Compare the2022 Volkswagen PassatVS 2022 Alfa Romeo Giulia

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen Passat 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 Passat has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, 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.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Passat 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 Passat and the Giulia have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and available rear parking sensors.

The Passat’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Giulia’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Passat for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Alfa Romeo only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Giulia.

There are over 4 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Passat’s warranty.

The Volkswagen Passat’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Giulia’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

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 Passat’s reliability 35 points higher than the Giulia.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Alfa Romeo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen 28th in reliability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles, Alfa Romeo is ranked 32nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Alfa Romeo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Volkswagen 5 places higher in reliability than Alfa Romeo.

On the EPA test cycle the Passat gets better mileage than the Giulia:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Passat uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Giulia requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Passat has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Giulia (18.5 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Passat higher (7 out of 10) than the Alfa Romeo Giulia (3). This means the Passat produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Giulia every 15,000 miles.

The Passat stops much shorter than the Giulia:

For better traction, the Passat has larger tires than the Giulia (235/45R18 vs. 225/50R17). The Passat’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Giulia (235/45R18 vs. 225/40R19).

The Passat’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 Passat has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Giulia.

The Passat 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.

The Passat R-Line handles at .84 G’s, while the Giulia Ti Q4 pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Passat has 5.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Giulia (101 vs. 95.4).

The Passat has .8 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 4 inches more rear legroom and 3.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Giulia.

The Passat has a much larger trunk than the Giulia (15.9 vs. 12 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Passat Limited’s trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Giulia doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

If the windows are left open on the Passat the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Giulia can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Passat to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. Heated windshield washer nozzles cost extra on the Giulia.

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

The Volkswagen Passat outsold the Alfa Romeo Giulia by almost three to one during the 2021 model year.