There’s a number of Alfa Romeo Giulietta safety systems fitted as standard. Six airbags feature alongside active systems such as stability control, electronic brake distribution, grip-enhancing vehicle dynamic control. There’s also hill-start assist.

Alfa is keen to point out that the Giulietta underwent 80 crash tests in order to get the structural integrity right and as such it received a five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2010.

However, the company has no plans to fit any active safety systems such as automatic emergency braking or adaptive cruise control in the future, which resulted in the Euro NCAP score dropping to three stars in 2017.

There’s decent space for front- and rear-seat passengers and the boot, seats up, offers 350 litres, which is just about on par with rivals (the Ford Focus offers 316 litres).

A lack of interior stowage space for odds and ends is frustrating though – there’s nowhere to stash your mobile ’phone while it’s charging for instance.

The Giulietta’s Achilles Heel is the restricted visibility both out the rear and from the front. The small rear window and oversized pillars compromise city manoeuvrability.