Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV vs Volkswagen Golf GTI

What price romance? There are 18-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control, aluminium sports pedals (which are high set, too close together and slippery under wet shoes), cloth-and-leather trim, split-folding rear seats, red-stitched leather-wrapped steering wheel, 10-speaker Bose audio, Bluetooth and USB input. Predicted resale is 39 per cent - ouch - and there's no capped-price servicing.

The little German gets dual-zone climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, integrated touchscreen satnav, 18-inch alloys, Bluetooth and USB inputs for the eight-speaker infotainment setup, tinted windows and LED interior spot and ambient lighting. The capped-price servicing amounts to $2896 over six years/90,000km but Golf wins with 58 per cent resale value.

The 1319kg Italian hatch scores here for a willing powerplant. Alfa's 1.7-litre turbo four (173kW/340Nm) likes - and prefers - a rev. It gets through 95 RON at a claimed 7.6L/100km and the tank is 60L. It has six-speed manual only. Alfa's DNA drive mode selection (best left in Dynamic) attempts to quell front-end untidiness.

Outputs from the 2.0-litre turbo (162kW/350Nm) are well-spread across the rev range. The six-speed manual and DSG each claim 6.5 secs to 100km/h and about the same number of litres per 100km from the 50L tank (98RON). The GTI's clever front electronic diff lock and adaptive chassis give the little hatch serious cornering prowess with little sacrifice of ride quality.

Lumps and bumps in the right places, with red brake calipers, sports body kit, this little Italian sits on stunning "8C Competizione" alloys and is a pretty machine, if not outright gorgeous. The cabin is similarly easy on the eye, just not easy to use. The pedal arrangement can cause even dainty feet grief when slipping between brake and throttle. Seats are comfy but need more lateral support. Boot space is a useful 350L.

Less evocative than the fiery Italian but there's still plenty to like about the sharp-cut hatch - think Hugo Boss rather than Armani. Inside, the German takes points for space, features and ease of use, even if it doesn't match the Alfa's flair. Refinement and ergonomic cred abound. Boot space is larger at 380L.

Five stars from ANCAP. Safety gear includes six airbags, the clever Q2 stability and traction control, active bi-xenon headlights, LED running lights and auto-dimming mirror but only rear parking sensors. It lacks reversing camera and front sensors. The spare is a space-saver.

Five ANCAP stars. Full suite of safety kit includes parking sensors front and rear (with acoustic and optical warnings), reversing camera, seven airbags (including driver's knee airbag), electric park brake, automatic halogen headlights (bi-xenons a $2150 option), LED daytime running lights, rain-sensing wipers and auto-dimming mirror.

Alfa claims 7.2 seconds to 100km/h (but, entirely subjectively, it feels faster) and a 242km/h top speed. Ride around town is good. It's fun when tackling the bends but getting power down out of corners warrants delicate footwork. The absence of an auto (for now) makes it a tough sell.

he original hot hatch is again - overall - the best. The GTI is lithe and its electronic-trickery between the front wheels is exceptionally good on a favoured back-road - a few more kilos, more torque but less power haven't hampered its performance, yet the mild-mannered modes make it a doddle on the school run. Take the kids to school (they'll want to be dropped right out front) and then take the long way to work.