Luxury Compact SUVs advice?

[Alfisti]

Exactly what I said, too much bling and that screen perched up there is just ridiculous imho.

[GTF]

I purchased the '15 Macan S on launch day...great vehicle, best resale by far. Only minus was rear seat space....a little tight for adults, but otherwise a stellar performer. Thought I needed little more space so moved to '19 X5...also great SUV. Not as sporty, but great road trip choice. Design not remotely competitive with the Porsche imo.
This year thought about upping the fun quotient. Planned on returning to the Macan or X3M40i, but drove the M340i and that was it. I decided it was best combination of performance, ride, and price. Now have about 1,500 miles, and thoroughly pleased with the choice. Plenty of interior room and trunk space, and makes me wonder why I ever moved from sport sedans to SUVs.

[Fritzer]

Originally Posted by Mardio

Mercedes doesn't seem to offer the upper middle class of what I'm looking for. They offer the 4 cylinder GLC and then it's a jump to AMG. However maybe I should test drive the 4 cylinder to see how it compares to my other three choices.

Yes but you have to remember that AMG has been significantly lowering the threshold of what 'AMG' really means on their cars now-a-days - in terms of their product structure. All the AMG 35, AMG 43, and AMG 45 models fall right in place where their x350, x400, and x450 cars used to line up. Same pricing/market segment + AMG brand.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by 6oclockshadow

It's not that the buttons and integrated screens themselves look dated. It's the choice of buttons and screens that FCA uses (from the parts bin at Chrysler). Maybe the reliability issue has been addressed, IDK. But the Guilia and Stelvio ARE the prettiest vehicles in their class, IMO. Just not pretty enough to overcome those circa 2005 Chrysler 300 interiors.

2005 Chrysler? I don't even see any resemblance to a 2022 Chrysler. To my knowledge it is Maserati using Chrysler switchgear not Alfa. This is the exact interior in my car (save for extended leather and paddles):



Pretty nice place to be and very well screwed together. Sure, overall it feels more F30 than G20, but it's very much segment competitive and in fact better than the Lexus IS and Merc C-class. The early 2017-2019 models had the cheapo interior but they worked hard on improving it. The design ethos is very Italian and they have nice details like the Alfa logo embossed on the headrests, standard leather, the Italian flag, drive mode selector, etc.

I will say the tech feels several generations behind iDrive, but personally all I really care about is Bluetooth audio and Apple Carplay. Literally could care less about anything else. My only gripe is that CarPlay requires a wire, whereas at least in the Macan it is wireless. However in the Macan it is finnicky and sometimes doesn't connect, requiring you to restart the car. I'm sure BMW's integration is seamless.

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

2005 Chrysler? I don't even see any resemblance to a 2022 Chrysler. To my knowledge it is Maserati using Chrysler switchgear not Alfa. This is the exact interior in my car (save for extended leather and paddles):

[IMG]https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jRpC5qHB2hY/maxresdefault.jpg[/IMG]

Pretty nice place to be and very well screwed together. Sure, overall it feels more F30 than G20, but it's very much segment competitive and in fact better than the Lexus IS and Merc C-class. The early 2017-2019 models had the cheapo interior but they worked hard on improving it. The design ethos is very Italian and they have nice details like the Alfa logo embossed on the headrests, standard leather, the Italian flag, drive mode selector, etc.

I will say the tech feels several generations behind iDrive, but personally all I really care about is Bluetooth audio and Apple Carplay. Literally could care less about anything else. My only gripe is that CarPlay requires a wire, whereas at least in the Macan it is wireless. However in the Macan it is finnicky and sometimes doesn't connect, requiring you to restart the car. I'm sure BMW's integration is seamless.

Exactly, thank you for saying this.

There are no parts/switches shared between other FCA products and the Alfa's. Only sharing is of platforms (Giorgio is now used for Jeep). The switchgear is designed/developed by Alfa, and soon Maserati (who is the one using Chrysler/Dodge parts, not Alfa) will be using Alfa switchgear/parts in the upcoming MC20 (same steering wheel, infotainment, etc.).

The 2020 updates made the car really nice. So many exaggerations are made about Alfa interiors, they are perfectly fine. They have many soft touch points and even options unavailable on any other cars in its class (such as the extended Napa dashboard and door tops which are very nice and soft quality) as well as a padded knee rest. Every car in its class has plastics below the knees so the Alfa is no different there. All of the controls in the Alfa are easy and intuitive, and the infotainment while not loaded with gimmicks like gesture control (useless) work fine, and I'd wager the majority of people use CarPlay/Bluetooth and seek forward/back buttons which is all that anyone needs.

The Alfa is all about the drive, which it excels at further than any of its competitors.

