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Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio 2020-2021.

Few automakers have a name and performance motive as strong as the 2020-2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. This name is attached only to the firm’s most powerful models, and the Giulia Quadrifoglio (Quadrifoglio is the Italian name for a four-leaf clover, if you’re wondering) more than proves the value of its historical name.

What’s new

It’s built on the same lightweight rear-wheel-drive platform as the regular Giulia executive sedan, but the Quadrifoglio version is powered by a staggeringly powerful 503-horsepower 2.9-liter turbocharged V6 petrol engine.

This means that it accelerates to 100 km / h in just 3.9 seconds and has a top speed of 305 kilometers per hour. To use all that power to its advantage, the car has received a special suspension and faster steering, as well as larger brakes, which ensure that the sedan stops when necessary.

Nonetheless, the Quadrifoglio faces stiff competition from some extremely well-designed and proven vehicles including the Audi RS4 Avant, BMW M3 and Mercedes-AMG C63.

They all pack the same power as the Quadrifoglio, promise an equally immersive driving experience, and benefit from wider and more aerodynamic bodies.

Better yet, Audi and Mercedes come in coupe form. So does the Giulia have the features and handling to keep the buyer interested?

Specifications

An expensive high-performance sedan lives and dies depending on how it drives, and in this respect, we argue that the Giulia Quadrifoglio is the best high-performance car you can buy right now.

Its 2.9-liter V6 petrol engine is an undeniable highlight of the Quadrifoglio experience; it delivers razor-sharp accelerator response with virtually no lag despite being heavily turbocharged.

In fact, if you press the accelerator pedal from a standstill, it will not only overtake the Mercedes-AMG C63 to 100 kilometers per hour, but also accelerate to a higher top speed.

While the eight-speed automatic does distort a bit at low city speeds, it transforms completely when you switch it to manual, when you use the tactile aluminum paddle shifters that are mounted on the steering column.

The engine and gearbox perform at their best when you choose the Race sport driving mode. Dynamic, Natural and Advanced Efficiency modes allow for a more relaxed accelerator pedal response and shift adjustment.

Race is also the mode in which the Giulia Quadrifoglio sounds its best, barking loudly when revving up and cracking hard when you change gears. It sounds a lot more upbeat than the BMW M3, but, as many would argue, not nearly as defiant as the thundering 4.0-liter V8 of the C63.

If something is wrong with the Quadrifoglio, it is its brakes. No problem with their stopping power — the optional ceramic brakes, in particular, provide colossal deceleration at high speeds — but they could be richer in feel.

Since the Giulia Quadrifoglio’s brakes are triggered electronically rather than hydraulically, when you press the brake pedal, the initial response is a little vague.

But the controls are all right. It feels light, poised and agile, with fast steering alert but never nervous.

The Adaptive Suspension can be made softer or stiffer to suit road irregularities, regardless of the selected driving mode, and its toughest settings virtually eliminate body roll when cornering at speed.

Internal layout and decoration

The Giulia Quadrifoglio’s standard electrically adjustable driver’s seat sits low in front of the conveniently positioned pedals, allowing you to take a sporty, flattened position.

A wide-adjustable steering wheel with a pleasantly slim rim complements this. Alfa Romeo will match carbon fiber sports seats. They are excellent supporters and well worth choosing.

There is a fairly noticeable difference in luxury materials between the entry-level Giulias and the top-end Quadrifoglio, which features a leather-covered dashboard and carbon fiber trim that helps raise the interior in line with flamboyant rivals like the Audi RS4 and Mercedes-AMG. C63. The aluminum paddle shifters are great too.

The restyling for the new model year has further improved the interior, adding even more generous carbon fiber weaves, a better-quality flat-bottomed steering wheel and a matching leather gear lever.

As well as details such as the Italian flag motif at the base of the gear lever to remind you of the reputation for luxurious craftsmanship that the home nation of Alfa Romeo has always enjoyed.

The rotary infotainment controller, which used to feel a little slack, now has a solid click, while the glass holders are now positioned further from the dashboard to allow for a larger bottle.

However, even with these updates, there are still some areas where the Giulia may not quite match the quality of its German competitors.

The air conditioning controls are a little flimsy and the drive mode switch feels a little cheap. They are roughly acceptable in the standard Giulia and a bit disappointing compared to the M3 rival.

The infotainment system has also undergone a major overhaul, allowing it to be operated either by touching the 8.8-inch screen or via a rotary controller located in the center console.

Not only does this make it easier to enter destinations when you are at rest (although we usually find it distracting to use touchscreens while driving), but you can also use the touchscreen to easily drag and drop widgets like sat nav or radio to create the most user-friendly desktop or page.

Inner space

Inside, the new Quadrifoglio is no different from any other Giulia when it comes to space and practicality. It’s not the easiest cabin to climb in as it has a rather low roofline and low-slung seats, but once you’re inside, it caters for the adults in both rows pretty well.

The front sports seats are quite wide, as is the width of the cabin. There are plenty of places to put away all sorts of unnecessary things, including a large space under the center armrest and glove compartment.

At the rear, there is ample legroom — as much as the Mercedes-AMG C63 offers — and legroom under the front seats. There is enough space above the head.

Of course, if you want a more spacious cabin, there are always AMG versions of the Mercedes E-Class as well as the BMW M5. Naturally, these big cars are much more expensive.

Officially, the Giulia Quadrifoglio’s trunk is slightly larger than that of the C63 sedan, and it can hold your golf clubs or a pair of fairly large suitcases.

Unfortunately, if you need more room, you’re stuck — the split-folding rear seats are neither standard nor optional.

Daily costs, reliability

Few take over a performance sedan under the impression that it will be a cheap experience, and no one wants to be disappointed by throwing money away.

The Giulia Quadrifoglio costs less than the Mercedes-AMG C63 or BMW M3, and its standard equipment matches its class and competitors.

Indeed, there is no need to go crazy over the list of options; 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive dampers, xenon headlights, electrically adjustable leather and suede Alcantara seats and cruise control are just a few of the luxury items.

However, high maintenance costs and daunting fuel economy are to be expected — the Quadrifoglio averaged 10 liters per 100 kilometers.

Looking further, the Giulia Quadrifoglio should depreciate more slowly than the C63 and M3, which helps keep PCP financials competitive.

Euro NCAP assigned the standard Giulia, on which the Quadrifoglio is based, a five-star safety rating, and upon closer inspection of the ratings it appears that it outperformed the Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class in the adult occupant protection test, although several issues were noted that weakened the proposed they protect children in the car, mainly the likelihood of chest injuries.