Alfa Romeo Giulietta vs Renault Megane vs Peugeot 308: which one is the best value for money?
Alfa Romeo Giulietta vs Renault Megane vs Peugeot 308: which one is the best value for money?
Martin Pretorius
As far as most South African buyers are concerned, the default compact hatchback is a Volkswagen Golf, a fact borne out by its sales statistics. But there is a fringe movement of buyers who want something outside of the ordinary, which means that the popular choices won’t even feature on their radar. The Alfa Romeo Giulietta is aimed squarely at those customers, along with other fringe players such as the Renault Megane and Peugeot 308. We compare these contenders to determine which one offers the best value for money.
To keep this comparison relevant, we’ve selected variants of each model with similar specification levels, manual gearboxes, and lower-powered engines from each range. Even so, there’s a price difference of almost R90 000 between the entry-level Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4TB and the lowest-spec Renault Megane Expression, so we chose to rather feature the mid-spec Megane Dynamique, which narrows this price gap to R40 000.
The only manual Peugeot 208 retails for similar money to this Megane, so there’s little to choose between those two in the pricing stakes. The Italian still starts off with a distinct disadvantage in its list price, however. Does it offer enough to justify its price premium over the French cars? Let’s have a look.
This variant represents the lowest-priced Giulietta in the range (R363 900), with the more luxurious Super, Super Automatic and 1750TBi Veloce variants being even more expensive. It’s also worth considering that the Giulietta is by far the oldest of these three competitors, having made its international début in 2010. Judicious upgrades through the years have kept it reasonably up to date, however, with appearance changes and modern infotainment systems being added along the way.
Under the bonnet is a 1.4-litre turbo 4-cylinder petrol engine, sending 88 kW and 215 Nm to the front wheels through a 6-speed manual gearbox. Performance is decent if not scintillating, with the 0 – 100 km/h sprint being dispatched in a claimed 9.4 seconds, and a top speed of 195 km/h. Claimed average consumption is acceptable, at 6.2 litres/100 km.
Safety systems are up-to-date, with 6 airbags, stability control, and tyre pressure monitoring as standard equipment. However, the Giulietta only scored 3 stars in a 2017 Euro-NCAP evaluation. This is largely due to the unavailability of active safety such as automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance, as well as occupant protection which has fallen behind the latest standards.
Comfort- and convenience items are also fairly comprehensive, with power steering, air-con, a leather-trimmed multi-function steering wheel, 17-inch alloy wheels, and touchscreen infotainment with USB- and Bluetooth connectivity all present. Furthermore, the list price includes a warranty and maintenance plan, both valid for 3 years or 100 000 km.
In the practicality stakes, the luggage compartment measures 350 litres with all seats in use, growing to 1045 litres with the rear seats folded flat. That’s pretty much average for this class, as is the cabin space.
Renault Megane 97 kW Dynamique
Making its début in 2015, the Megane is a fair bit younger than the Giulietta, a fact which reflects in its styling’s fresher appearance. Dynamique trim is one step up from the entry-level Expression variant, and brings with it more power and better equipment. But, even with that being considered, the Megane Dynamique retails for R323 900, which represents a not-inconsiderable saving of R40 000 over the Giulietta.
Does this price advantage come with any penalties? Not at first glance. Once again, there’s a small turbocharged 4-cylinder under the bonnet, a 1.2-litre in this case, but it actually produces more power than the Alfa’s 1.4-litre. Torque is down slightly, however, with 205 Nm on offer in the Renault. Once again, a 6-speed manual gearbox transfers power to the front wheels.
Strangely, even though the Megane weight a little bit less than the Giulietta, its performance is somewhat lacking by comparison. The claimed sprint time to 100 km/h takes 10.6 seconds (a full second slower than the Alfa), although its top speed of 197 km/h is a tad higher. Its claimed average fuel consumption of 5.3 litres/100 km is markedly more frugal than that of the Giulietta, though.
In traditional European-Renault style, the Megane is highly regarded for its safety systems. Stability control, 6 airbags, and tyre pressure monitoring are all present, and automatic emergency braking is available. As a result, the Megane earned a 5-star Euro-NCAP safety rating in 2015.
