ALFA Romeo's Giulia is simply one of the best looking cars on the market, no matter which version your budget stretches too.

With the longest wheelbase in its sector, short overhangs, a long bonnet, muscular haunches and that utterly familiar trefoil nose, it looks fabulous.

The flagship of the range is the fire-breathing V6 Giulia Quadrifoglio, but the Sprint - just like its speedier sibling the Veloce and the even peppier Veloce Ti - carefully balances award-winning ride and handling with affordable performance and luxury.

It features a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine partnered with a seamlessly smooth eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel-drive.

The interior is crisp and fuss-free with a completely driver-focused layout, Ferrari 488-inspired aluminium paddleshifts and cossetting leather sports seats.

All the main controls are grouped together on the sporty steering wheel in a similar fashion to a Formula 1 car, while the human-machine interface consists of two simple, user-friendly knobs for adjusting the Alfa DNA selector and the infotainment system.

Standard equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, headlamp washers, heated and electrically-adjustable front seats. There's also dual-zone climate control, ‘Alfa DNA' rotary driving mode selector and an easy-to-use, touch sensitive, 8.8-inch infotainment system.

A seven-inch TFT screen in the heart of the instrument cluster is also now standard across the range. I love the little Italian flag at the root of the gearstick too.

The Alfa DNA selector modifies the car's dynamic behaviour according to the driver's selection - Dynamic, Natural, and a new energy efficiency mode, Advanced Efficiency. It adjusts a multitude of settings, including those of the engine, suspension, steering, transmission, rear differential, instrument display, brakes and safety and driver aids.

In Normal, the Sprint is quiet, calm and comfortable and a lovely A-road cruiser. In Dynamic, the suspension tightens up, the exhaust note becomes a little peppier and the marque's sportier history comes into play.

It might not be the all-conquering Quadrifoglio, but you can have genuine, grin-inducing fun threading the Sprint down a twisty country A- or B-road. There's loads of low-down torque, masses of grip and the steering is quick, keen and agile. The Sprint goes where you point it - and quickly.

It officially returns 36.2mpg but over 300 miles I managed 27.5mpg - possibly because it is such a joy to drive, and drive quickly.

The good news is for dads, being a four-door, five-seater saloon, the Giulia Sprint is a ‘family' car with an exceptional five-star Euro NCAP rating and 98 per cent score for passenger safety.

All models in the range are equipped with Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking with pedestrian recognition, Lane Departure Warning, and cruise control with speed limiter.