Alfa Romeo Giulia vs BMW 3 Series
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
The BMW 3 Series wins on money kept: 59% retained after three years vs 53%, worth about R 83 814 at trade-in time.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| Giulia | 3 Series | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 1 176 900 | R 920 231 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 20 570/m | R 16 084/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 73% | 78% |
| Retained after 3 years | 53% | 59% |
| Value after 3 years | R 622 653 | R 538 839 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 554 247 | R 381 392 |
| Value after 5 years | R 452 602 | R 391 678 |
| Our tier | Weak-franchise mainstream | Premium (established) |
Alfa Romeo Giulia →
Alfa's rear-drive 3 Series rival reached South Africa in 2017, led by the 375 kW Quadrifoglio whose first allocation sold out in days. The current range starts around R1.18 million, with Quadrifoglio order books reopened in 2026 at just over R2 million. Reviewers rate it the driver's pick of the segment, but it resells well below equivalent BMWs.
Known for: sharp steering in the 3 series class
BMW 3 Series →
Rosslyn built the 3 Series for local and export markets until 2018, and it remains the definitive compact executive sedan in South Africa. Huge used supply across the E90, F30 and G20 generations makes it one of the most traded premium cars in the country. The M3 is a sought-after used buy, though running costs are serious.
Known for: compact executive benchmark built in sa for decades
Common questions
Which holds value better, the Alfa Romeo Giulia or the BMW 3 Series?
The BMW 3 Series. It keeps about 59% of its price after three years against 53% for the Alfa Romeo Giulia, a gap of 6 points.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The Alfa Romeo Giulia loses about R 554 247 over three years and the BMW 3 Series loses about R 381 392. Fuel, insurance and servicing can narrow or widen that, but the depreciation gap is the number to start from.
What do they cost per month?
On typical finance (10% deposit, 72 months, 11.75%), the Alfa Romeo Giulia runs about R 20 570 per month and the BMW 3 Series about R 16 084, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.