There's a saying that your reputation goes before you, and that's true for cars as well as people.
Unfortunately for Alfa Romeo, that reputation isn't an especially good one.
Stylish, flamboyant, their cars are pretty and nice to look at, but on the inside . . . another thing entirely. Or so the legends say.
Of course, no-one wants to drive a lemon, so just how true is Alfa Romeo's dodgy reputation? Does the famous brand really suffer from unforgivable reliability issues, and have customers really been consistently disappointed?
Recent data suggests . . . not really.
The Alfa Myth: Passion But No Performance
For good or bad, we now live in the digital era.
That means every man and his cousin now has a voice, and any old geezer can snipe from their armchairs. But for every online horror story, you'll find a very satisfied Alfa Romeo driver.
Still, like that dodgy restaurant down the road, you've heard about the brand's reputation, and word of mouth is always worth listening to, right? Throw in the fact that Italians aren't exactly world-renowned for making cars.
Thing is . . . that dodgy reputation is largely a product of the last century, when Alfa was churning out models like the Alfasud which had horrendous track records for regular mechanical issues, electrical failures, engine problems, and poor build quality.
Unfortunately, that reputation has kind of stuck, even if the Alfa engineering team have gotten their act together.
What Does Customer Feedback Say?
Time to bust a myth, because customers in the 2024 Annual Driver Power Survey by Auto Express ranked Alfa Romeo as 13th out of 32 manufacturers, with a satisfaction rating of 86.86% – just ABOVE Nissan and BMW.
Not bad, eh?
Who'd a thought it, Alfa Romeo reliability is actually a thing.
The Driver Power Survey is basically a yearly questionnaire which asks thousands of drivers to share feedback about the vehicle they drive. You can head over to Auto Express for the full results.
How Reliable are Consumer Reports?
Pretty reliable.
After all, consumers (i.e. you) are the ones actually driving the cars.
Plus, consumer reports are measured based on the experiences of a large sample size of people – usually numbering in the thousands, like in the one above.
Common Alfa Romeo Problems
Alright, Alfa Romeos aren't at the bottom of the reliability rankings like so many motorists seem to think , but they aren't at the top either.
OK, so what are some of the problems associated with them?
Well, it's not usually stuck-at-the-roadside types of problems, but instead more minor electrical faults relating to the radio, heated seats or the alarm system. Sometimes traction or suspension issues as well. Engine and gearbox faults of the more serious kind only make up a small percentage.
These non-serious faults are something that a lot of Alfa Romeo drivers are willing to forgive due to the better things about driving one – the road performance, the fancy logo, the experience of a premium brand.
Does It Help If I'm Leasing?
Sure does.
That's because lease cars are new cars (though used car leasing is becoming more common in the market), meaning you'll be getting behind the wheel of an Alfa Romeo that's brand spanking new and less prone to breaking down. As opposed to driving a used Alfa Romeo.
Less chance of things breaking down, less money being thrown down the drain, less waiting around at repair shops. Happy days.
And in case anything does go wrong, you've got breakdown cover the full manufacturer's warranty to help save the day.
Are Alfa Romeos Expensive to Maintain?
No, your Alfa Romeo probably isn't going to break down on you. But yes, servicing it and having parts replaced can be quite expensive.
A few reasons for that:
1. Premium Components: Supply and demand . . . it's a luxury brand, so Alfa Romeos have high-maintenance parts and specialised components that can be expensive to replace
2. Specialised Mechanics: Because of the above, Alfa Romeos often require mechanics with special training to work on them, with dealerships charging higher hourly rates
3. Imported Parts: It's also an Italian brand, meaning many of its parts are imported, driving up the cost of repairs and replacements
4. Fewer Service Centres: Compared to mainstream brands like Ford and Toyota, there's less dealerships that cater to Alfa Romeos. This can drive up labour costs and lead to longer waiting times
Which Alfa Romeo is the Most Reliable?
The main Alfas hitting the roads today are the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, the Alfa Romeo Giulia, and the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Alfa Romeo Tonale SUVs.
Here's how each model holds up with regards to reliability. You might be surprised by some of the verdicts.
Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Launched in 2010, the Giulietta hatchback is the most common Alfa that's out and about. Known for its sporty style, luxurious interior and (depending on your taste) striking front grille, it's been a big player in repairing the brand's reputation. Sales peaked in 2011, though they've been on a steady decline since.
