Alfa Romeo Giulia vs BMW 3 Series
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular Sedans compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Specifications and pricing correct at time of publishing. Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 30 Aug 2026, price 24 Jun 2026
Track the Alfa Romeo Giulia & BMW 3 Series
Get price-drop alerts on these models plus our free weekly new-car rundown. Unsubscribe anytime.
Price Breakdown
The Alfa Romeo Giulia starts from $76,450 before on-road costs, while the BMW 3 Series opens at $94,700. That makes the Alfa Romeo Giulia the more affordable entry point by $18,250.
Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $84,095 and $104,170 respectively.
Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.
Recalls on our record
Alfa Romeo Giulia
- REC-005416 · published 28 Apr 2022Due to a manufacturing issue, the automatic Adaptive Light System (AFS) sensors may not adjust as intended when there is a change in load or load distribution on the vehicle.Year range on the notice: 2020 - 2022
- REC-005038 · published 19 Jan 2022Due to a manufacturing issue, the fuel sensor housing may crack and cause a fuel leak.Year range on the notice: 2020 - 2021
- REC-000006 · published 11 Aug 2019On some Alfa Romeo Giulia MY2017-2019 and Alfa Romeo Stelvio MY2017-2019, the instrument panel shows more fuel than what is actually present in the fuel tank.Year range on the notice: 2017 - 2019
- 1 more on the model page.
BMW 3 Series
- REC-006668 · published 16 Jul 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the starter motor solenoid switch can experience increased wear that could cause an internal short circuit.Year range on the notice: 2020 - 2025
- REC-006667 · published 16 Jul 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, moisture may be able to enter the starter motor causing corrosion and result in the engine not starting.Year range on the notice: 2015 - 2020
- REC-006553 · published 4 Mar 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may develop an internal coolant leak.Year range on the notice: 2010 - 2022
- 6 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Feature Showdown
The Alfa Romeo Giulia features a 8.8-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the BMW 3 Series gets a 14.9-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Alfa Romeo Giulia stands out with ambient lighting — features our data doesn't list for the BMW 3 Series. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Alfa Romeo Giulia gets leather upholstery while the BMW 3 Series offers sensatec synthetic leather.
Drivetrain
The Alfa Romeo Giulia uses a Petrol producing 206kW and 400Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.2 seconds.
The BMW 3 Series responds with a Petrol making 190kW and 400Nm, paired to a auto driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 5.8 seconds.
The Alfa Romeo Giulia has the clear power advantage at 206kW vs 190kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Alfa Romeo Giulia is 0.6s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Alfa Romeo Giulia measures 4,643mm long on a 2,820mm wheelbase, 70mm shorter than the BMW 3 Series at 4,713mm (2,851mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW 3 Series generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 480L in the Alfa Romeo Giulia and 480L in the BMW 3 Series.
For towing, the BMW 3 Series leads with a 1,600kg braked capacity vs 1,600kg. That 0kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
11.0m to 11.6m
Based on 11.6m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Based on 11.0m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Turning circle ratings
Compare U-turns side by side
Turning Circle · U-turn compare
kerb-to-kerb, 2 cars0 of 2 clear a 7.0 m street in one sweep
Green cars complete the U-turn; amber need a 3-point turn. Drag the slider to test tighter streets.
Standard widths: AU local streets ~5.5–7 m; main roads ~9–12 m.
True Cost to Own
Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,739/year for the Alfa Romeo Giulia and $1,853/year for the BMW 3 Series. That is a $114 annual difference in favour of the Alfa Romeo Giulia.
Warranty: 5 years / 150,000km (Alfa Romeo Giulia) vs 5 years / 999,999km (BMW 3 Series). Both match on warranty length.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the Alfa Romeo Giulia if: You want the lower entry price, prioritise performance, want lower running costs, or prefer Alfa Romeo's approach to design and ownership experience.
Buy the BMW 3 Series if: You or prefer BMW's approach to design and ownership experience.
The Verdict
Alfa Romeo Giulia: Top CarSorted Score, 65 vs 62
The Alfa Romeo Giulia comes out ahead on the CarSorted Score (65 vs 62), taking 4 of 4 key spec rows below and coming in at a lower price. The deciding gaps: value (Alfa Romeo Giulia ahead by 9), reliability (BMW 3 Series ahead by 6), fuel economy (Alfa Romeo Giulia ahead by 4). The Alfa Romeo Giulia will save you roughly $114 a year in fuel. The best pick depends on what you value most. Explore the full specs for each model below.
One enquiry, local dealers' best price on each. Free for you to use. If you buy, the dealer may pay us a commission.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Alfa Romeo Giulia and BMW 3 Series?
The Alfa Romeo Giulia is the cheapest at $76,450 before on-road costs. That undercuts the BMW 3 Series by $18,250.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Alfa Romeo Giulia uses the least fuel at 6.1L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
None of Alfa Romeo Giulia and BMW 3 Series carry a published ANCAP rating yet, so there is no crash result to compare. Check back as they are tested.
Which can tow the most?
The Alfa Romeo Giulia has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,600kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The Alfa Romeo Giulia makes the most power at 206kW. The Alfa Romeo Giulia is quickest to 100km/h in 5.2s.
Stay across the market
Get our weekly new-car rundown of launches, price moves, deals and reviews, straight from the data.
- Weekly new-car rundown
- Price cuts and new deals
- New launches and reviews
No spam, unsubscribe anytime. By subscribing you agree to receive marketing emails.
Disclaimer: All information in this comparison was believed to be correct at the time of publishing (20 April 2026). Prices are manufacturer recommended retail prices (RRP) and may vary by state, dealer, and options. Driveaway costs include estimated on-road costs for Victoria. Fuel economy figures are WLTP/ADR combined cycle. Specifications can change without notice. Always verify with the manufacturer before making a purchase decision. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
Auto-generated from CarSorted's specification data · 20 April 2026
Comments (0)
Sign in to join the conversation
No comments yet. Be the first!
