Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Review Singapore 2022 - 2.9(A) V6

To cut a long story short, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is a rear wheel drive supercar killer that masquerades in the practical format of a 4-door sedan, and is powered by an extremely similar power plant to the one found in a certain Ferrari California - which means it will do 0 - 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, thanks in part to a quick shifting ZF 8-speed that you'll find on your favourite BMWs today. While 3.9 seconds isn't exactly mind-bending, the Giulia Quadrifoglio sits in illustrious company, as there are not many other cars allow the petrol-head family man to pack in two car seats into the rear, carry a stroller in the boot, and offer stellar levels of comfort while also possessing the ability to outrun an entry level Porsche 911. At first, this all has the tendency to sound a bit like a poor defined product or a sketchy idea for a new fusion restaurant - but its not, and the Giulia Quadrifoglio instantly wins you over with its "not so serious" attitude, prancing demeanour, and extremely fun drive. In fact, there is a very strong case that cars like these could perhaps be the only car we'll ever need.

While the Giulia Quadrifoglio boasts one of the sexiest curves available on a sedan car, and has the necessary body kitting to send a serious message, it also remains understated in a way, and will blend into an office carpark decently enough - in a way that a 2-door supercar could never do. In fact, when the car is idling in Normal or Advanced Efficiency mode, there are little clues to tell you that there are more than 500 angry horses waiting to be unleashed, hiding under the bonnet. However, turn the dial on the driving mode selector to Dynamic or Race, and the car suddenly sounds like a very different proposition, producing a soundtrack that will bring out the inner child lying dormant in most men.

Caution should be exercised when in Race mode though, as traction control is properly turned off, and is actually really meant for track use in the hands of a driver who knows what they are doing. If you're a car enthusiast and you want to enjoy the ownership experience of a Giulia Quadrifoglio, but don't wish to fuss too much over the technical aspects, we recommend Race mode for carpark speeds, and Dynamic mode for driving speeds. After all, a pretty car like the Giulia Quadrifoglio should be driven slowly and loudly in highly visible settings (like the Dempsey Hill car park).

Pushing the Giulia Quadrifoglio around Singapore's roads proved to be slightly difficult difficult - as we just didn't have enough runway to exploit the car to red line intensity, but the car does make a glorious sound while you're trying, and the massive full aluminium paddle shifters are absolutely epic, and supremely enhances the user experience. Not going to lie - the shifters do constantly get in your way when you are reaching for any other knob or switch in the vicinity of the steering wheel, but I didn't take it as a hindrance. I took it as the car's way of cheekily reminding you to play with it. I gladly obliged on more occasions than was necessary. All that aside, the twin turbo V6 is a smooth operator, and has a silky quality to its acceleration. In auto, the Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn't miss a beat, and upshifts quickly and decisively, peeling away with each upshift. What I particularly enjoyed on the Giulia Quadrifoglio is the way the car seems to "prance" forward, especially around the lower gears. Around the bends, the Giulia Quadrifoglio sits flat and firm, although unlikely other performance cars, the great handling does not seem to come at the cost of comfort.

Looking at the more intangible aspects of the Giulia Quadrifoglio, what is extremely likeable about the car is that behind its seductive and playful exterior, the car is a serious one, but it doesn't need to be nerdy or stiff to exude these qualities. It just sort of does its own thing - comfortable in its own skin, waiting for the right opportunity to impress the next unsuspecting layman to step into your car. In a country like Singapore, where supercars are often met with equal parts envy and equal parts hatred, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is brilliant, and an absolute gem. Fast and sporty enough to be respected - yet isn't so loud and obnoxious that people have something nasty to say about you. Combine that with the fact that the Giulia Quadrifoglio has 4 proper doors, a proper sized boot, and is extremely comfortable for a performance sedan when in Normal mode, there are very compelling reasons to purchase a car like that. For these reasons, the Giulia Quadrifoglio might be better than any 2 door supercar out there.

Which Car to Buy?

One thing that is unique with the Alfa Romeo lineup - is that the Quadrifoglio variants for both the Giulia and the Stelvio were built first, which isn't particularly common among other automakers. The end result is that even the trickled down variants in the form of the Veloce and the Super, share many of the traits and fundamental characteristics of the more illustrious Quadrifoglio. So although you won't be getting the 2.9L V6 with the Veloce and Super variants, the cars still handle and drive extremely well, possessing very similarly rigidity and control to the Quadrifoglio. Price is an odd thing to discuss with the Alfa Romeo lineup, because while the cars aren't cheap by any measure, the top range Quadrifoglio is actually pretty well priced for a car in its performance bracket - which actually means that for the first time ever, we find ourselves describing the car as good value. That said, unless you're purchasing the Giulia Quadrifoglio for reasons akin to self-actualisation, we think the car to buy in Singapore would be the Giulia Veloce as its price jump from the Super is pretty insignificant once you consider the lengthy list of upgrades - including forged engine parts on the Veloce. Also, the Veloce comes with adjustable suspension, as is the case with the Quadrifoglio, which we think really does make a difference to the overall experience and is well worth it.

Still not sure which car to buy? - No problem, we recommend that you see the cars in person and try them out for yourself anyway. If you're pretty used to cars like the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, or the Audi A4, the Giulia is likely going to feel like a breath of fresh air for you.

Click here to sign up for a test drive with Alfa Romeo and be entitled to $10,000 off (exclusive to SG Family Man readers / viewers) should you decide to purchase the car (only applicable through SGFM's dedicated sign up page). We recommend signing up so that you don't miss out on the perks, and also to ensure that you have an appointment when heading down to test the car.