Prueba: Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4TB vs VW Golf 1.4 TSI GT vs Vauxhall Astra 1.6T SRI
ITL
08-jul-2010 20:04
#1
 1st Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI GT Chart position:1st Price: £20,870 Engine: 1.4-litre 4cyl, 158bhp 0-60mph: 8.3 seconds AE economy: 30.8mpg Claimed CO2: 145g/km  No family car test would be complete without the Volkswagen Golf. The versatile hatchback is an Auto Express favourite, having scooped class honours in our prestigious New Car Awards 2009.With its high-quality cabin, composed driving dynamics and excellent refinement, the Golf is the benchmark in this sector. Adding to its appeal is a line-up of small-capacity engines that promises big performance and tiny fuel bills.VW’s excellent TSI units were among the first to serve up this winning combination, but now the firm is having to play catch-up. Even though it has a supercharger and a turbocharger, the 1.4-litre TSI in our GT-spec model delivers 158bhp – making the Golf the least powerful car of our trio.  Still, any disappointment at this shortfall is soon offset by the VW’s visual appeal. While it doesn’t have the Alfa’s flair or the Vauxhall’s freshness, the Golf is still desirable. It’s handsome, well proportioned and a classy proposition. Sporty GT models ride lower to the road, and add eye-catching alloy wheels, plus a tailgate spoiler. The car in our pictures is a three-door, but the five-door example tested is equally appealing.Climb aboard, and you will instantly be impressed by the quality on offer. Soft-touch plastics cover the dashboard, the switchgear operates with real precision and the white-backlit dials are smart and easy to read. As ever with the Golf, though, the details mark it out – whether it’s the leather-covered steering wheel, which is simply great to hold, or the excellent driving position.  Better still, it sets the standard here for versatility. There’s room for five adults and plenty of useful cubbyhole space, including deep door bins and a large glovebox. Swing open the tailgate, and you’ll discover a useful 350-litre load area – the capacity matches the Alfa’s and trails the Vauxhall’s by only one litre. Plus, when you fold the rear bench, it expands to a healthy 1,305 litres of space. Performance is as important as practicality for this GT model, however. Even though it can’t match its rivals for power, the VW turned in a strong display at the test track. It completed the benchmark sprint from 0-60mph in 8.3 seconds – that’s two-tenths faster than the 178bhp Vauxhall. Thanks to the low-rev punch of its supercharger, the Golf also proved stronger than the Astra during our in-gear assessments, although it trailed the lively Giulietta. On the road, the excellence of the VW’s chassis shines through. Body control is superb, there’s plenty of grip and the steering is well weighted and precise. Yet these sporting responses don’t come at the expense of comfort and refinement, as the Golf’s suspension soaks up the worst bumps and noise levels are impressively low.At £20,870, the VW costs £1,375 more than the Alfa, but it justifies this premium with its solid build quality, strong residuals and classy image. The question is whether it has done enough to retain its crown. 2nd Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 MultiAir Lusso
Chart position:2nd Engine: 1.4-litre 4cyl, 170bhp 0-60mph: 8.1 secondsAE economy: N/A Claimed CO2: 134g/km  There have been many false dawns at Alfa Romeo over the years, but the Giulietta is built on solid foundations.In the past, new models have floundered when the ownership experience hasn’t lived up to the looks of the brand’s beautifully styled products. However, the Giulietta shouldn’t suffer the same fate, as Alfa has overhauled its dealer network and improved reliability. The question is, can it make the same impact as cars like the old 156 and Brera?It doesn’t have the same jaw-dropping kerb appeal as other models in the line-up, but the newcomer doesn’t blend in with the family car crowd, either. The famous shield grille floats inside a heart-shaped cut-out at the front, giving the Giulietta an unmistakable face. The bumper merges with the sculpted bonnet, while the intricate headlamps incorporate fashionable LED daytime running lights.  