Alfa Romeo continues to carve its unique path in the compact luxury sedan segment as I find out once again in having the 2025 Giulia Veloce AWD this week – bringing a distinctive Italian character with the added confidence of all-wheel drive. While many rivals lean heavily into cutting-edge tech, the Giulia remains focused on delivering driving passion, though it’s starting to show its age on the technology front.

Under the hood, the Giulia Veloce AWD sticks with the familiar 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, producing 280 horsepower and 306 lb-ft of torque, paired with a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission. What sets the AWD model apart from the RWD version I tested a couple of years ago is how planted it feels when pushed. Compared to its rear-wheel-drive counterpart, the Giulia Veloce AWD rotates with a more predictable balance, confidently putting its power down and giving you extra traction through tight corners and on slick pavement. There’s an added sense of security without sacrificing the playful and well-rounded dynamics the Giulia is known for.

The DNA drive mode system remains, offering subtle changes between Dynamic, Natural, and Advanced Efficiency settings, but with AWD, throttle inputs feel even more controlled, and the steering remains sharp and communicative. Zero to 60 mph still arrives around the 5.2-second mark, though the AWD system makes that figure more repeatable regardless of road conditions. When driving in a civil manner in the Natural mode, you’ll expect to nearly match the EPA fuel estimates of 23 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined.

Stylistically, the 2025 Giulia Veloce AWD remains a stunner, one that intrigues most who see such a vehicle pass by. To add to its uniqueness, the optional Verde Green Fangio Metallic paint ($2,200) on my test vehicle, along with 19-inch 5-hole wheels and red brake calipers, grab attention, while the sculpted bodywork continues to set it apart from the crowd. Inside, there are agreeable and comfy seating areas, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and the same modestly sized 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that feels dated compared to newer offerings in the segment. The integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto helps ease the experience, though the system’s laggy responses persist, which can be frustrating at times and exacerbated by a low-quality and sometimes cumbersome touchscreen.

Interior comfort remains a strong point, with supportive, heated front seats and just enough rear-seat space for adults on shorter trips. The trunk provides a useful 13.4 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable thanks to split-folding rear seats.

On the safety front, Alfa bundles in expected features like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and parking sensors. However, the backup camera’s small, low-resolution display is a reminder that the Giulia isn’t quite keeping pace with the latest tech-heavy competitors.

The base Giulia starts around $44,000, with well-equipped versions like the Veloce AWD creeping into the mid-$50k range ($55,340 as-tested), the Giulia remains an alluring choice for those craving something different in the luxury sports sedan market. The platform is well capable of ‘more’ as a Giulia Quadrifoglio version with 505 horsepower is still offered starting around $84K. While the Giulia may lag in infotainment and tech updates, few competitors can match its blend of style, performance, and all-season capability.