[Mardio]

Originally Posted by Fritzer

Yes but you have to remember that AMG has been significantly lowering the threshold of what 'AMG' really means on their cars now-a-days - in terms of their product structure. All the AMG 35, AMG 43, and AMG 45 models fall right in place where their x350, x400, and x450 cars used to line up. Same pricing/market segment + AMG brand.

You are right, upon further research the GLC 43 definitely competes with my other three choices. I didn’t know AMG was softening the brand on certain vehicles. So what would the ride quality be like? They do look sharp.

[Mardio]

Originally Posted by GTF

I purchased the '15 Macan S on launch day...great vehicle, best resale by far. Only minus was rear seat space....a little tight for adults, but otherwise a stellar performer. Thought I needed little more space so moved to '19 X5...also great SUV. Not as sporty, but great road trip choice. Design not remotely competitive with the Porsche imo.
This year thought about upping the fun quotient. Planned on returning to the Macan or X3M40i, but drove the M340i and that was it. I decided it was best combination of performance, ride, and price. Now have about 1,500 miles, and thoroughly pleased with the choice. Plenty of interior room and trunk space, and makes me wonder why I ever moved from sport sedans to SUVs.

Thanks for the feedback. So it's a bit of a battle with the wife trying to find something not too firm on the ride quality. How smooth is the XM40i for everyday driving? The Macan?

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by Mardio

You are right, upon further research the GLC 43 definitely competes with my other three choices. I didn't know AMG was softening the brand on certain vehicles. So what would the ride quality be like? They do look sharp.

Ride quality is good thanks to air suspension unlike the rougher C43 its based on, although not as soft as a Macan or SQ5, definitely on par with an X3 M40i. I've had them for loaners in the past and they are pretty fun to drive, and the exhaust is excellent for a V6, lots of fun pops and bangs on up and downshifts. The trunk is smaller than the X3, although the backseat is as large as an X5 which is a nice perk, and 2020 models got updated with the new MBUX infotainment and more aggressive styling.

2022 is the final year for the current X253 GLC, as the next generation will be based on the new C-Class and its all 4-Cylinder Powertrains.

[6oclockshadow]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

2005 Chrysler? I don't even see any resemblance to a 2022 Chrysler. To my knowledge it is Maserati using Chrysler switchgear not Alfa. This is the exact interior in my car (save for extended leather and paddles):



Pretty nice place to be and very well screwed together. Sure, overall it feels more F30 than G20, but it's very much segment competitive and in fact better than the Lexus IS and Merc C-class. The early 2017-2019 models had the cheapo interior but they worked hard on improving it. The design ethos is very Italian and they have nice details like the Alfa logo embossed on the headrests, standard leather, the Italian flag, drive mode selector, etc.

I will say the tech feels several generations behind iDrive, but personally all I really care about is Bluetooth audio and Apple Carplay. Literally could care less about anything else. My only gripe is that CarPlay requires a wire, whereas at least in the Macan it is wireless. However in the Macan it is finnicky and sometimes doesn't connect, requiring you to restart the car. I'm sure BMW's integration is seamless.

That actually looks very nice. I drove a 2018 Guilia Q4 Ti and it was beautiful, and handled very nicely, but the interior was, at the time, very Chrysler circa 2005. Looks like Alfa has come a long way since then.

[Mardio]

Originally Posted by stein_325i

Ride quality is good thanks to air suspension unlike the rougher C43 its based on, although not as soft as a Macan or SQ5, definitely on par with an X3 M40i. I've had them for loaners in the past and they are pretty fun to drive, and the exhaust is excellent for a V6, lots of fun pops and bangs on up and downshifts. The trunk is smaller than the X3, although the backseat is as large as an X5 which is a nice perk, and 2020 models got updated with the new MBUX infotainment and more aggressive styling.

2022 is the final year for the current X253 GLC, as the next generation will be based on the new C-Class and its all 4-Cylinder Powertrains.

Thank you, this is exactly the feedback I was looking for. I need the impossible, a soft ride for the wife and sporty handling for me. I think the two cousin's (SQ5 and Macan S) fit that bill from what I'm gathering from you and others.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Mardio

... I think the two cousin's (SQ5 and Macan S) fit that bill from what I'm gathering from you and others.

Macan S by far. I did not see any difference between my X3 and the SQ5 (with air suspension).

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Mardio

... I think the two cousin's (SQ5 and Macan S) fit that bill from what I'm gathering from you and others.

Originally Posted by JJ 911SC

Macan S by far. I did not see any difference between my X3 and the SQ5 (with air suspension).

That being said, this might keep me in the family... 20" High Performance Non RTF.

[Bimmersandmopars]

X3Ms are pretty awesome pieces of equipment for the price and can be regularly found. With a simple racechips they're significantly better than any of the previously listed.

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by Bimmersandmopars

X3Ms are pretty awesome pieces of equipment for the price and can be regularly found. With a simple racechips they're significantly better than any of the previously listed.