In profile, the Alfa is less dynamic, although the firm has employed its usual trick of concealing the rear door handles in the C-pillar (the Giulietta is a five-door only). At the back, the tailgate badge doubles as the boot release, and its looping LED light clusters have a distinctive shape which gives the car a unique appearance after dark. The diffuser-style bumper and sharply creased bootlid also help to make the back end just as recognisable as the front.Pull open the door to climb in, and you’ll be disappointed to discover the handle is made of plastic rather than metal. And inside, material quality isn’t a match for the high-grade plastics found in the Golf and Astra. The unusual design sets the interior apart from those of rival models, though, with a row of retro-inspired rocker switches across the centre console and a pair of trademark circular dials ahead of the driver. While build is first rate, and the Alfa is on a par with the Astra for rear space, neither is as roomy or solid as the Golf. Our trio is closely matched on boot space, too, but none has seats that fold fully flat.  The heart of any Alfa Romeo is its engine, and the 1.4-litre MultiAir doesn’t disappoint. The free-revving unit is a real highlight, and with linear power delivery and an engaging soundtrack, it’s a great choice. Although the Giulietta’s six-speed gearbox doesn’t have the crispest shift and the oversized lever won’t suit all tastes, the transmission is positive. We have to take issue with Alfa’s DNA system, though. We’ve criticised the set-up in the MiTo supermini, and we’re no more keen on it here, either. A switch on the console allows the driver to tune the throttle response, steering set-up and ESP stability package between Dynamic, Normal and All-weather modes. But the package is flawed, as the steering feels too heavy and artificial in Dynamic, while engine responses are blunted considerably in the Normal setting. Ideally, you need to tailor the set-up to get the best out of it, yet this isn’t possible. That’s a pity because our Lusso-spec car proved to be smooth, comfortable and refined. It’s fast, too. Aided by the lowest kerbweight here, it covered 0-60mph in 8.1 seconds – that’s two-tenths quicker than the Golf.  Alfa enthusiasts will care more about how the Giulietta drives on twisty roads, though, and there’s more disappointment here as the chassis lacks sparkle and the front tyres surrender their grip too early. Enter a corner too fast and the nose will wash wide, yet lifting off the throttle does little to change the car’s attitude. It’s all very safe, but not especially exciting or rewarding. The Alfa doesn’t excel where you expect it to, yet it shines in other areas, as it’s a greener and more cost-effective choice than its rivals. It is the only car on test to get stop-start technology, and as a result it emits 134g/km of CO2 to the Golf’s 145g/km and the Astra’s 159g/km. That translates into low company car tax bills, on top of the tempting price tag – the £19,495 Alfa costs over £1,500 less than the Vauxhall.So the Giulietta doesn’t pull on the heart strings as strongly as Alfas past, but it makes sense when you engage your brain. 3rd Vauxhall Astra 1.6 Turbo SRi Chart position:3rd Price: £21,005 Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 178bhp 0-60mph: 8.5 seconds AE economy: 26.9mpg Claimed CO2: 159g/km  The Vauxhall Astra is an established presence in the UK sales charts thanks to its blend of space, practicality, value for money and quality. The latest model aims to add driver appeal and sexy styling to its array of attributes. And in SRi guise, the Vauxhall appears very purposeful. With its chrome window surrounds, large alloy wheels and lowered suspension, it is the best-looking version of the new Astra we’ve laid eyes on. Neat LED headlamps lend its smooth nose a modern appearance, while the darkened glass area and striking double arrowhead tail-lamps add to the visual interest. Despite these details, the Astra’s silhouette looks a little anonymous next to the distinctive Alfa and taut VW. The Vauxhall puts up an even stronger fight inside, with high-quality switchgear, plenty of storage space and a well finished cabin – the optional leather of our test car added to the classy ambience.  However, with manual window winders for rear passengers, the premium feel is at odds with some elements of the interior. The sports seats provide great support, while finding the correct driving position is easy, making the Astra a solid choice for long stints behind the wheel.Passengers travelling in the back get enough room and the extra glazing on the C-pillar provides an airy feel. However, there isn’t appreciably more space than in the Alfa, and the Golf provides even more rear legroom.Luggage capacity is broadly on a par with its rivals, but the narrow tailgate opening means you’ll struggle to fit bulkier items in the boot. A split-level floor should hand the Astra an advantage in terms of versatility, yet we think the heavy and over-engineered arrangement is more of an irritation.  