What is it?

All the attention of Alfa Romeo's (latest) re-birth has been focused on the Giulia Quadrifoglio but this is the one more people will buy.

The Quadrifoglio costs more than $140k and packs a Ferrari-derived, twin-turbocharged V6 engine. But the rest of the Giulia range costs a lot less and runs a four-cylinder engine.

The Veloce is the top of the four-pot range, sitting above the standard Giulia and Super models, to do battle with the likes of the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

It may make the ultimate performance of the Quadrifoglio but judging by the amount of people we caught staring at Veloce it's safe to say it still possesses head-turning looks.

How much does it cost and what do you get?

You'll need $71,895 to buy the Veloce, which prices it above its most direct rivals (see below) but it is well equipped.

Standard gear includes a unique Veloce body kit, 19-inch alloys in Alfa's five-hole design, bi-Xenon headlights, leather upholstery, sports seats, heated front seats and steering wheel, Bluetooth, navigation, a 10-speaker sound system and a 8.8-inch infotainment screen.

What's under the bonnet?

The four-cylinder turbo gets two different variations for the Giulia range. In the base model and Super it produces 147kW of power and 330Nm of torque. But for the Veloce those outputs are bumped up to 206kW and 400Nm.

That's enough to make the Veloce a quick car. The 0-100km/h sprint takes 5.7 seconds and on the road it has strong pulling power off the mark and punch in the mid-range.

The eight-speed automatic transmission does a good job… most of the time. It can find itself occasionally with an awkward shift that suggests it still needs some calibration work.

The biggest disappointment with the drivetrain is the stop-start system. It is far too violent when re-starting the car that it was the first thing I turned off. When I did leave it on there was one instance when it actually jolted the car into moving. More work needed there too.

What's it like to drive?

This is one area where Alfa Romeo doesn't need to change anything. While it make lack the power of the Quadrifoglio the Veloce's handling isn't too far off.

In part that's because it comes with adjustable suspension and a limited slip differential as standard. You can adjust the suspension (as well as the drivetrain) via Alfa's 'DNA' selector on the cabin.

The Dynamic suspension settings are too firm for the road but you can leave the engine and transmission in the sportier mode and select the softer damper setup for the ideal driving engagement.

In the softer settings the suspension offers up an excellent balance between comfort and composure. The suspension soaks up the bumps with a minimum of fuss while still offering good balance and control.

Coupled with fast, direct steering and you have one of the most engaging and enjoyable cars to drive in this class.

What's it like inside?

Alfa Romeo didn't just design a pretty exterior for the Giulia, the cabin is equally as stylish and sporty as the rest of the car.

The thick-rimmed steering wheel, huge metal gearshift paddles and body-hugging leather seats lend the Veloce an immediately sporty character inside. The dashboard design is a lesson in simplicity done well and is angled towards the driver to create the clear impression this is a driver's car.

However, there are some hard, cheaper-feeling plastics in some places that detract a little from the feeling of luxury, but most of the key touch points are suitably premium.

While space up front is good, the same can't be said for the back seats. Room in the rear is very tight for adults and the tapered roofline makes getting into the back tricky for taller folks.

Is it safe?

The Veloce comes loaded with everything Alfa Romeo currently offers on the safety front. Autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert are all standard. A reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors are also included.

Would I buy it?

I'd definitely consider it if I was in the market for a premium medium-sized sedan with a sporty bent. Is it good enough to send the Germans running scared? No. But it's a serious rival that you can consider for both logical and emotional reasons.

What else should I consider?

On price and performance it lines up against the likes of the Audi A4 2.0 quattro Sport ($69,900), BMW 330i ($69,900), Jaguar XE 25t Portfolio ($70,115), Lexus IS200t F-Sport ($67,480) and Mercedes-Benz C250 ($69,400).

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce pricing and specifications

Price: From $71,895 plus on-road costs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol

Power: 206kW at 5250rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 2250rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

Fuel use: 6.1L/100km

• For more information, visit our Alfa Romeo showroom.