OP said he wanted a softer and more comfortable ride. X3M definitely does not fit the criteria.

[mikeokimster]

Originally Posted by GTF

I purchased the '15 Macan S on launch day...great vehicle, best resale by far. Only minus was rear seat space....a little tight for adults, but otherwise a stellar performer. Thought I needed little more space so moved to '19 X5...also great SUV. Not as sporty, but great road trip choice. Design not remotely competitive with the Porsche imo.
This year thought about upping the fun quotient. Planned on returning to the Macan or X3M40i, but drove the M340i and that was it. I decided it was best combination of performance, ride, and price. Now have about 1,500 miles, and thoroughly pleased with the choice. Plenty of interior room and trunk space, and makes me wonder why I ever moved from sport sedans to SUVs.

Curious what other prior cars you have had.

[Fritzer]

Originally Posted by Mardio

I didn’t know AMG was softening the brand on certain vehicles. So what would the ride quality be like? They do look sharp.

BMW has been doing the same thing of recent years, with changing the actual model designation to integrate 'M' on their 40i models if they have the M sport package. Companies care more about selling cars then brand history/notoriety.

[Fritzer]

Originally Posted by Mardio

So what would the ride quality be like? They do look sharp.

Pretty good honestly, most older AMG even are pretty soft. Considering with these baby AMGs, especially the compact SUV ones, their target market isn't someone who cares about handling performance that much.

You should go and test drive one to be sure - I have only heard positives about new Benzs for a few years now.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by 6oclockshadow

That actually looks very nice. I drove a 2018 Guilia Q4 Ti and it was beautiful, and handled very nicely, but the interior was, at the time, very Chrysler circa 2005. Looks like Alfa has come a long way since then.

I still don't get it. We have a 2019 so the "old" interior (I think) and it looks EXACTLY like the one above except black leather.

[Run Silent]

Here ya go - you will thank me later:

https://www.alfaromeousa.com/suvs/stelvio/quadrifoglio

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by stein_325i

Exactly, thank you for saying this.

There are no parts/switches shared between other FCA products and the Alfa's. Only sharing is of platforms (Giorgio is now used for Jeep). The switchgear is designed/developed by Alfa, and soon Maserati (who is the one using Chrysler/Dodge parts, not Alfa) will be using Alfa switchgear/parts in the upcoming MC20 (same steering wheel, infotainment, etc.).

The 2020 updates made the car really nice. So many exaggerations are made about Alfa interiors, they are perfectly fine. They have many soft touch points and even options unavailable on any other cars in its class (such as the extended Napa dashboard and door tops which are very nice and soft quality) as well as a padded knee rest. Every car in its class has plastics below the knees so the Alfa is no different there. All of the controls in the Alfa are easy and intuitive, and the infotainment while not loaded with gimmicks like gesture control (useless) work fine, and I'd wager the majority of people use CarPlay/Bluetooth and seek forward/back buttons which is all that anyone needs.

The Alfa is all about the drive, which it excels at further than any of its competitors.

At the time you did your review on the Giulia I wasn't too keen on the car. I thought it looked nice but hadn't yet driven one and any example I had sat in I didn't care for some of the obvious cheapness in the cabin. But as you alluded to with the 2020 refresh they really put a lot of effort into improving things. I'm a big stickler for interior quality so I wouldn't have gotten one if I still thought it was cheap and nasty inside.

One legitimate issue with Alfa though is its dealership network. Some dealers are nice, some are garbage. Some salespeople are good, some are plucked out of Dodge showrooms. I live in a region with a lot of Alfa dealers but many metros only have 1-2 dealers and that's all. The buying experience is less posh than the German competitors, but I really think once one drives these cars it makes it worth it.

Plus it's nice to stand out in a crowd from the plethora of bland base model 3-series, C-class Mercs, and A4s. Alfa is different and uniquely Italian.

[Alfisti]

Toronto is really great for that, I mean we drive a Saab and an Alfa and both are still very, very well serviced.

[GTF]

Originally Posted by Mardio

Thanks for the feedback. So it's a bit of a battle with the wife trying to find something not too firm on the ride quality. How smooth is the XM40i for everyday driving? The Macan?

The Macan probably offers a slightly better (softer, more compliant) ride than the M340i, but it's 800 lbs heavier. The new 2.9 engine (375 hp) in the '22 should improve performance compared to my '15 (at 340 hp), but still not as quick as the M340. So the trade-off is rear seat space (BMW) vs. better ride (Macan). Of course the $10-12K premium for the Porsche is considerable, but somewhat offset by better retained value. Another factor: my Macan got about 20-21 mpg....my BMW is getting 25-26 mpg. Either (IMO) an excellent choice.

If cost not a factor I'd have a Cayenne Turbo