Consumer Reports New Cars – November 2019

Facts & Figures Exterior Dimensions

Cargo Measurement

Fuel

Facts & Figures Exterior Dimensions

Cargo Measurement

Fuel

Reliability History Reliability History Trouble Spots

Trouble Spots

NEW CAR PREDICTION

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical Climate System Suspension Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics USED CAR VERDICTS

62 NEW CARS CR.ORG/CARS

! RECOMMENDED

1 2 3 4 5 WORSE BETTER

Alfa Romeo Giulia

Alfa’s compact luxury-sport sedan corners and steers like a sports car, which makes it fun to drive. Still, it’s filled with everyday annoy- ances, such as its unintuitive controls. The 280-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and provides punchy acceleration even in the all-wheel-drive version. The firm ride absorbs most bumps, but it’s less plush than many competitors. Fuel economy at 27 mpg overall is among the best in the class. The attractive interior has matte wood and nicely tex- tured surfaces, but some switchgear is cheap. The convoluted infotainment system is distracting to use. Seat comfort is compromised by a short cushion and limited range of adjustments, and the cabin isn’t as quiet as that of its peers. The high-performance Quadrifoglio version is even sportier, but at the expense of comfort.

Overall Score 48 Predicted Reliability 01 Owner Satisfaction 04 Road-Test Score 70 Front-Crash Prevention Opt.

Base Price: $38,295-$73,995 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: Base, Lusso, Quadrifoglio, Sport, Ti Drive Wheels: Rear, AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (280 hp); 2.9-liter V6 turbo (505 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

Length (in.)..................... 183 Width (in.) ......................74 Height (in.) ......................57 Wheelbase (in.) ..................111 Weight (lb.) ..................3,695 % weight front/rear ...........52/48

Max. Load (lb.) ................ 905 Cargo Volume, cu.ft............... 12 Towing Capacity (lb.) ............NR

Premium CR overall mpg ..................27

Much worse than average

16 17 18

(^04)
03
(^05)
(^05)
05
(^05)
(^04)
05
(^05)
(^04)
(^04)
(^05)
04
(^05)
(^04)
01
(^03) *
01
01
Acura TLX
The TLX has potential but lacks panache, ultimately falling short of
the best luxury compact sedans. It’s available with either a four- or a
six-cylinder engine, but AWD is available only with the V6. The 2.4-
liter uses an eight-speed automatic transmission that delivers quick,
direct shifts and contributes to the very good 27 mpg overall. The
V6 is a gem, with plenty of power, but it’s paired with a nine-speed
automatic that isn’t all that smooth or responsive. We found the ride
to be quite comfortable and handling to be responsive although not
sporty. The cabin is quiet, but the infotainment system is distracting
and awkward to use. Recent updates included an exterior freshen-
ing, making the AcuraWatch suite of safety equipment standard,
tweaking the suspension and steering, and adding luxury features to
the interior.
Overall Score 71-74
Predicted Reliability 03
Owner Satisfaction 02
Road-Test Score 75-79
Front-Crash Prevention Std./ 05
Base Price: $33,000-$45,950
Body Styles: sedan
Trim Lines: Advance, A-Spec, Stan-
dard, Tech
Drive Wheels: Front, AWD
Seating: 2 front, 3 rear
Engines: 2.4-liter 4 (206 hp); 3.5-liter
V6 (290 hp)
Transmissions: 9-speed automatic;
8-speed sequential
Length (in.).................... .190
Width (in.) ......................74
Height (in.) ......................57
Wheelbase (in.) .................109
Weight (lb.) ..................3,480
% weight front/rear .......... 60/40
Max. Load (lb.) ................ 850
Cargo Volume, cu.ft............... 13
Towing Capacity (lb.) ............NR
Premium
CR overall mpg ...............25-27 Average
05 05 50
05 05 50
05 05 50
04 05 50
01 02 40
03 05 50
05 05 50
05 05 50
05 04 50
05 05 50
05 05 50
05 05 50
04 05 50
03 05 50
05 05 50
03 05 50
03 01 10
01 03 40
16 17 18
30
A

Consumer Reports New Cars – November 2019

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