European theater: BMW G80 M3 vs Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

We’ve established that the G80 M3 is not quite as fun to drive as an E90, or as special as a BMW M5 CS. But what happens when I take it outside the family and look to competitors? Perhaps no other sports sedan has kicked sand in the M3’s face like the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. Every car reviewer has said the same things, citing “passion”, and “Italian” flair as reasons why the Alfa reigns supreme.

Is it really true?

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio vs the 2022 BMW M3 overview

Everyone has tried to knock off the M3 from its pretty little perch. Long ago, everyone would take a shot.

Some actually got close, like Infiniti (unexpectedly), while others pretty much died on the vine (sorry, RS 4). In the end, there was only only one sport sedan left standing, and it wasn’t a Merc. All hope seemed lost.

But then, the Italians rode in on a white horse. Now you might not think of this segment as a natural fit for Ferrari – which is why they aren’t here. But they are owned by Fiat, and so is Alfa Romeo. So what if we like, took some Ferrari parts and made a sedan out of it?

Oh they’d never admit to it, of course – how could they? This car wasn’t even six figures. But I promise, they are there. Sounds exotic – gotta be able to handle the M3 this time, right?

Second place: 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

I want to love this car, and it fills in a lot of the gaps that the M3 misses.

Walking up to it, I find it to have attractive proportions, but if you find the G80 ugly and this pretty, I’d ask why. Parked next to each other, they have similar features, especially that large nose. At least you can claim that some aerodynamic components, like the front splitter and rear diffuser, incorporate principles born in Ferrari’s F1 wind tunnel. 

Engine

With 505 horsepower (really BMW, you couldn’t find two more horses?), the Giulia feels a bit stronger than my base model. Attached to the same ZF eight-speed you’ll find in the Competition, it has zero lag and amazing torque everywhere in the rev range. But if you’re looking for inline-6 smoothness, you won’t find it here. But it sounds terrific, and makes me wonder why BMW can’t bring out more voice in the S58.

The Quadrifoglio has a Ferrari-derived 2.9-liter V-6 with two turbos bolted to it. Now this isn’t something you can grab at the Ferrari parts bin store, but it was built using Ferrari technology, and designed by ex-Ferrari engineers. The engine’s design is actually based on the F154 family of V-8s, and the 90-degree bank gives the Alfa a distinct sound.

Chassis and steering

Italian roots show in other ways. The steering provides more feedback than the M3’s, and the ride is equally free of body roll. But it’s not as smooth down the road. Smaller dimensions mean a smaller cabin. It’s fine in the front, but the back can be tight with the seat pushed back for taller drivers.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio starts to lag behind in the details. Column-mounted shift paddles are beautiful and big, but they get in the way of the turn signal. Which one will you use more? Aside from the sport knob, the remaining controls are hard to decipher at a glance. Even the start button on the steering wheel is misplaced. It looks cool, but it’s awfully prominent for a button you only push once per drive.

Interior

Once inside, you notice the seats are comfortable and supportive, and you sit low in the car. Alcantara resides throughout the cabin, and the steering wheel is perfectly shaped. Firing the Alfa up brings a loud roar to the cabin, but it’s only really noticeable under acceleration.

Turning a knob in the center console lets you select four driving modes, making on-the-fly changes much easier that then M3’s iDrive sub-menus.

Will it break?

When asking the owner about reliability, he was happy to report that just one small issue had occurred, but because of how the engine was designed, an entirely new one was needed. It’s not a good look for a car with this pedigree, and in 2025, aren’t we past using “Italian” as an excuse?

I feel the allure of the Alfa. If the build quality was there, and it was just a touch more refined, it would be my choice.

First place: 2022 BMW M3

Car magazines love to tell you what you should like. This is ugly, that’s faster, this feels better. But once they give the press car back, they have no concerns about everyday use.

If the M3 isn’t as fun to drive each day as the Alfa, it’s certainly no less capable. The stick helps it here, and it’s too bad Alfa doesn’t offer one on the Giulia.

But where it’s really better is the everyday usability. It’s 5 Series spacious inside, and the materials used are of higher quality. The trunk fits my camera gear perfectly, and there’s plenty of room for my daughter in the back seat (with booster).

Speaking of boost, the S58 is as smooth as glass. No V-6 can hold a candle to it, even a Ferrari-derived one. This is still Motoren Werke, after all.

Driving the M3

But while it’s just as fast and capable, this M3 feels so refined that you might find yourself wishing it were more like the Alfa at times. A few more vibrations through the wheel, or raucous sound from the exhaust. I still don’t know why BMW feels it’s necessary to give me so many adjustable settings for M Mode, not when I can just hop in the Alfa and drive off in Sport mode, tailpipes crackling.

It’s amazing that the same ZF 8-speed is used in both cars (Comp model), but the Alfa’s fires off faster, more like the DCT in an F80.

But it’s not enough to overcome the reliability concerns, because the M3 still puts smiles on my face.

While you can’t go wrong with either car, on this day, it’s German precision over Italian passion. The M3 still has plenty of the latter in its fuel tank.

Other sport sedans to consider

• 2022 BMW M3 (full review)
• 2022 BMW M3 Competition
• 2025 BMW M4 CS
• 2024 Cadillac CT4 V Blackwing
• 2025 Acura TLX Type-S
• 2024 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance
• 2024 Audi S4

The Alfa is dead, the M3 survived, but is that what counts?

Think of this as a postmortem. Sadly, the Alfa has died. You know it wouldn’t survive, didn’t you?

Excuses? Maybe – the G80 M3 is BMW M’s best-selling car, and the name is their most famous, so we can’t exactly say that people aren’t buying sedans anymore. But just because you sell a lot doesn’t make you special.

The Alfa also has heritage – hell, it’s Italian. If you ask me, and you have, the looks hold up well after almost a decade. Yea, there’s just one Alfa dealer by me within a hundred miles, and these always seem to break, but love isn’t always rational.

Not always, but sometimes. The M3 can make you fall in love too, if you let it. Practical, just as fast (or faster), good-looking in its own right. Reliable.

Tough choice, this one.

Guess I made mine.

Special thanks to @gtbeast88 for bringing along his beautiful Alfa!