Names are back in the Alfa Romeo lineup, and isn’t it great?

I’m not sure why the Italian marque chose to go all German a few years ago, coming up with models with names like 156, 157, 147 (yawn!) and the like, but the company has finally returned to names. Delightfully Italian names at that, first with the MiTo in 2009, now the lovely Alfa Romeo Giulietta has reached Australia.

Even better is the new take on the styling of the Giulietta. Though Alfa Romeo has been using the disguised door handle theme for several years, the designers have excelled themselves with the looks of the new model. Not only have they given us hard-to-see handles on the Giulietta’s back door, they have narrowed the lines of the cabin to further give the visual impression that this an exciting coupe, not a workaday hatch.

Less obvious is the way the stylists have made the front door handles extra large to again give the impression you’re looking at a two-door, but they certainly play their part as well.

Our first thought on reviewing the Alfa Romeo Giulietta as that its stunning lines would steal too much space from the back seat. Not so, because the roof extends a fair way back and the new design of rear suspension takes up minimal space and so leaving good room for two adults in the back seat. I’m just on six-feel tall and can sit ‘behind’ myself with head, leg and knee room to spare.

Though the Giulietta is set up with three lap-sash safety belts in the back, if all three are adults it will be a squeeze.

Alfa Romeo Australia is aimed at a high-pressure area of the Australian car market, that of prestige Euro cars like the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and Volkswagen Golf. Perhaps even the Mercedes-Benz B-Class, though this model is more aimed at the compact people mover segment than the pure hatchback one.

And Alfa Romeo won’t be disappointed it if pulls buyers up from the Corolla, Honda Civic and Mazda3 class as well. With a starting price of just $36,990 (plus on-roads) the Giulietta will prove tempting to potential buyers considering the top end versions of these established Japanese cars.

Initially the Alfa Romeo Giulietta comes to Australia in two formats, both with turbo-petrol engines. One uses the high-tech 1.4-litre MultiAir setup aimed at providing economy and fun. The other is the new 1750 engine (a much loved name with Alfa owners) in the high-performance Giulietta QV.

The 1.4 engine produces 125 kilowatts of power, the 1750 a very desirable 173 kW. Strong torque is a feature of any turbocharged engine and these Alfa units illustrate this, with up 250 Nm and 340 Nm respectively. Note that these figures are with the Alfa’s electronic system set in the D (Dynamic) mode.

At this stage both Giulietta engines sit beside six-speed manual gearboxes. Automatic transmissions, using Alfa’s new double-clutch TCT gearbox will follow later, as will turbo-diesel engine options.

As well as the more powerful engine, the sporting Giulietta QV also has lowered suspension, bigger brakes, a body kit, aluminium pedals and a few other bits and pieces. The QV can be distinguished by its dual exhausts and triangular clover-leaf badges on the front guards.

We reviewed both variants of the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta during the press launch, driving from Sydney to the Hunter Valley and back (with, it must be admitted, a long Italian lunch along the way). The roads were treacherously greasy thanks to the ongoing wet weather on Australia’s east coast. The Alfas handled them with ease thanks to well-sorted suspension aided by the latest in electronic support systems.

The Italian machines went safely around bends at speeds that wouldn't have been considered possible in what is after all a family hatchback in the latter years of the 21st century.

While we love the styling of this latest Alfa Romeo, the thick windscreen pillars create blinds spots, in some situations the big door mirrors come into the equation as well and spoil the driver’s view of a fair bit.

Comfort was good in the Giulietta 1.4, but the QV may be best left to lovers of sporting cars as it’s pretty firm on normal roads and can thump about at times on rough bush roads.

Alfa Romeo’s all-new Giulietta combines fun with function, style with spaciousness, and at the same time provides the character that lovers of Italian cars crave. It seems sure of carving out a neat niche for itself in Australia.