From the January 2018 issue
Into a sea of cars with indifferent, feedback-free steering systems sails an Alfa Romeo tethered securely to the tarmac via rubber, aluminum, and verve. It comes from Italy, but its steering is from the empyrean realm.
The Alfa Romeo Giulia comes in two guises: the steals-your-heart four-cylinder model and the steals-your-license Quadrifoglio. Markedly different points on the sanity meter, each version nonetheless exhibits sparkling steering fidelity and faithfully transmits chassis motions to its driver?s fingertips, guts, and soul.
At our 2018 10Best Cars test, a lesser Giulia, the 280-hp Ti, was an all-wheel-drive model lacking both the adaptive suspension and the limited-slip rear differential that come with the Performance package, yet it navigated the cratered, off-camber 10Best roads with compliance and composure. The 505-hp Quadrifoglio simply ignored the pavement irregularities with a combination of speed and magic befitting a fully realized sports sedan, which is exactly what it is. Although they share an ultraquick 11.8:1 steering ratio, the 2.0-liter Ti?s light controls can be directed with fingers and toes, whereas the Quad demands a more deliberate grip?both on its steering wheel and on your lunch.
There?s sufficient pace in the QF to rival a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, but it comes without the big American?s bravado and need for attention. It is, on that scale, a subtle Italian. But it?s not a beginner?s car. It doesn?t chase la...