You can buy this second-hand premium sports sedan for €22,500

Alternatives are recognized driver’s cars such as the Ford Mondeo and the Mazda 6. The advantage of these two is that they are generally more affordable and cheaper to maintain. You do give up a piece of status. The choice is yours!

BMW 330eiPerfomance – 2016 – 99,057 kilometers – €22,399

Unfortunately, the BMW 330e does not have a three-liter six-in-line under the hood, but a two-liter four-cylinder that, supported by a 65 kW electric motor, does deliver a six-cylinder worthy (system) power (252 hp), which guarantees excellent performance, but where the consumption – provided you plug in regularly – is a lot milder. Due to the low addition applicable at the time, the 330th was quite popular in our country. We found this BMW 330e, of which the only owner has not traveled a ton with it. It fits within our budget and is offered with a Bovag warranty. He is known to us as iPerfomance, but is offered here as ‘Centennial Executive’. That chic name does its equipment reasonable justice: there is enough on and on, especially in terms of safety, but leather upholstery is missing, for example.

That’s not a problem: in fast corners you are better held in place by fabric (or Alcantara) than by smooth leather. And in the KX-121-L it’s nice to take corners. As soon as you get in, you notice that you put on the 3 like a coat: a not too large size, a low seating position, a dashboard that is built around the driver and an excellent position of the steering wheel and lever (the automatic transmission can also be operated manually ). While driving, the car shrinks around you, the steering is wonderfully direct, the handling is very confidence-inspiring in all circumstances. The electrical package makes the car 190 kilos heavier than a normal 3, but because the center of gravity is low, you hardly notice it. What is noticeable is the luggage space that has shrunk to 370 liters. In addition, no trailer may be towed. That means that such a hybrid 3 is perhaps more than a regular version built to please the driver in particular. The driver can choose from three driving modes: in Max e-Drive you drive fully electrically (approximately 25 kilometers possible), in hybrid mode there is a smooth interaction of both power sources and in Save Battery only the petrol drinker does its job.

Signaling
Brand BMW
Type 330e iPerformance
Construction year December 2016
Mileage 99,057
Asking price €22,399
Where to buy? IVA Bleiswijk, Bleiswijk

Technical data
Engine 4-cyl. in-line, 1,998 cc, turbo, plug-in hybrid
max. system power 185 kW/252 hp
max. system torque 420 Nm
Luggage room 370 l
max. trailer braked n/a
Avg. consumption 1 in 52.6
0-100km/h 6.1s
Top speed 225km/h
All data according to factory specifications

Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0T Super auto. – 2017 – 124,948 kilometers – €22,885

Slightly above our budget – and then this is the take-away price, an extensive delivery package including maintenance and Bovag warranty costs 1,000 euros more – we find this also blue Alfa Romeo Giulia. He is slightly younger than the German, but has more experience and is also the first owner. No hybrid support here, but ‘just’ a blown two-liter, which drives the rear wheels, just like with the BMW. In terms of horsepower and Nm, he has to admit his superior in the Three, but with 1,400 kilos, the Alfa is also a lot lighter (BMW 1,635 kilos). Result: equivalent performance, higher fuel consumption, but better variability (folding rear seats, 1,600 kilos of braked towing weight). That makes it more suitable as a family and travel car than the 330e. Yet the driver is also central to the Giulia, because it drives at least as sharply, if not sharper. The steering is light and very direct, the throttle response fierce and the eight-speed automatic climbs in revs just as eagerly as the chassis attacks corners. What a grip! If we qualify the 3 as ‘clinical perfection’, then the Italian is full of emotion.

This also applies to the interior. The materials used and build quality may not be on the 3rd level, but the high-tech black and aluminum of the above occasion has made way for a beautiful brown leather interior. In terms of safety, we find about the same facilities, but in terms of luxury trinkets, the Italian beats the German.

If you were looking for a sporty sedan half a century ago, you either had the 02 series from BMW or you went for the Giulia. There was almost no choice (except for the Triumph Dolomite Sprint). Now the choice is bigger (see for example below), but in terms of sales the 3 has never suffered from the Alfa saloons that have been released since then. Often rightly so, but now an Alfa Romeo is just as reliable and rust-resistant as its opponent north of the Alps!

Signaling
Brand Alfa Romeo
Type Giulia 2.0T Super auto.
Construction year May 2017
Mileage 124,948
Asking price €22,885
Where to buy? Car company Zieleman, Nieuwleusen

Technical data
Engine 4-cyl. in-line, 1,995 cc, turbo
max. assets 147 kW/200 hp at 5,000 rpm
max. couple 330 Nm at 1,750 rpm
Luggage room 450 l/1,200 l
max. trailer braked 1,600 kilograms
Avg. consumption 1 in 15.2
0-100km/h 6.7s
Top speed 235 km/h
All data according to factory specifications

Jaguar XE 2.0 Prestige – 2017 – 116,263 kilometers – €22,950

This Jaguar XE is also slightly above our budget, but for those who are sensitive to status, it won’t matter: Jaguar is a more exclusive brand than Alfa Romeo or BMW. It is a brand that used to be famous for the slogan ‘Grace, space, pace’. As far as the X-type is concerned, that was not entirely the case (or not at all …), but with the sleek and tight-driving XE, the British are back on the right track. The PJ-466-S is from July 2017 (facelift model), is in between the other two in terms of mileage and is offered by the brand dealer, but has already had three owners. There is also an open recall due to possible fuel leakage. That will have to be resolved upon delivery, we think. The technical layout is completely the same as that of the Giulia: a blown two-liter of 200 hp that drives the rear wheels and is linked to an automatic transmission. The XE also offers the option of switching gears by means of steering paddles. When it comes to riding, the Italian is more playful, hornier if you will. The Jaguar remains a gentleman, but one whose tie is unbuttoned. The chassis is capable of a lot, more than is necessary for the 200 hp that houses this used car. That means that the XE will not easily present you with unpleasant surprises. It tracks like on rails and therefore resembles the 3 series.

We find the structure of the dashboard more traditional: less fiery than the Giulia, less cool than the 3. Everything feels solid, but the XE does not reach the level of the Bavarian either. Thanks to the high and wide center console, you sit nicely encased in your leather seat, ready to take a nice, long and winding ride. You do that in relative luxury: heated seats, alarm and xenon lighting are present, just like everything else you can expect from this type of sports sedan.

Signaling
Brand Jaguar
Type XE 2.0 Prestige
Construction year July 2017
Mileage 116,263
Asking price €22,950
Where to buy? Jaguar Service Dealer Breeland, Brielle

Technical data
Engine 4-cyl. in-line, 1,997 cc, turbo
max. assets 147 kW/200 hp at 5,500 rpm
max. couple 340 Nm at 1,200 rpm
Luggage room 455 l
max. trailer braked 1,800 kilograms
Avg. consumption 1 in 14.1
0-100km/h 7.1s
Top speed 238 km/h
All data according to factory specifications

Which of these sports sedans is right for you?

In summary: the Jaguar XE is the most exclusive, the Alfa Romeo Giulia the most sporty and the BMW 3-series the best quality! If you also like sporty sedans, but the asking and maintenance prices of this trio are too much for you, then the Ford Mondeo and the Mazda 6 are attractive alternatives. What would your choice be?