Alfa Romeo Giulietta engines

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta was launched in 2010 as a compact car in the premium class and offered a diverse range of engines with characteristic Italian temperament throughout its production period until 2020. The technological development of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta engines reflects the shift from classic naturally aspirated engines to modern turbocharged units.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Generation I (2010-2020)

The only generation of the modern Alfa Romeo Giulietta established itself as a sporty alternative to German premium compacts and was characterized by spirited but high-maintenance engines. The mileage of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta engines varied considerably: while the robust MultiJet diesels easily reached 250,000 to 350,000 kilometers with proper maintenance, the more complex petrol units often required extensive repairs to the timing chain, camshaft phaser or turbocharger between 150,000 and 200,000 kilometers. Major engine damage due to chain jumps or oil pump defects were not uncommon if maintenance was neglected. The absolute top engine of this generation was the 1.75 TBi with 240 hp from the Quadrifoglio Verde, which, despite occasional weaknesses, offered the perfect balance between performance and driving pleasure.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta petrol engines: Generation I (2010-2020)

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta petrol engine range included both naturally aspirated and turbocharged units. The entry-level model was the 1.4 TB MultiAir with 120 hp (88 kW), followed by the more powerful 1.4 TB MultiAir with 170 hp (125 kW). These Alfa Romeo Giulietta engines used the innovative MultiAir technology for variable valve timing, but suffered from typical problems: Timing chain elongation, defective camshaft phasers and oil consumption due to worn piston rings. The highlight was the 1.75 TBi with 240 hp (177 kW) in the Quadrifoglio Verde, a high-performance unit with direct injection and turbocharging. Despite its impressive performance, this Alfa Romeo Giulietta engine also showed weaknesses in the oil pump and turbocharger, especially with a sporty driving style and irregular maintenance.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta diesel engines: Generation I (2010-2020)

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta diesels were dominated by the proven MultiJet technology with common rail injection. The 1.6 JTDm was available with 105 hp (77 kW) and later 120 hp (88 kW), while the larger 2.0 JTDm was offered with 140 hp (103 kW), 150 hp (110 kW) and later even 175 hp (129 kW). These Alfa Romeo Giulietta engines proved to be the most reliable of the entire range - the 1.6 JTDm with 120 hp in particular developed into a long-distance specialist with an excellent combination of fuel consumption, performance and durability. The more powerful 2.0 JTDm variants offered more torque for sporty driving, but occasionally showed problems with the turbocharger on frequent short journeys.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta LPG engines: Generation I (2010-2020)

A special feature of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta was the factory-fitted LPG variant with 1.4 TB MultiAir and 120 hp. This bivalent Alfa Romeo Giulietta engine could run on both petrol and LPG and offered significant fuel cost advantages. However, the complex gas technology revealed additional weaknesses: defective gas valves, problems with the gas system and increased wear on the exhaust valves due to the higher combustion temperature of LPG made this variant one of the most maintenance-intensive.

Conclusion: The best Alfa Romeo Giulietta engines of all generations

The development of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta engines clearly demonstrates the Italian philosophy of temperament before reliability. While the MultiJet diesels were consistently convincing, the more complex gasoline units struggled with the typical weaknesses of modern turbo direct injection engines. Although the innovative MultiAir technology brought performance advantages, it also increased the susceptibility to maintenance considerably.

• Best Alfa Romeo Giulietta gasoline engine:

The 1.75 TBi with 240 hp from the Quadrifoglio Verde offers the best combination of performance, driving pleasure and suitability for everyday use, despite occasional weaknesses.

• Best Alfa Romeo Giulietta diesel engine:

The 1.6 JTDm with 120 hp impresses with outstanding reliability, low fuel consumption and sufficient power for everyday use.

• Best Alfa Romeo Giulietta all-round engine:

The 2.0 JTDm with 150 hp combines sportiness with reliability and is suitable for both frequent and sporty drivers.

For maintenance and spare parts for the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, AUTODOC offers a comprehensive range of original and quality spare parts with fast delivery, which is particularly important for the maintenance-intensive Italian technology.