeah I didn't feel that \[the materials were disappointing\] in the driver's seat I'll also say that the brakes felt a little soft But I'm also being nitpicky because I really like the car **mikespin** They have that drive-by-wire vagueness. They felt wooden to me. Not great to modulate. **willscourtney** \*fly by wire\* ![giphy-downsized.gif]() **GIPHY** **asiceloff** that was beautiful **mikespin** But what a great chassis. Really sharp. Quick steering. **willscourtney** No, the brakes were definitely soft at the top of the travel, too. LOVED the steering **mikespin** That's what Alfa's doing the best right now. Even the Stelvio. Sharpness **asiceloff** Yeah you nailed it, driving around traffic was really fun **willscourtney** I would buy it for the steering and the dynamics. Well, lease it. **asiceloff** Leasing it is the way to go \*nailed it\* ![giphy-downsized.gif]() **GIPHY** **willscourtney** And then just play "Mrs Robinson" on a loop \*the graduate\* ![giphy-downsized.gif]() **GIPHY** **mikespin** If it had a BMW S54 inline six it would be the perfect car **willscourtney** To be fair, most cars could be improved with an S54 **mikespin** Definitely this chassis could. **asiceloff** What was the price tested? **willscourtney** $50K, about **mikespin** LOW MILEAGE LEASE **willscourtney** I really wish [they had an intermediate model between this and the Quad](). **mikespin** Yeah **willscourtney** Like [an AMG 43 type thing](). **asiceloff** YUP **mikespin** They don't have an engine for it **willscourtney** I know. It'd just wind up being an even-more-boosted four ![message-editor%2F1522693594789-alfa-rear.jpg]() **Alfa Romeo** **asiceloff** Who is this car perfect for? **willscourtney** I think, honestly, people like us. Folks who want a daily that's fun to drive, but don't need the room of an SUV **mikespin** Me in my next job as an accountant at a firm in the suburbs. **willscourtney** Haha **asiceloff** So someone who doesn't have a giant family and that needs a good, fun commuter. **mikespin** Honestly, an adult commute on nice b-roads would be pretty sweet. **willscourtney** Yeah. And clearly has to care about either a) driving fun or b) fashion and appearance **asiceloff** Yeah, architects? **willscourtney** Because an Alfa Romeo is never the rational choice Not that that's a bad thing. Hell, it could probably be their slogan. **mikespin** Ah yes. So, marketing department at a high-end consumer goods company. **asiceloff** Definitely wears a turtleneck (looks at Josh Condon) ![message-editor%2F1522694298861-img\_3008.gif]() **Will sabel Courtney** **willscourtney** hahahaha **mikespin** "Hey Jim, I got an Alfa Romeo." Jim: "Have you seen a doctor?" willscourtney \*clap\* ![giphy-downsized.gif]() **GIPHY** **asiceloff** "It's a Lease!" **willscourtney** Mike Spinelli's Catskills Revue, ladies and gentlemen asiceloff nod ![giphy-downsized.gif]() **GIPHY** **willscourtney** "At least what?" **mikespin** "Hey guys, want to try out that new lunch spot. I'm driving." **asiceloff** haha wasn't that a VW campaign **mikespin** Guys: "Naah. I got car sick last time." **willscourtney** \*derailed\* ![giphy.gif]() **GIPHY** **mikespin** DAMN **asiceloff** So, final thoughts? **willscourtney** Would daily. **mikespin** Nice car. Good comeback. **willscourtney** It deserves to do well. Better than it is doing. Sales-wise, at least. **mikespin** Yeah. **willscourtney** EVERYONE GO OUT AND LEASE ALFA ROMEOS OR ELSE YOU DON'T GET TO WONDER WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS **asiceloff** Totally agree, I would have liked to see interior a little better, as that's the price point, but man the car is real fun, and doesn't look like everything on the road these days **willscourtney** I still think [it looks like a perturbed owl from the front](). **mikespin** \*owl\* ![giphy-downsized.gif]() **GIPHY** **asiceloff** Will is agro towards owls **willscourtney** I do love owls agro or otherwise **mikespin** WAIT **willscourtney** yes? **mikespin** Are the driving dynamics good enough to lure you suburban office workers away from the interior and tech of an Audi? **asiceloff** AND AUDIS DON'T DRIVE GREAT??? **willscourtney** \*gasp\* ![giphy-downsized.gif]() **GIPHY** **asiceloff** Watch what you say next **willscourtney** Most suburban office workers, no. Because they don't care that much. This is a car for the 10 percent of people who do care about how a car drives. **mikespin** Split three ways between the Jaguar XE, this and the Cadillac ATS **willscourtney** Yeah. There really is this whole second tier of entry-level luxury sedans that plays more towards sportiness than the big three (of Audi, BMW, and Benz) **asiceloff** Hmm ATS is a really good comparison That's a toughie for me **willscourtney** But I think the Alfa's handling and its style puts it ahead of ATS and XE in a lot of subjective measures. Especially if the buyer's emphasizing sportiness ![message-editor%2F1522693616728-alfa-side.jpg]() **Alfa Romeo** **mikespin** And also having that Alfa logo on your key fob is kind of exciting **willscourtney** That key fob. **asiceloff** Casually drop my keys all day long exclaiming that I had done so **willscourtney** Let's talk about that. Because it's WAY TOO BIG. **mikespin** It's too big **asiceloff** \*yuge\* ![giphy-downsized.gif]() **GIPHY** **willscourtney** It takes up your entire pocket. I feel like they designed it for purses. Or whatever men carry in Italy. Man-satchels. **mikespin** IT'S EUROPEAN! **willscourtney** \*european\* ![giphy-downsized.gif]() **GIPHY** **mikespin** \*seinfeld\* ![giphy-downsized.gif]() **GIPHY** **asiceloff** If you just got married and aren't ready for that SUV, and you just got a promotion, I'd say go low mileage lease it for two years. **willscourtney** Agreed. And on that note: \*alfa romeo giulia\* ![giphy-tumblr.gif]() **GIPHY** **asiceloff** I see the owl thing now \*golf clap\* ![giphy-downsized.gif]() **GIPHY** ## The 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti, By the Numbers: **Base Price (Price as Tested):** $40,990 ($50,035) **Powertrain:** 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, 280 horsepower, 306 pound-feet of torque; eight-speed automatic; rear-wheel-drive **Fuel Economy:** 24 city, 33 highway **0-60 MPH:** 5.7 seconds (*Car and Driver* testing) **Top Speed:** 149 mph **Must-Have Options on Our Test Car:** 19-inch Sport Package with performance tires, sport seats, aluminum paddle shifters ($2,250); Ti Performance Package with active suspension and limited-slip differential ($1,200) **Options You Could Skip on Our Test Car:** Driver Assistance Dynamic Plus Package with adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning ($1,500); Harmon Kardon ## Author Andrew knows lifestyle video. Starting out editing Food Network shows with Bobby Flay, his freelance career ran the gamut of all things lifestyle. When he isn’t drooling over car porn, he is flying drones, or obsessing over new tech. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [Twitter]()