There's nothing quite like the Alfa 4C, at least until someone cross-pollinates a Cayman with a Mazda Miata.
Until then, we'll point to the Cayman as the most likely step up and out of the Alfa: the Porsche weighs a lot more, but its lyrical handling and real-world cabin make it so much more usable than the 4C.
The Jaguar F-Type and Chevy Corvette are in the same price league as the Alfa, but offer a different take on performance: the F-Type is all exhaust note and huge tires, and the Corvette is all exhaust note and huge tires and...wait, what were we getting at? We'll be heretics and throw in the Mercedes CLA45 AMG here too.
The horsepower numbers are in the Mercedes' favor, even if the curb weight isn't.
Its sticky all-wheel-drive grip is unerring in a way the mid-engine Alfa only dreams about.
BMW's i8 is made from carbon fiber, and that might entice some side eyes here, but it's a big luxury coupe first, a performer second, and far more expensive.
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 2016 Alfa Romeo 4CBrowse Used Listings |  2016 BMW i8Browse Used Listings |  2016 Chevrolet CorvetteBrowse Used Listings |  2016 Jaguar F-TypeBrowse Used Listings |  2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA ClassBrowse Used Listings |  2016 Porsche CaymanBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | |||||
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The 2016 Alfa Romeo 4C is a dazzling purist's sports car with great power and handling but little in terms of space and comfort. |
The 2016 BMW i8 blends a stunning coupe design with a slew of advanced technology underneath; the plug-in hybrid powertrain, and its corresponding efficiency, may be all but irrelevant. |
The 2016 Chevrolet Corvette's exceptional performance, style, comfort, and features, as well as its choice of high-power engines and body styles, adds up to an impressive sports car and grand tourer in one—and a car that won't break the bank. |
The 2015 Jaguar F-Type fleshes out its sportscar credentials this year with a manual transmission and all-wheel drive. |
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA is tight on rear-seat space, and on value—but long on style and in AMG trim, explosive performance. |
The 2016 Porsche Cayman offers most of the driving satisfaction and practicality of the fabled 911—and perhaps with even more thrills. |
| MSRP From | |||||
| $55,900 | $140,700 | $55,400 | $65,000 | $32,050 | $52,600 |
| Gas Mileage | |||||
| 24 MPG City / 34 MPG Hwy | 15 MPG City / 29 MPG Hwy | 15 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy | 23 MPG City / 38 MPG Hwy | 18 MPG City / 30 MPG Hwy | |
| Engine | |||||
| Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4 | Intercooled Turbo Gas/Electric I-3 | Gas V8 | Intercooled Supercharger Premium Unleaded V-6 | Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4 | Premium Unleaded H-6 |
| EPA Class | |||||
| Two-Seaters | Subcompact Cars | Two Seater | Two-Seaters | Subcompact Cars | Two-Seaters |
| Style Name | |||||
| 2-Door Coupe | 2-Door Coupe | 2-Door Stingray Coupe w/1LT | 2-Door Coupe Manual RWD | 4-Door Sedan CLA 250 FWD | 2-Door Coupe |
| Drivetrain | |||||
| Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | |||||
| 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Passenger Doors | |||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | |||||
| Coupe | Coupe | Coupe | Coupe | Sedan | Coupe |
| Transmission | |||||
| Auto-Shift Manual w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Manual | Manual w/OD | Auto-Shift Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | |||||
| 2016 Alfa Romeo 4C vs. 2016 BMW i8 | 2016 Alfa Romeo 4C vs. 2016 Chevrolet Corvette | 2016 Alfa Romeo 4C vs. 2016 Jaguar F-Type | 2016 Alfa Romeo 4C vs. 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA Class | 2016 Alfa Romeo 4C vs. 2016 Porsche Cayman | |
