Is Alfa Romeo good for families?
After a protracted spell as a FWD-only brand, Alfa Romeo’s current range returned to the company’s roots, by going back to a RWD platform and prioritising a thrilling driving experience across the board. But does Alfa’s renewed focus on the driver’s enjoyment affect their products’ suitability for family duty?
Younger readers may not realise it, but Alfa Romeo was one of the real pioneers of the modern sports sedan genre. Back in the 1950s, they realised that there was a definite market for (relatively) affordable, practical, yet fun-to-drive family cars, with engines that out-performed their competitors and excellent driving dynamics as part of the package.
Later, Fiat-based, Alfas retained much of this practical character, but platform sharing came at the cost of some driver involvement. But that all changed for the better in 2016, when Alfa released their “Giorgio”-platformed Giulia (sedan) and Stelvio (SUV) to widespread acclaim. These new RWD-based models sorted all of the issues with the driving experience previously on offer, but did this return to form affect the new Alfas’ usability?
The current range
Pending release of the FWD-based Tonale compact SUV, Alfa Romeo’s current range consists of only these two related models, each available in mild or red-hot flavours. Strictly speaking, the Giulia sedan can also be ordered in limited-run GTA or GTAm forms, which adds even more power and exhaustive chassis tweaks.
The latter two variants are really lightened, track-focused collector’s items with eye-watering pricetags, though, and probably shouldn’t be considered for family use anyway. In fact, the top-spec GTAm doesn’t even have a rear seat, and its side windows are made of plexiglass...
Related: Shop for new and used Alfa Romeo Giulia cars for sale here.
Practicality and space
In spite of its relatively compact footprint, the Giulia sedan has a surprising amount of cabin space on offer. This is as a result of clever packaging, but the little details also make a difference.
Take the rear seat as an example: the seat base appears very thin to the eye, but it employs varying-density foam and internal springs to provide excellent seating comfort, while maximising head- and leg room for rear passengers. And, in spite of the full-sized spare wheel under the luggage compartment, there’s 480 litres available in the boot.
Being slightly larger than the Giulia, the Stelvio SUV takes this practicality even further. Its elevated roofline allows even more room inside the cabin, and its luggage compartment measures 525 litres with all seats in use.
Related: Shop for new and used Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUVs for sale here.
Safety
You definitely want to keep your family as safe as possible, and the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio both deliver on this need as well. The Giulia received a 5-star Euro NCAP crash test rating in 2016, and the Stelvio repeated this feat in 2017. All of today’s must-have driver assistants are either fitted as standard (active emergency braking, stability control, lane departure warning) or available as options, alongside 6 airbags and rear ISOFIX child seat anchors.
There’s one thing to note with all Giulia Quadrifoglio variants, though: These super sports sedans don’t include ISOFIX child seat anchors, presumably due to incompatibility with the upgraded (and heavily-bolstered) rear bench in these derivatives. However, following a slight facelift towards the end of 2021, xenon headlights are fitted across the range (rather than the pre-facelift’s standard halogen lights), addressing a serious concern we’ve previously voiced in this regard.
Comfort and convenience
These aspects were also boosted in the Giulia and Stelvio’s 2021 facelift, when they received a new 8.8-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Other standard features included in the Giulia’s current entry-level variant (Veloce trim) include adaptive cruise control, a wireless charging pad and rear USB ports, electric adjustment for the heated front seats, while available options include a driver assistance pack, which adds automatic high-beam assist, blind spot assistant, and driver attention monitor.
Verdict
Seeing as both the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio absolutely ace our requirements for good family cars (safety, features, and practicality), we have no hesitation to recommend either model for family-car duties. But, simply because it’s slightly taller and even more practical, the Stelvio is the best family car in the current Alfa range. It’s not just a great choice, but a brilliant all-rounder – sporty driver’s cars haven’t been this useful and practical in a long time!
