Time to break the BMW habit?
Of the eight hopefuls, three make it to the shortlist: BMW 320d M Sport, Peugeot 508 GT and Alfa Giulia Veloce.
Not long ago, Peugeot was floundering, but in the last few years it’s undergone a product-led renaissance, and the 508 continues that momentum. It is the best like-for-like alternative to the 3-series. The suave exterior and interior design channels French intellectual cool to make this a stylish, knowingly different choice, and you’ll find the 508 similarly practical to a 3-series too – if with less rear legroom but a larger boot. Many buyers will prefer that it focuses more towards comfort and refinement too, and yet it can still flow and entertain over a great road. That our GT-spec model is substantially cheaper than the 320d and requires almost no extra spend is another reason to break the German habit.
Alfa Romeo has undergone a similarly promising transformation in recent years, one spearheaded by the Giulia, its first rear-wheel-drive model since 75 production ended in 1992. It is not a rounded BMW substitute like the Peugeot, most notably in its tighter rear accommodation, but also some interior quality. What the Giulia does so well is tackle the 3-series’ core attributes of design desirability and driving dynamics head-on. Design, well, you decide, but I’d say the Alfa is the more beautiful car. The Giulia Veloce also rides with more fluency and has the nerve to go toe-to-toe with the 3-series on dynamics then comes out on top. In Veloce spec with its 2.0litre turbo petrol engine, it delivers both a lightness of touch and a level of driver engagement no matter your commitment that makes every drive a special occasion. If it’s all about the drive, the Giulia is your choice.
Perhaps predictably, the BMW 320d proves that it’s the Jack of all trades that manages to be pretty excellent at them all. Its interior is a masterclass in design desirability and driver-centric layout, and the G20’s growth spurt means even large adults aren’t cramped in the back. The latest iDrive infotainment is also great bounds ahead of the opposition, in terms of its glossy hardware and graphics, and in the flexibility of interaction it allows. Everything feels a bit frustrating after this.
In 320d M Sport xDrive trim, the BMW also drives extremely well, with a chassis that can squeeze every last drop of performance from the 2.0-litre turbodiesel and entertain in the process. Personally, I’d drop the xDrive as an unnecessary expense in a car with pretty modest performance, but there is no other car tested here able to maintain such a high batting average. For that reason, the BMW takes overall honours today, but don’t overlook the Peugeot and Alfa.