Verdict
At RM440,078 against RM846,800, the Alfa Romeo Giulia costs RM406,722 less while bringing a 276 hp, 400 Nm turbo four and 5.7-second 0-100 km/h time. The BMW M3 answers with 503 hp, 650 Nm, all-wheel drive and 3.5 seconds to 100 km/h. For a Malaysian buyer, the yearly road-tax bill is just as stark: RM378 for the Giulia versus RM2,113 for the M3. Both remain five-seat sedans with a 480-litre boot, but the BMW is the far more extreme machine.
The M3 M3 Competition M xDrive Pro Pack (RM846,800) sits above every Giulia variant here, so the verdict compares the closest-priced pairing — use the selectors above to match any two trims.
Pick the Alfa Romeo Giulia if you want the RM406,722 saving, a five-year/150,000-km warranty and much lower RM378 annual road tax without giving up a 480-litre boot.
Pick the BMW M3 if 503 hp, 650 Nm, 3.5-second 0-100 km/h pace and all-wheel-drive traction matter more than purchase cost and annual road tax.
Key differences
- Price: Alfa Romeo Giulia RM440,078; BMW M3 RM846,800.
- Power: Alfa Romeo Giulia 276 hp at 5,250 rpm; BMW M3 503 hp at 6,250 rpm.
- Torque: Alfa Romeo Giulia 400 Nm at 2,250 rpm; BMW M3 650 Nm at 2,750 rpm.
- 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.
- Annual road tax: Alfa Romeo Giulia RM378; BMW M3 RM2,113.
Giulia
- RM406,722 lower purchase price
- RM378 annual road tax versus RM2,113
- Five-year/150,000-km manufacturer warranty and eight airbags
- 276 hp and 400 Nm trail the M3's 503 hp and 650 Nm
- 5.7-second 0-100 km/h time versus 3.5 seconds
- Rear-wheel drive only, plus no head-up display or auto parking
M3
- 503 hp, 650 Nm and a 3.5-second 0-100 km/h time
- All-wheel drive with 4WD, 4WD Sport and 2WD modes
- Head-up display, auto parking and 11-colour ambient lighting
- RM406,722 more expensive to buy
- RM2,113 annual road tax versus RM378
- Two-year manufacturer warranty versus five years for the Giulia
What the M3 has over the Giulia
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The M3 is 43 mm wider — more shoulder room, but a tighter fit in parking bays.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| 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 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM4,490/mo✓ | RM8,645/mo |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM11,755✓ | RM22,363 |
| Fuel / year (est.) | — | RM4,020 |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | — | RM20.10 |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | — | RM142,479 |
| 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 at 5,250 rpm | 503 hp at 6,250 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 400 Nm at 2,250 rpm | 650 Nm at 2,750 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 6 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 84 mm × 90 mm | 84 mm × 90 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 |
| Wiper Blade (Driver) | 24 inch | 24 inch |
| Wiper Blade (Passenger) | 18 inch | 19 inch |
| 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 | 8 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver and Front Passenger Knee Airbag) | 6 (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 | — | 3 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. Running-cost estimates assume 20,000 km/year. Fuel at RM1.99/litre (RON95, subsidised). Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked November 2026.
Used Giulia & M3 for sale
Our reviews & guides
Alfa Romeo Giulia
BMW M3
Giulia vs M3 FAQ
Is the Alfa Romeo Giulia or BMW M3 better?
The BMW M3 is better for outright pace, with 503 hp, 650 Nm, all-wheel drive and 3.5-second acceleration to 100 km/h. The Alfa Romeo Giulia is the more rational Malaysian purchase, costing far less and carrying much lower annual road tax.
What is the price difference?
The BMW M3 costs RM406,722 more than the Alfa Romeo Giulia. That gap accompanies 227 hp more power, 250 Nm more torque, all-wheel drive and a 2.2-second quicker 0-100 km/h time.
Which car is cheaper to run in annual road tax?
The Alfa Romeo Giulia is substantially cheaper in annual road tax at RM378, compared with RM2,113 for the BMW M3. The BMW's 2,993 cc inline-six attracts RM1,735 more each year than the Giulia's 1,995 cc inline-four.
Which has the better warranty?
The Giulia carries a 5-year manufacturer warranty against 2 years for the M3.