Alfa Romeo Giulia (2016 to Present)When I first drove the latest Giulia at a press event in 2016, I was immediately impressed by its super responsive, playful chassis. Alfa Romeo's stunning RWD sedan felt like a sports car, even next to the BMW 3-Series. Subsequent test drives really made the Giulia feel like the Lotus of sedans, but also showed that its interior had no place in a premium vehicle.Alfa Romeo's designers did their job; the dashboard looks driver-focused, just the way it should in a sports sedan, with the turbine-like circular vents connecting the dots almost perfectly. However, the overall feel inside the cabin is gloomy. The material quality, even in the latest refreshed model, is nowhere near that of the Germans. Yes, Alfa Romeo used soft-touch plastics, but all textures feel the same, and there is no stitching on the dashboard. Compare it to the latest 3 Series or C-Class, and the Giulia looks downright cheap.That's before we even start talking about the screens. In front of the driver, Alfa Romeo has started implementing a large 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster, which looks quite nice, but the same was true for the pre-facelift analog dials. However, the infotainment screen measures only 8.8 inches diagonally, which is small by 2025 standards. It's also nestled inside big bezels, which give off a cheap vibe. Hey, at least it's better than the initial entry-level Giulia, which had a tiny 6.5-inch display with comically large bezels.Maserati Ghibli (2013 to 2025)The Ghibli wasn't updated for the 2025 model year, as Maserati will be killing its performance sedan soon. It's a shame, because it is quite the unique vehicle, with Italian flair and Ferrari-sourced engines. According to most publications, it's nice to drive, with balanced and agile handling. The 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 version is potent, too, producing 572 hp, and more importantly, a satisfying sound.Hop inside, and the Ghibli welcomes you with a stylized dashboard that has some unique touches, like a nicely integrated analog clock. And if you choose the interior with red or brown accents, it looks quite exotic, too. So, what's the problem then? Well, the quality is sub-par. The 2024 Ghibli started at $110,000, yet the interior materials didn't live up to the eye-watering price. The Ghibli borrows most of the switchgear from other Stellantis products, which look out of place inside a luxurious performance sedan.Moreover, the design, while certainly unique, looks a bit dated. Put it next to the latest BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and it looks at least two decades older. That's hardly surprising, as it was launched way back in 2013. So, instead of forward-looking, high-definition screens, you are getting a 10.1-inch unit in the middle. There is also a small screen in front of the driver, nestled between two analog dials, which looks even more dated. At least the latest Ghibli refresh ran the modern Android Automotive operating system.