Interested in leasing a five-passenger sedan? Looking for something a bit more upscale than the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord? There are numerous attractive year-end promotions available. How about considering a 2020 Nissan Maxima? It’s priced at $309 per month for 36 months with a down payment of $3,859. Or maybe a 2021 Toyota Avalon at $389 for 36 months, with an initial payment of $3,688. You might also consider the 2020 Lexus ES 350 at $329 per month for 36 months, requiring $2,899 upfront.
Or are you in the mood for a bit of excitement? We will elaborate on that shortly.
One leasing offer that grabbed my attention: A brand-new Alfa Romeo Giulia at $279 per month for 39 months, with an upfront payment of $2,278 and no security deposit required.
A Giulia? For less than $300 every month? And on top of that, it’s a lease? Alfa Romeo, since its comeback to the U.S., has not exactly been recognized for its construction quality. Fortunately, it isn’t featured in the latest Consumer Reports edition that evaluates brand reliability since, like eight other brands, there isn’t a large enough sample of cars for comprehensive assessment.
However, in Consumer Reports’ New Cars publication, the Giulia’s reliability score is depicted by a red ball with two downward-pointing arrows, a sight that manufacturers dread. But hey, so is the Dodge Durango Hellcat’s rating. But you’d still opt for the Hellcat, wouldn’t you?
On the flip side, Consumer Reports grants the Giulia two upward-pointing green arrows for owner satisfaction, indicating that owners enjoy their vehicles, and apparently, any issues are swiftly and satisfactorily resolved by dealers.
Which shouldn’t be a challenge. Almost every Alfa test car I’ve driven in the last three years has encountered a problem, although in all but one instance it was a minor electrical issue, like a stubborn light. Individuals at Fiat Chrysler have assured me that things have improved, and with a full green rating for owner satisfaction, I am inclined to believe them.
So, by adventurous, I mean it in two ways: in terms of the aforementioned reliability aspect and in the traditional Italian Alfa Romeo sense, which implies the car is thrilling to drive. Even the entry-level model being discussed here, featuring a 2.0-liter, 280-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The cabin is elegantly appointed, and surprisingly, even the rear seats offer ample space.
The base 2020 model, priced at $40,695 including shipping, comes well-equipped, with standard features such as forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. Fuel economy stands at 24 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.
Alfa Romeo
And evidently, there are numerous options available. Alfa informs me that there are 66 vehicles to select from in “my area.”
Auto enthusiasts who haven’t been closely following Alfa’s quality concerns view the car correctly as one that offers exceptional handling, and indeed, this car delivers on that front. Individuals less attuned to cars perceive the Alfa Romeo brand in the same league as Maserati and Aston Martin and might peg you as a luxury spender until informed that your car costs only slightly more than a fully-loaded Toyota Camry XSE.
So, if you’re aiming to make an impression, seize the opportunity swiftly. Mention the Formula One team. Avoid mentioning their recent victory. While I’m not explicitly endorsing the Alfa Romeo Giulia (pronounced Julia; for your own sake), the offer of $279 a month could definitely make it onto my list of considerations.