It also wins as the most reliable. The Giulietta was given a very impressive reliability score of 98.6% by WhatCar? magazine, sitting two places above the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, which scored 97.2%. Living proof that Alfa Romeo are capable of building good cars.
Alfa Romeo Giulia
Arguably one of the best-looking vehicles in the saloon car segment, the Giulia takes design cues from Mercedes-Benz and BMW, and you can't deny that there's something BMW-ish about its appearance. And it's not only a pretty car, but a powerful one as well. Enjoy a 197bhp 2.0-litre engine that lets you get from 0 to 62mph in 6.6 seconds.
The spiritual successor of the Alfa Romeo 159, it's safe to say that the Alfa Romeo Giulia is a step up in the reliability department. Although not rated quite as high as its Giulietta counterpart, the Giulia still holds its own, receiving a score of 9/10 by Top Gear and 5/5 by Auto Express.
Alfa Romeo Stelvio
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio (named after a scenic mountain pass in northern Italy) meshes all the power and practicality of a 4x4 with the performance and verve of a sports car, giving it a powerful presence on the road. And it still manages to retain the classy, distinct flavour of the brand.
Question: does the Alfa Romeo Stelvio live up to the high standard set by its Giulietta and Giulia siblings? Well, not quite, but it still holds its own.
Alfa Romeo Tonale
The first step in Alfa Romeo's electric journey, the Alfa Romeo Tonale hybrid SUV represents new territory for the brand. Much like the Stelvio, it still has the Alfa Romeo design we all know and love, but in SUV form. Power comes from either a standard 256-hp turbo-four or a more powerful plug-in-hybrid powertrain with more than 30 miles of estimated all-electric range. The Tonale can sprint from 0 to 60mph in 6 seconds, with a potential top speed of 130.5mph.
It's no Giulia or Giulietta, but like the Stelvio, it'll get you from A to B without too much trouble.
Alfa Romeo Vs Audi
Audi's not only one of the most reliable brands, it's also one of the ones that we're seeing more and more of in the streets, from the ever-popular Audi A1, Audi A4 ranges to the trademark Audi TT.
When comparing Audi with Alfa, the A6 vs the Giulia springs to mind. The A6 is definitely at the higher end of the scale, but when it comes to reliability, it's arguably pipped by the Giulia, with brakes, engine, and fuel systems all being a common problem since 2013. Thing is, Audi has a more reliable track record of producing reliable cars, which means it often wins out for potential Alfa drivers.
Alfa Romeo VS BMW
Alfa Romeo's recent vehicles are actually equal to BMW's in terms of reliability, but because BMW has a better track record of producing high-quality, reliable cars, and didn't go through a bad spell in the 70s and 80s, it's easy just to plump for that brand instead.
As we saw above, Alfa Romeo actually trumped BMW in the Driver Power Survey.
So, Is Alfa Romeo Reliable?
Alfa Romeo customer reviews and feedback have mostly good things to say, meaning the answer has got to be a resounding yes.
So if you're in the market for a performance car, don't be too quick to write off an Alfa Romeo lease deal.
Having said that, the manufacturer isn't right at the top of the barrel either, and their vehicles can still be prone to the odd electrical malfunction.
Nothing’s perfect, right?
FAQs
Does Alfa Romeo have reliability issues?
Older Alfa Romeo models experienced a great deal of reliability issues, but the brand has generally improved in recent years, and recent Alfa models rival the likes of Nissan and BMW.
Is Alfa Romeo expensive to maintain?
Being high-performance vehicles, and due to the cost and rarity of their parts, Alfa Romeos can be quite expensive to maintain.
Is BMW or Alfa Romeo more reliable?
Generally speaking, BMW still pips Alfa Romeo as the more reliable brand. However, it's been a closer race in recent times and Alfa Romeo is slowly making its way up the charts.
Which Alfa Romeo is the most reliable?
The most reliable Alfa Romeo is probably the Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV, in particular the Quadrifoglio versions.
Are Alfa Romeo Giulietta parts expensive?
Short answer, yes. Alfa Romeo Giulietta parts can cost a pretty penny. Same as with any other Alfa Romeo.