Verdict
At RM440,078, the Alfa Romeo Giulia costs RM172,278 more than the RM267,800 BMW 3 Series, and that is a huge premium in Malaysia for a sedan with the same 480-litre boot and five seats. The Giulia earns part of it with 276 hp, 400 Nm and a 5.7-second 0-100 km/h time, against 184 hp, 300 Nm and 7.4 seconds. The BMW is the more rational daily: it is CKD, has a longer 2,851-mm wheelbase, head-up display and self-parking. But the Alfa is 100 kg lighter and comes with adaptive cruise control, matrix LEDs and 19-inch wheels.
Pick the Alfa Romeo Giulia if a 5.7-second 0-100 km/h sprint, 400 Nm and adaptive cruise control matter more than a RM172,278 saving.
Pick the BMW 3 Series if you want the RM267,800 CKD choice with a head-up display, automatic parking and a 2,851-mm wheelbase.
Key differences
- Price: Alfa Romeo Giulia RM440,078; BMW 3 Series RM267,800.
- Performance: Giulia 276 hp, 400 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 5.7 seconds; 3 Series 184 hp, 300 Nm and 7.4 seconds.
- Weight: Giulia 1,490 kg; 3 Series 1,590 kg.
- Wheelbase: Giulia 2,820 mm; 3 Series 2,851 mm.
- Wheels: Giulia 19-inch alloys with 225/40R19 front and 255/35R19 rear tyres; 3 Series 18-inch alloys with 225/45R18 tyres front and rear.
- Driver assistance: Giulia has adaptive cruise control; 3 Series has passive cruise control but adds automatic parking and a head-up display.
Giulia
- 276 hp and 400 Nm, with 0-100 km/h in 5.7 seconds.
- 100 kg lighter than the BMW 3 Series.
- Adaptive cruise control, matrix adaptive LED headlamps and front passenger knee airbag.
- RM172,278 dearer than the BMW 3 Series.
- No head-up display or automatic parking.
- 2,820-mm wheelbase is 31 mm shorter than the BMW's.
3 Series
- RM267,800 CKD pricing.
- Head-up display and automatic parallel and perpendicular parking with reversing assist.
- 2,851-mm wheelbase, 14.9-inch curved display and 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system.
- 184 hp and 300 Nm trail the Giulia's 276 hp and 400 Nm.
- 7.4-second 0-100 km/h time is 1.7 seconds slower than the Giulia.
- Passive cruise control instead of adaptive cruise control.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM440,078 | RM267,800✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM378✓ | RM379 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, turbocharged with variable valve timing | 16-valve DOHC direct injection with twin-scroll turbocharger, variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,995 cc | 1,998 cc |
| Horsepower | 276 hp✓ | 184 hp |
| Torque | 400 Nm✓ | 300 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 84 mm | 82 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10 | 11 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8-speed Automatic | Steptronic Sport |
| Gears | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | ZF |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.7 seconds✓ | 7.4 seconds |
| Top Speed | 240 km/h✓ | 235 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,643 mm | 4,709 mm |
| Width | 1,860 mm | 1,827 mm |
| Height | 1,436 mm | 1,435 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,820 mm | 2,851 mm |
| Weight | 1,490 kg | 1,590 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 58 litres | 59 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres | 480 litres |
| Front Tyre | 225/40R19 | 225/45R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/35R19 | 225/45R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli P Zero | Hankook Ventus s1 Evo 3 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Italy (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19" Alloy | 18" V-spoke Style 780 Bicolour Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Alloy | 18" V-spoke Style 780 Bicolour Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver and Front Passenger Knee Airbag | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on two outer rear passenger seats | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection (5 km/h to 80 km/h) |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Matrix Adaptive LED Projectors | LED Projectors with High beam Assistant |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Side Memory | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-Folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 3 USB Front, 1 USB Rear | 1 Front, 1 Centre Armrest, 1 Rear, 1 Boot |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 8.8" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 14-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking, with Reversing Assist |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | — | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | — | 5 years |
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.
Used Giulia & 3 Series for sale
Giulia vs 3 Series FAQ
Is the Alfa Romeo Giulia or BMW 3 Series better?
The BMW 3 Series is the better daily-buy decision thanks to its much lower entry cost, longer wheelbase, head-up display and automatic parking. Choose the Alfa Romeo Giulia only if its 276 hp, 400 Nm and markedly quicker 5.7-second sprint are central to the brief.
What is the price difference?
The Alfa Romeo Giulia costs RM172,278 more than the BMW 3 Series. That gap is difficult to ignore when both are five-seat compact executive sedans with 480 litres of boot space and eight-speed automatic, rear-wheel-drive drivetrains.
Which car is quicker?
The Alfa Romeo Giulia is decisively quicker: 0-100 km/h takes 5.7 seconds versus 7.4 seconds for the BMW 3 Series. Its 276 hp and 400 Nm also exceed the BMW's 184 hp and 300 Nm.