Alfa Romeo Giulietta

Test driven this sometime ago, kinda overdue as this model is discontinued.

But I feel it should be made known as its a good model not to be missed while waiting for the next model to be in.

At its previous Teban Gardens showroom where they are moving to Leng Kee soon, the moment I saw the car, my 1st word is SLEEK though I do notice on the roads but not many.

Inside is plain simple still where according to SE, as its facelifted model is sometime Q4 2017.

Let's go to the drive...The start of the engine literately roars into life when you key start it.

Driving off is a WHOOSH and the test route is on AYE which can try out the best of this car.

Hitting on the accelerator and you can feel the turbo kicks in by the feel as well as there is a turbo meter showing it. Impressed !

Cornering is superb for this chap as well despite its wide hatch body.

Braking is superb which is paired with Brembo brakes.

Overall, its a good car to have but do wait for the facelift releasing soon.

Under the radar gem. Striking design and styling without the excessive price tag. Definitely a top consideration for those looking for cars in the $100-120k range.

Test drove the basic model Giulietta 1.4T.

First impressions - curvy lines suitable for a curvy lady called Giulietta. Reminds me of Italian sirens Sophia Loren and Monica Bellucci. Va va va voom!

Interior especially the rear is a little tight in legroom. Interior also quite sparse looking compared to current Jap, Kor made models. But it does have enough advanced technologies that should keep the techie happy. Has a Bose sound system to boot.

Where it matters is the engine. What a fun drive even though it is only 1.4L! But T as in Turbo makes all the difference - 168bhp! In the blink of an eye I was going beyond 120kmh on the expressway. Wheeeeeeeeeee.

It has 3 driving modes - D.N.A - Dynamic (Sport), Neutral (Normal) and All-Weather. For fast and fun sporty driving, put it in D mode. For everyday, city driving, the N mode will save on fuel consumption. A mode will give you the grip you need on super rainy wet road conditions.

Engine purrs as it should so do not expect the ride to be super quiet. You need to look elsewhere if silence is golden to you.

The trunk is of reasonable size only.

One first glance, it was nice, very nice... sexy looking indeed! It carries quite a bit of semblance of 8C Competizione which is also a very stunning looking sexy car!!

Basically, it's a look either you love it or hate it. I just love it! As it carries so much flair with its styling... that every bends and curves meets functionality & form :)

The new 147 replacement is a lot bigger, wider, and longer. Although the new engine had reduced size, it hasn't reduce in terms of power & torque in great value. That brings me to the drive - it feels confident and stable particularly when it is on Dynamic mode. There is so joy when pushing the car on Dynamic mode, suspension & steering stiffen; RPM is notched up 1 level compared to Normal mode & feels a lot more sensitive to the toes when you step on the accelerator... puts a smile on my face all the time :)

On my recent test drive, I took corners & turning at slip roads as well as at junctions, the car firmly plants itself onto the tarmac even on 60-70kmh without over-steering. Its Electronic Stabilty Control is very good which gives most drivers confidence when handling the car.

The interior looks simple yet has elements of sophistication & fine taste... a sportier feel for car enthusiasts. In my opinion, too many buttons may pose certain level of safety hazard for drivers. Though its functions may not be as complicated as some of its competitors but it's enough for what a driver need.

The rear may not be as spacious as competitors of the same class but it's longer than the 147 than before... head room for most Asians would be adequate.

I was told I can fit a golf bag inside its boot. I'm not sure sure about this claim & i'm not bothered as I don't play golf but it's spacious enough for a sports hatch.

Overall, I love the entire car even to its core... I mean engine. With a 1.4L award winning Multiair engine which includes Start/Stop function further reduces $ spent on petrol to give better mileage and fuel consumption.

Save on fuel. Save on road tax. Spend more elsewhere :)