2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia

Considering the amount of car you get, the base model Giulia, starting MSRP of $38,545, excluding a destination fee of $1,295, is a bargain of note. Opting for an AWD model will add $2,000 to the asking price. The Giulia Sport starts at $39,995, followed by the Ti, which breaks the $40k mark with an asking price of $40,745. Next up is the Ti Lusso at $43,245, the Ti Sport at $43,445, and finally the Ti Sport Carbon at $48,245. The Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series might be benchmark cars in this class - and highly accomplished ones at that - but in this price range, the Alfa delivers a more engaging driving experience. Not to say it's faster around a track, but it stirs the soul in a way the Germans simply can't.

The chassis balance and suspension setup naturally lends itself to spirited driving, and the Giulia is eager to please even when driving around town. Switch to Dynamic mode, and the Giulia finds its feet, and then some; the gearbox becomes more responsive, and the steering feel weighs up perfectly, which in combination with a great steering wheel and the sharpest steering ration this side of a Ferrari makes for an engaging driving experience. The only let down is the all-season tires, which make sense for the average driver, but will be a significant disappointment for Alfa enthusiasts who like to enjoy their cars closer to the limit. The traction control system which cannot be disabled is another gripe that most owners won't even consider to be an issue, but will bug drivers who want to get the most out of the Giulia. Considering the Giulia's default tendency is towards oversteer, a little bit of play would've been appreciated. At least the brakes are top-quality, with standard Brembo four-caliper brakes making light work of heavy breaking without fade.

漏的古老的刻板印象和不可靠的Alfa Romeo holds true to this day; perhaps not as bluntly, but Alfa has managed to create a car that, unlike so many modern premium sedans, has a distinct personality and feels as Italian as having a cigarette and a shot of espresso in the morning. From the chassis and suspension setup through to the driver-focused interior and characterful turbocharged engine, it's clear that while the Giulia will carry people and their stuff in comfort, it begs to be pushed every now and again, something which can't really be said about a FWD Audi A4, for example. Some interior build quality issues and a temperamental infotainment system hurt the Giulia's chances of being a class leader, as do its limited safety features, but with a starting price of $38,545, the Giulia offers great performance, a competitive features list and warranty that is hard to ignore. Get one if you have a flame for driving in your heart, but you still need to promote some semblance of corporate responsibility.

With such a wide variety of trim levels to choose from, the task of selecting the best option might seem intimidating, but upon closer inspection, the trim levels can be divided into those that add a substantial amount of features, and those who focus mostly on offering more appearance options. For this very reason, we would go for the Giulia Ti, which gets 18-inch alloy wheels, 14-way powered and heated front seats, sporty aluminum interior inserts, and most importantly, the upgraded 8.8-inch infotainment system with SiriusXM satellite radio and front parking sensors. On top of that, you could add the $1,500 driver assistance package to gain access to forward collision assistance, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control, or you could go with the performance package which adds active suspension and a limited-slip diff, for a total price of around $43,000.

宝马3系是对传统的基准nst which all other auto manufacturers have to pit their compact luxury sedan models. The 2019 3 Series comes off of a fresh redesign, which means it is better than ever. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four in the 3 Series has received a bump in power, but still can't match the Giulia, and will lose a 0-60 race by a few split seconds - at least until the six-pot-powered M340i steps up to the plate. The BMW is more fuel-efficient, however, beating the Alfa Romeo by three mpg on the combined cycle. The BMW is a safer and more practical car with a larger trunk and a more spacious interior - and is put together better as well. In terms of driving dynamics, both cars offer a sporty experience, and although the BMW might be technically better, it can't match the Giulia's flamboyance. Sticking to the script isn't a bad thing at all, especially when it reads BMW 3 Series.

Right from the word go, the differences between the A4 and Giulia are clear to spot: from the outside, the A4's reserved styling stands in stark contrast to the flare of the Giulia. The same can be said for the Audi's powertrain, which does what is asked of it, but without the attitude of the Alfa Romeo. The Giulia is a more entertaining car to drive, especially when considering that the Audi isn't available in rear-wheel-drive. Everywhere else, the Audi starts clawing back territory: its cabin offers supreme comfort and build quality, it provides better gas mileage and is the safer car to drive. If getting around in comfort is your main concern, get the Audi. If you have some spark left in your middle-aged middle-management soul, then get the Alfa.