Compare the2022 BMW M5VS 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

The M5’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The M5 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The M5 offers optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The M5 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The M5’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Giulia Quadrifoglio.

The M5 offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Giulia Quadrifoglio only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the M5 and the Giulia Quadrifoglio have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The M5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Giulia Quadrifoglio’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M5 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Alfa Romeo only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Giulia Quadrifoglio.

There are over 2 times as many BMW dealers as there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the M5’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Alfa Romeo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 88 more problems per 100 vehicles, Alfa Romeo is ranked 32nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Alfa Romeo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 17 places higher in reliability than Alfa Romeo.

The M5’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 produces 95 more horsepower (600 vs. 505) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 443) than the Giulia Quadrifoglio’s 2.9 turbo V6. The M5 Competition’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 produces 112 more horsepower (617 vs. 505) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 443) than the Giulia Quadrifoglio’s 2.9 turbo V6. The M5 CS’ standard 4.4 turbo V8 produces 122 more horsepower (627 vs. 505) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 443) than the Giulia Quadrifoglio’s 2.9 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the BMW M5 (base engine) is faster than the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio:

In a Car and Driver race course test, the BMW M5 Competition was clocked 3.2 seconds faster than the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio (174 sec. vs. 177.2 sec.).

Regenerative brakes improve the M5’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The M5 has 4.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Giulia Quadrifoglio (20.1 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The M5’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the M5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Giulia Quadrifoglio:

The M5 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The M5 stops much shorter than the Giulia Quadrifoglio:

For better traction, the M5 has larger front tires than the Giulia Quadrifoglio (F:275/40R19 & R:285/40R19 vs. F:245/35R19 & R:285/30R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the M5 offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Giulia Quadrifoglio’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the M5’s wheelbase is 6.4 inches longer than on the Giulia Quadrifoglio (117.4 inches vs. 111 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the M5 is 2.8 inches wider in the front than on the Giulia Quadrifoglio.

The M5 handles at .98 G’s, while the Giulia Quadrifoglio pulls only .96 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The M5 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Giulia Quadrifoglio (23.3 seconds @ .91 average G’s vs. 24.2 seconds @ .84 average G’s).

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the M5 is quieter than the Giulia Quadrifoglio:

The M5 has 7.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Giulia Quadrifoglio (103 vs. 95.4).

The M5 has 2.1 inches more front headroom, 2.6 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear legroom and 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Giulia Quadrifoglio.

The M5 has a much larger trunk than the Giulia Quadrifoglio (14 vs. 12 cubic feet).

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the M5 offers cargo security. The Giulia Quadrifoglio’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the M5’s power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Alfa Romeo. J.D. Power ranks BMW 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 69% lower rating, Alfa Romeo is ranked 32nd.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Giulia Quadrifoglio, the M5 has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, suspension setting, power steering assist, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The M5 has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left open on the M5 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Giulia Quadrifoglio can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are optional in the M5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

When the M5 is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Giulia Quadrifoglio’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the M5 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The M5 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel isn’t available on the Giulia Quadrifoglio w/Sparco Racing Seats.

The M5 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Giulia Quadrifoglio.

The M5’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn’t offer an automated parking system.