Compare the2022 Lexus ISVS 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus IS have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Alfa Romeo Giulia doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The IS’ optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Giulia doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Lexus IS are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Alfa Romeo Giulia doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The IS has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Giulia doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The IS offers optional Auto Rear Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Giulia doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The IS’ standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Giulia.

The IS offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Giulia only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The IS has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Giulia’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the IS has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Giulia.

Both the IS and the Giulia have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the IS its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 75 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Giulia has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the IS 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Alfa Romeo covers the Giulia. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Giulia ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The IS’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Giulia’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 69 percent more Lexus dealers than there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the IS’ warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the IS’ reliability 37 points higher than the Giulia.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the IS third among compact premium cars in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Giulia isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Alfa Romeo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 60 more problems per 100 vehicles, Alfa Romeo is ranked 28th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Alfa Romeo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 115 more problems per 100 vehicles, Alfa Romeo is ranked 32nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Alfa Romeo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus third in reliability. Alfa Romeo is ranked 29th.

Engine

The IS 350 F Sport’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 31 more horsepower (311 vs. 280) than the Giulia’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The IS 500’s standard 5.0 DOHC V8 produces 192 more horsepower (472 vs. 280) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (395 vs. 306) than the Giulia’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the IS 300 AWD 3.5 DOHC V6 is faster than the Alfa Romeo Giulia:

	IS	Giulia
Zero to 30 MPH	2.6 sec	3.1 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	6.7 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	3.7 sec	4 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	15.2 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

The IS has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Giulia (17.4 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus IS higher (5 out of 10) than the Alfa Romeo Giulia (3). This means the IS produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Giulia every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the IS’ front brake rotors are larger than those on the Giulia:

	IS	IS 500	Giulia
Front Rotors	13.2 inches	14 inches	13 inches
Rear Rotors	11.7 inches	12.7 inches	12.5 inches

The IS’ standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Giulia are solid, not vented.

The IS stops much shorter than the Giulia:

	IS	Giulia
60 to 0 MPH	110 feet	123 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	141 feet	147 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the IS has larger standard tires than the Giulia (235/45R18 vs. 225/50R17). The IS 350 F Sport/500’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Giulia (F:235/40R19 & R:265/35R19 vs. F:225/40R19 & R:255/35R19).

The IS 300’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Giulia’s standard 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the IS 300 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Giulia.

The IS has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Giulia; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The IS 350 F Sport handles at .93 G’s, while the Giulia Ti Q4 pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The IS 350 F Sport executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Giulia Ti (25.4 seconds @ .71 average G’s vs. 27.1 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the IS’ turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the Giulia’s (34.2 feet vs. 35.4 feet).

Passenger Space

The IS has 2.4 inches more front legroom and .3 inches more rear hip room than the Giulia.

Cargo Capacity

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the IS offers cargo security. The Giulia’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Alfa Romeo. J.D. Power ranks Lexus second in service department satisfaction. With a 98% lower rating, Alfa Romeo is ranked 32nd.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Giulia, the IS offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The IS’ instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Giulia does not have an oil pressure gauge.

If the windows are left open on the IS the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Lexus service department.) The driver of the Giulia can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Consumer Reports rated the IS’ headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Giulia’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

A power rear sunshade is optional in the IS to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Giulia doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

When the IS with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Giulia’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the IS keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Giulia doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus IS, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Alfa Romeo Giulia isn't recommended.

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