Mine seems to stay OFF as long as AUTO setting is also off.

 

What MY is your Giulia? I have a 2017 and I always use Auto, but the AC will remember the last setting I had it on. So if it was off, on the next restart it stays off.

 

I would think that with on AUTO set to on, the AC would come on if the temperature you have set calls for it.

 

In my 2020 Q4, I have everything turned off, set to just the manual fan setting, as a/c is generally not needed in the Seattle area at all. Rarely use it. Some years, nada. The auto setting will turn the a/c on or off if needed (I think). Also if I set the temperature to the lowest setting, that turns on the a/c. As I said above, don't need a/c here worth talking about.

My only complaint about the ventilation in the Giulia is that it doesn't seem to be all that good as compared to say the 164. It takes a long while for warm air to be flushed out, even at speed down the road. The 164 seems to have better airflow in the cabin, unfortunately the 164 fan is always noisier when it is running, even on the low settings, alas.

The Giulia a/c, when it is on, is definitely better.

 

I manual override the HVAC in my MY2018 Q4 and the A/C on/off stays with my last setting. If I use the AUTO setting my windshield often fogs up. HOWEVER, the recirculate automatically comes on when I start up if the most recent A/C setting was on.

I would be surprised if the A/C is turned off in AUTO mode, unless the ambient temperature is low.

 

OK, found the issue.
If the temperature control is set to "LO", and the AC compressor is shut off, but the fan is on, the AC can come back on when the car is restarted.

If the temperature is set one click higher to "61", the AC will not come back on when you restart.

Odd...all my other cars I can set the temp to LO, fan on, and the AC will stay off when I restart.

Now to my next "issue"....I can't find a setting to prevent the mirrors from folding when I lock the car. The owners manual says there is a setting for this in the "Doors and Locks" menu....I don't have that selection in my Doors and Locks screen.

 

Don’t know about 2024 models, but mine has no such setting. However, I believe if you use the lock button on the INSIDE of the door the mirrors will not fold.

 

I can see a little more stress on the starter if ac on. Perhaps the electronics don’t engage compressor when cranking. Living in SC I use my AC year ‘round. NV