Alfa Romeo Giulia vs BMW 3 Series M
Verdict
The BMW 3 Series M is the quicker and cheaper car to buy: RM388,800 versus RM440,078, with 387 hp/500 Nm and all-wheel drive cutting 0–100 km/h to 4.4 seconds. The Alfa Romeo Giulia answers with rear-wheel drive, a smaller 1,995 cc engine, lower RM378 annual road tax and a five-year warranty against the BMW’s two years. Both are compact executive sedans with five seats, automatic gearboxes and identical 480-litre boots, so the decision is mainly speed and purchase price versus tax, warranty cover and drive layout.
Pick the Alfa Romeo Giulia if you want rear-wheel drive, lower annual road tax, a longer warranty and eight airbags over outright pace.
Pick the BMW 3 Series M if you want the stronger numbers: 387 hp, 500 Nm, all-wheel drive and 0–100 km/h in 4.4 seconds.
Key differences
- Price: Alfa Romeo Giulia RM440,078; BMW 3 Series M RM388,800
- Engine/output: Alfa Romeo Giulia 1,995 cc, 276 hp/400 Nm; BMW 3 Series M 2,998 cc, 387 hp/500 Nm
- Driven wheels: Alfa Romeo Giulia rear-wheel drive; BMW 3 Series M all-wheel drive
- 0–100 km/h: Alfa Romeo Giulia 5.7 s; BMW 3 Series M 4.4 s
- Size: Alfa Romeo Giulia 4,643/1,860/1,436 mm; BMW 3 Series M 4,714/1,827/1,440 mm
- Warranty/road tax: Alfa Romeo Giulia 5 years/RM378; BMW 3 Series M 2 years/RM2,125
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 440,078 | RM 388,800✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Engine | 1,995 cc | 2,998 cc |
| Power | 276 hp | 387 hp✓ |
| Torque | 400 Nm | 500 Nm✓ |
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Driven wheels | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | 5.7 s | 4.4 s✓ |
| Top speed | 240 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,643 mm | 4,714 mm |
| Width | 1,860 mm | 1,827 mm |
| Height | 1,436 mm | 1,440 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,820 mm | 2,851 mm |
| Boot space | 480 L | 480 L |
| Fuel tank | 58 L | 59 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 8✓ | 6 |
| Auto emergency braking | Yes | Yes |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 5✓ | 2 |
| Road tax / year | RM 378✓ | RM 2,125 |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Giulia
- Lower RM378 annual road tax
- Longer five-year warranty
- Eight airbags versus six
- Costs RM51,278 more to buy
- Slower 5.7-second 0–100 km/h
- Less power: 276 hp/400 Nm
3 Series M
- Quicker 4.4-second 0–100 km/h
- More power: 387 hp/500 Nm
- All-wheel drive
- Higher RM2,125 annual road tax
- Shorter two-year warranty
- Six airbags versus eight
Giulia vs 3 Series M FAQ
Is the Alfa Romeo Giulia or BMW 3 Series M better?
The BMW 3 Series M is better if you want the faster car: 387 hp, 500 Nm, all-wheel drive and 4.4 seconds to 100 km/h. Choose the Alfa Romeo Giulia if the five-year warranty, RM378 road tax and eight airbags matter more.
What is the price difference?
The BMW 3 Series M is RM51,278 cheaper than the Alfa Romeo Giulia, with the BMW priced at RM388,800 and the Alfa at RM440,078.
Which one is cheaper to tax every year?
The Alfa Romeo Giulia is much cheaper to tax annually at RM378. The BMW 3 Series M costs RM2,125 a year, a difference of RM1,747.