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New Alfa Romeo Giulia vs Audi A4 vs BMW 3 Series

Alfa Romeo's new Giulia saloon certainly looks the part, but is it as good to drive, easy to live with and cheap to run as the best German rivals?...

What Car? team

06 February 2015

Our verdict

Let's cut straight to the chase: Alfa Romeo has once again failed to overcome its big-named German rivals. That said, the Giulia gets nothing like the drubbing suffered by some of Alfa’s previous efforts in this competitive class.

The Giulia’s main strength is its sharp handling, which will really put a smile on your face whenever the road gets twisty. Add to that its stunning looks, competitive pricing and a strong diesel engine that’s frugal and has low CO2 emissions, and we can genuinely understand why you might decide the Giulia is the right car for you. The trouble is, the BMW 3 Series is slightly roomier, nearly as good to drive and has a better interior. Add in its superior infotainment system and more compliant ride, and the Giulia doesn’t stack up in enough areas to gain second spot.

Beating them both is the Audi A4. In this lower-powered 3.0 TDI form it remains class leader and doesn’t feel anywhere near ready to give up its Car of the Year title, something it will have to do next month. The fact that you’re able to enjoy six-cylinder diesel performance and refinement with minimal financial penalty is extremely compelling, and the air of quality inside continues to embarrass some cars from the class above. It genuinely feels like a baby luxury limo.

True, Audi has taken a more relaxed approach with the A4’s handling, which makes it the least entertaining of our trio to drive. However, we think that’s a price worth paying, given the extremely comfortable ride you get in return.