Verdict
The BMW M3 asks RM406,722 more, and its 503 hp, 650 Nm and 3.5-second 0-100 km/h time make the Alfa Romeo Giulia’s 276 hp, 400 Nm and 5.7 seconds look restrained. It also brings all-wheel drive, adaptive M suspension and selectable 4WD, 4WD Sport and 2WD modes. But the Giulia is 365 kg lighter, has lane-keeping steering correction and costs far less to tax annually in Malaysia: RM378 versus RM2,113. Both remain five-seat sedans with a 480-litre boot.
Giulia
Pick the Alfa Romeo Giulia if you want a 1,490 kg rear-wheel-drive sedan with adaptive cruise control, steering lane correction and a far lower annual road tax bill.
M3
Pick the BMW M3 if 503 hp, 650 Nm, all-wheel drive and a 3.5-second 0-100 km/h sprint matter more than the substantial purchase and road-tax premium.
Key differences
- Price: Alfa Romeo Giulia RM440,078; BMW M3 RM846,800.
- Output: Alfa Romeo Giulia 276 hp and 400 Nm; BMW M3 503 hp and 650 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: Alfa Romeo Giulia 5.7 seconds; BMW M3 3.5 seconds.
- Driveline: Alfa Romeo Giulia rear-wheel drive; BMW M3 all-wheel drive with 4WD, 4WD Sport and 2WD modes.
- Kerb weight: Alfa Romeo Giulia 1,490 kg; BMW M3 1,855 kg.
- Annual road tax: Alfa Romeo Giulia RM378; BMW M3 RM2,113.
Giulia
- 365 kg lighter than the BMW M3.
- Adaptive cruise control and steering lane correction.
- Five-year, 150,000-km manufacturer warranty.
- 276 hp and 400 Nm trail the M3’s 503 hp and 650 Nm.
- 5.7-second 0-100 km/h time is 2.2 seconds behind the M3.
- No sunroof, head-up display or automatic parking.
M3
- 503 hp, 650 Nm and 3.5-second 0-100 km/h performance.
- All-wheel drive, adaptive M suspension and Active M Differential.
- Head-up display, sunroof and automatic parking with reversing assist.
- Costs RM406,722 more than the Giulia.
- Annual road tax is RM2,113 versus RM378.
- Two-year manufacturer warranty versus the Giulia’s five years, despite unlimited mileage.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM440,078✓ | RM846,800 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM378✓ | RM2,113 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, turbocharged with variable valve timing | 24-valve DOHC with Twin Turbochargers, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 1,995 cc | 2,993 cc |
| Horsepower | 276 hp | 503 hp✓ |
| Torque | 400 Nm | 650 Nm✓ |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 84 mm | 84 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10 | 9.3 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8-speed Automatic | 8-speed M Steptronic Transmission with Drivelogic |
| Gears | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | ZF |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.7 seconds | 3.5 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | — | 10.1 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 240 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Co2 | — | 230 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,643 mm | 4,794 mm |
| Width | 1,860 mm | 1,903 mm |
| Height | 1,436 mm | 1,433 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,820 mm | 2,857 mm |
| Weight | 1,490 kg | 1,855 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 58 litres | 59 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres | 480 litres |
| Front Tyre | 225/40R19 | 275/35R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/35R19 | 285/30R20 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli P Zero | Michelin Pilot Super Sport Run-flat |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Italy (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19" Alloy | 19" Double-spoke Style 826 M Two-tone Forged Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Alloy | 20" Double-spoke Style 826 M Two-tone Forged Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Adaptive M Suspension, Active M Differential, 4WD, 4WD Sport and 2WD Modes |
| 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 for 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection (5 km/h to 80 km/h) |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Warning Only |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Attentiveness Assistant, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Collision Prevention, Active Protection |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Matrix Adaptive LED Projectors | Laser Projectors with Auto High Beam |
| 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 |
| Sunroof | — | Front, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 3 USB Front, 1 USB Rear | 1 Front, 1 Boot, 2 Front USB-C, 2 Rear USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (11 Colours) |
| 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 | BMW Live Cockpit Professional with 10.25" Touchscreen, iDrive Controller, Voice Control, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Wireless Android Auto and 12-speaker 360W Harman Kardon 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 Smartphone Key and Proximity Auto 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 with Contactless Opening |
| 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 |
| Convenience Notes | — | Qi Wireless Charger, BMW ConnectedDrive, Concierge Service |
| 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 & M3 for sale
Giulia vs M3 FAQ
Is the Alfa Romeo Giulia or BMW M3 better?
The BMW M3 is the stronger choice for outright performance and chassis hardware, with 503 hp, all-wheel drive and a 3.5-second sprint. The Giulia makes more sense for lower ownership costs, adaptive cruise control and steering lane correction.
What is the price difference?
The BMW M3 costs RM406,722 more than the Alfa Romeo Giulia: RM846,800 against RM440,078.
Which costs less to tax each year in Malaysia?
The Alfa Romeo Giulia does. Its annual road tax is RM378, while the BMW M3 costs RM2,113 per year, a difference of RM1,735.