With 178bhp on tap from its 1.6-litre engine, the Vauxhall has more capacity and produces more power than either of its rivals, but against the clock the turbo Astra was the slowest of our trio. Peak torque is delivered late in the rev range and at 8.5 seconds, it trailed the Alfa in the 0-60mph sprint by four-tenths-of-a-second. Still, there’s lots of overtaking punch, and the Vauxhall acquits itself well off the straight and narrow, with impressive grip and sharp turn-in from the direct but lifeless steering. Unfortunately, the chassis is as engaging as the steering, so you get little reward in terms of feedback and the Astra doesn’t inspire the same level of confidence as the Golf. The stiff ride from the sports suspension means there is a distinct trade-off in terms of comfort, too. The Vauxhall is also left trailing at the pumps. Its combined fuel economy of 41.5mpg lags 7.2mpg behind the Alfa and is 3.3mpg adrift of the VW. Emissions of 159g/km mean annual car tax is a reasonable £155 for private buyers, but the Astra is the most expensive model here, with the highest company car tax banding, which makes it the least attractive choice for business users. |
ForoCoches: Miembro
08-jul-2010 20:09
#2
A mi dame el aburrido y frío GOLF , aunque el Astra no le haría asco
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Me gusta conducir
08-jul-2010 20:32
#5
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Me quedo con el Astra en su conjunto. Si el Alfa tuviera un interior mejor resuelto, por diseño y acabados, sería mi elección. El Golf no me atrae nada. Por cierto, en esta prueba vuelven a decir que el Giulietta tiene un comportamiento más "aburguesado", le falta chispa al bastidor y es algo decepcionante para los entusiastas de la marca. Es seguro, pero no gratificante. No es la 1ª vez que lo leo y es algo que no me gusta en absoluto, con lo cual me reafirmo en que me quedo con el Astra de todas todas. |
Editado: 08-jul-2010 20:47 -
ForoCoches: Miembro
08-jul-2010 20:36
#6
| para mi ninguno de los tres tiene un toque deportibo a simple vista |
ITL
08-jul-2010 20:41
#9
Yo tampoco creo que sea GT, pero como lo pone el título de la prueba... Seguramente sea un acabado. 
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*AutoBan Spam/Flood/Troll*
08-jul-2010 20:41
#10
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Yo pongo un video del Interior del Alfa Romeo Guilietta. mi eleccion Alfa Romeo , Opel Astra , VW golf. y el Alfa Romeo tampoco es un lusso |
Editado: 08-jul-2010 20:47 -
ForoCoches: Miembro
08-jul-2010 20:47
#11
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"En el pasado, los nuevos modelos han fracasado en la experiencia de propiedad no ha cumplido con el aspecto de productos de la marca con mucho estilo es el. Sin embargo, el Giulietta no deben sufrir la misma suerte, como Alfa ha revisado su red de distribuidores y mayor fiabilidad."
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Tutto Cuore
08-jul-2010 21:04
#14
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Fácil. Ambos quedan por detrás del Golf, que es la referencia indudable del segmento. |
Domador de robotijos
08-jul-2010 21:06
#15
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"En el pasado, los nuevos modelos han fracasado en la experiencia de propiedad no ha cumplido con el aspecto de productos de la marca con mucho estilo es el.
Sin embargo, el Giulietta no deben sufrir la misma suerte, como Alfa ha revisado su red de distribuidores y mayor fiabilidad." Cita de Traductor de Google
"Hay algún lugar de La Mancha, de cuyo nombre no recuerdo por mucho tiempo, vivía un caballero
El tiro en el lanzamiento de la cáscara y corte de galgos delgados y de edad en ... " |
Domador de robotijos
08-jul-2010 21:08
#16
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Domador de robotijos
08-jul-2010 21:26
#20
Es por la forma de los faros? Hombre, si les echas mucha mucha imaginación se parecen algo...  
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Consejero espiritual
08-jul-2010 21:57
#24
| Estoy flipando o el alfa y el opel se parecen la de dios? |
Me gusta conducir
08-jul-2010 22:11
#26
| Es evidente que se dan un aire... y ambos son infinitamente más atractivos que el Golf. |
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08-jul-2010 22:14
#27
| Estoy empezando a odiar el color blanco... todo dios que se compra coche nuevo... color blanco. |
ForoCoches: Miembro
08-jul-2010 22:23
#30
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"2nd Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 MultiAir Lusso" Entendí Busso y yo: ¿ein?  ¿Es portugués o algo? |