Imagine standing in a new Toyota dealership looking at a 2026 Camry XSE AWD, when a tiny devil appears on your shoulder. He may quietly whisper into your ear that you can spend far less money and get a 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio instead. And you could then have far more fun behind the wheel of a 505 hp, rear-wheel drive, celebrated sports sedan, which depreciation has now made astonishingly affordable.
But before you pay too much heed to that devilish temptation, it’s important to understand what the Alfa is all about and make some specific preparations.
A $74,000 Super Sedan That Has Fallen To Camry Money
2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio in the distanceStellantis
Kelley Blue Book suggests that the national fair purchase price of a 2020 Giulia Quadrifoglio is approximately $34,410. And as it originally went on sale at $74,445, it’s now lost around 54% of that sticker price. Meanwhile, Toyota’s 2026 Camry XSE begins at $36,000, and in AWD trim, perilously close to $40,000. When you add the Premium Plus package, as well as premium paint, accessories, or other available equipment, those numbers will steadily climb. It’s certainly possible to pass the mid-$40,000 line if the vehicle is particularly loaded. In comparison, a quick search on the CarBuzz Marketplace and other such sites reveals the hot Alfa can quite readily be secured for south of $30,000, with modest miles for the age, and a clean record of both servicing and no accidents.
It’s little wonder that that devil should tempt you to cross-shop. But here again, the Toyota is a new, predictable, dependable and warranty-backed 43 mpg family sedan that develops 232 net combined hp. The Alfa represents a six-year-old, rear-wheel-drive super sedan that gives you more than twice the output but, crucially, none of the Camry’s reputation for painless ownership.
While the Quadrifoglio could leave more than $10,000 in your pocket before taxes and fees, its low purchase price doesn’t justify the entire decision. The case for the Quadrifoglio will likely depend on whether its five-figure saving potential turns ownership risk into something manageable.
The Quadrifoglio Still Feels Like A $76,000 Car Where It Matters
2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio on the roadStellantis
The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio was revered when it first appeared, and it was far more than simply a regular Giulia that had extra boost. This vehicle had a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 that produced 505 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, linked up with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. The company suggested it could hit 60 mph in 3.8 seconds on its way to a 191-mph top speed and some period tests suggested something even faster.
The engine itself is central to the vehicle’s appeal and evolved from a relationship with Ferrari. And, of course, there’s no real way to compare this type of engine with that of the modern-day Camry. The V6 idles with intent, piles on the speed with confidence, and surely gives the Quadrifoglio the type of playful urgency that is sadly missing in today’s sanitized world.
The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is a magnificent double-edged sword. On the positive side you have a Ferrari-derived 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 producing 505 horsepower, delivering intoxicating power and an evocative exhaust note. Alfa Romeo also went to extreme lengths to save weight, so it has a carbon-fiber driveshaft. And despite weighing less than most of its rivals, Alfa still equipped it with adaptive suspension to keep the body composed during hard cornering.
And you usually do hard cornering in this car, because it comes with a steering rack that feels like it was poached straight from a Ferrari 458. It’s disturbingly hard and quick at first, but you soon wonder why all cars aren’t equipped with similar steering. I adore this car, because it’s the perfect blend of everything I love about the automotive world. It has a stunning body, an engine with loads of power and character, and the kind of handling that turns every trip into an adventure. And as an Alfa owner myself, I’m predisposed to loving it.
But loving Alfa does not allow me to give it a pass. That inherent Italian charm comes with notable compromises. Being 115 years old, you would think that Alfa has figured out how to wire a car properly by now. Alas, this modern Alfa is still haunted by electrical gremlins, sensor glitches, and cooling quirks, just like the 156 in my garage. The infotainment is also annoying, and some of the interior trim doesn’t align with a car that cost as much as it did when it was new.
But, as I always tell my wife, I can still appreciate my Alfa when it’s broken. It’s nice to just look at it. In all seriousness, the good thing about the Giulia being 10 years old is that most of the common flaws and the preventative maintenance needed to avoid them are well-known. Shop around carefully, and look for guidance on the forums, and you should be fine.
– Gerhard Horn, Senior Editor, CarBuzz.
The rest of the Quadrifoglio is just as serious as its powertrain. The car features adaptive dampers, a torque vectoring rear differential, huge Brembo brakes, ultra-quick steering, and active aerodynamic hardware. This gave it enough equipment to take on the likes of a Mercedes-AMG C63 or a BMW M3, and it also had a very well-designed driving position for the purposeful driver.
Even if this vehicle is a few years old now, it’s still a remarkably modern proposition. It has the responses of a much smaller performance car but comes with four doors and a usable back seat. And while it may not be an instantly logical everyday appliance like a Camry, logic can often be overrated in automotive circles.