The Dynamique spec Megane also trounces the Alfa in the convenience item list, with dual-zone climate control, cruise control, rear parking sensors, navigation, keyless entry with pushbutton start, and automatic wiper- and headlight control all coming as standard, on top of everything on offer in the Giulietta. The only downgrade is a change to 16-inch alloy wheels, though will probably benefit ride comfort more than it will detract from handling abilities.
And, to add insult to injury, the Megane also has a larger boot at 397 litres. The Renault’s maximum load volume was unknown at the time of writing, but should however be similar to the Alfa’s, because they are very close in size and wheelbase length. The Renault loses out slightly in the maintenance stakes, however, offering a service (instead of maintenance) plan for 5 years or 90 000 km, but its 5 year/150 000 km warranty adds peace of mind.
To summarize up to this point: the Megane Dynamique has more luggage space and features, lower consumption, and a higher safety rating than the Alfa Romeo at a R40 000 discount, but it is a tad slower on acceleration and lacks a full maintenance plan (albeit with a longer service plan in its place). Now let’s see how the other French alternative fares.
Falling halfway in age between the Alfa and the Renault, the Peugeot 308 first appeared in 2013. It received a slight make-over in 2017, however, but the changes were mostly cosmetic. But, even in spite of its age, the 308 is still a good-looking car in an understated kind of way, and it is ageing gracefully.
With pricing within spitting distance of the Megane (the 308 is a mere R1000 more expensive), the Peugeot 308 also offers a strong value proposition. The only other variant in the 308 range is an automatic version with the same spec, and it carries a R35000 price premium. This means that, even with an automatic transmission, the 308 is still less expensive than a manual Alfa Giulietta 1.4TB.
Once again, there’s a 1.2-litre turbo engine under the bonnet, but this time with only 3 cylinders. In spite of this cylinder deficit, its output is more than competitive, with 96 kW and 230 Nm on offer – marginally less power than the Renault, but a fair bit more torque than either of the other two.
Performance is still not quite sprightly, however, with the claimed 0 – 100 km/h sprint taking 10.3 seconds. Its top speed is a lot more impressive at 206 km/h, though. Fuel consumption claims are predictably excellent as well, with an average figure of 4.8 litres/100 km.
Once again, the safety kit is comprehensive, with the requisite stability control, 6 airbags and tyre pressure monitoring included as standard. It received a 5-star Euro-NCAP safety rating in 2013, and again in 2016.
Standard equipment is once again quite comprehensive, and, like the Megane, it has enough kit to compete against anything on offer from Germany (and then some). Like the Renault, the Peugeot's alloy wheels also measure 16 inches in diameter, and the 308 largely mirrors the Megane’s spec sheet in almost all respects. The only significant additional equipment is expansion of the parking sensors to include the front end as well.
As for practicality, the 308 falls about midway between the Giulietta and the Megane on luggage space at 385 litres, but with a significant advantage in maximum load volume over the Alfa, at 1224 litres. The Peugeot’s standard service plan only runs for 4 years or 60 000 km, and its warranty merely matches the Alfa’s at 3 years/100 000 km.
Verdict
No matter which way one tries to spin it, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta is the first car to fall out of contention in this comparison. It has the least power and the highest fuel consumption (albeit with slightly stronger acceleration), the least-comprehensive equipment list, the least luggage space, and the worst safety credentials.
The Alfa's full maintenance plan and larger wheels try to alleviate its shortcomings, but in the end, the Giulietta 1.4TB is just not competitive against its newer alternatives. That its price tag is so much higher is the final insult, and relegates the Alfa Romeo to the last place in this comparison.
Choosing between the French contenders is rather more difficult, because they are so evenly matched in most respects. However, as far as value for money is concerned, the Peugeot 308 has to take the second place, because its front parking sensors aren’t quite enough to compensate for its rather stingy standard service plan.
This makes the Renault Megane 1.2T Dynamique our champion in this value-for-money comparison – and shows it to be a viable alternative to the Golf and Focus as well. It certainly deserves to succeed in South Africa.