Depreciation Has Already Built The Equivalent Of A Five-Figure Repair Fund
2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Rear ViewAlfa Romeo
Depreciation has certainly been mean when it comes to the broader Alfa Romeo Giulia range. iSeeCars suggests that the model can lose 41.3% of its value after three years and 51.4% after five, and while such results cover different models and assumptions, the direction seems quite clear. Buyers may often look at an Italian luxury sedan, worry about its repair costs, consider dealer coverage, and then take a step back due to Alfa Romeo’s reputation. This is why those buyers may demand a substantial discount before they take any risk. The Quadrifoglio hasn’t escaped that general trend, but it does present an interesting opportunity for used buyers.
If buyers put that approximately $10,000 difference between the Alfa and the Toyota into a separate account, they may then be able to begin their ownership with a meaningful cushion. This cash could prove highly valuable when it comes to unexpected repairs as well as scheduled service, tires, brakes or other perishables. And such a reserve may well be the ultimate key to making any Alfa argument work, as the difference between the Alfa and the Toyota doesn’t just reduce any monthly payment potential, but it also helps fund the risk.
The Reliability Reputation Is Part Of The Price
2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio EngineAlfa Romeo
The above quote shows how thrilling a Quadrifoglio can be, but how deeply frustrating it may turn out to become when it doesn’t work. One separate review of a 2018 car details repeated warning lights, a fuel pump replacement, a diff replacement, and oil level sensor problems, amounting to a total of 80 days up on the axle stands.
While many mechanical failures may fall under warranty, that does not take away the disappointment and frustration. That particular 2018 car also consumed its performance tires rapidly and went through replacement front brake pads and warped rotors to the tune of more than $1,000. The report also went on to detail a particular dealership visit that lasted 31 days while everyone was waiting for a replacement differential. A separate sensor-related visit ate up another 19 days.
Still, those reports don’t establish the failure rate for an entire model year, and it’s true to say that the Giulia Quadrifoglio has benefited from production updates. However, it’s also important to bear in mind those potential layers of disruption, which typically don’t appear in the world of Toyota.
For those who are adamant that they want the Quadrifoglio experience, careful vetting is vital. The cheapest version is probably not the right answer, but one that has complete service records, a clean diagnostic scan, no unresolved warning lights, healthy steel brakes, and good tires could well make the case.
It’s also best to get a pre-purchase inspection carried out by a shop familiar with modern Alfa Romeo vehicles and to make sure that previous owners did not stretch their maintenance intervals. Such a vehicle like this could also command higher insurance premiums and will typically need premium fuel. The EPA rates the 2020 Quadrifoglio RWD at 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, and once again, this is far removed from the Camry XSE AWD’s 43 mpg combined.
The Maserati Quattroporte Shows Where The Bargain Becomes A Trap
2021-2023 Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo Green Front View Track DrivingMaserati
People looking at a Quadrifoglio at the same time as that new Camry may pause for a second and look sideways at a 2021 Maserati Quattroporte as well. This is bigger, grander, and even more heavily depreciated, and it also comes with its own Ferrari-connected engine. The Quattroporte S went on sale in 2021 at $108,685 but KBB now reckons its fair purchase price is approximately $35,000. So, yet again, this is a six-figure Italian sedan that’s going on sale for less than some loaded Camrys, and it’s in the same ballpark range as a 2020 Giulia Quadrifoglio.
But the Quattroporte is not the same as the Quadrifoglio at all. The Maserati is a long, heavy flagship sedan with expensive components, very modest fuel economy, limited dealer coverage, and quite a small pool of future buyers. Its appeal is that it’s charismatic, fast, and luxurious, but in its segment there are some more logical substitutes. Several German and Japanese luxury sedans can deliver much of the same space and comfort and without some of the known risks linked to the Maserati.
In this type of side-by-side comparison, a Quadrifoglio offers a clearer reason to accept the risk. After all, there aren’t that many real alternatives to its steering, compact dimensions, power-to-weight ratio, and fabulous chassis balance for its current level of money. It therefore comes with a warning label on the one hand but a driving experience that remains exceptional, even at twice the price.
For many people, the Camry may still be the right answer if they’re looking for a sedan that starts every morning, sips fuel, holds its value, and blends into daily life. But by comparison, the Quadrifoglio is surely for somebody who would rather trade certainty and get something unforgettable. Those enthusiast drivers may be ready to take the Quadrifoglio seriously, just so long as they put the Toyota-sized price difference into a rainy-day fund.
Sources: Alfa Romeo, Maserati, iSeeCars, Kelley Blue Book.
