Compare the2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLIVS 2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen Jetta GLI 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 Jetta GLI 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Jetta GLI has standard Maneuver Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Giulia doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Jetta GLI and Giulia have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Jetta GLI has Rear Traffic Alert (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Giulia’s Rear Cross-Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Jetta GLI 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 rear cross-path warning.

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

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Jetta GLI for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Alfa Romeo only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Giulia.

There are over 5 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Jetta GLI’s warranty.

The Volkswagen Jetta GLI’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.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Jetta GLI has a standard 540-amp battery. The Giulia’s 525-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

As tested in Car and Driver the Volkswagen Jetta GLI is faster than the Alfa Romeo Giulia (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the Jetta GLI gets better mileage than the Giulia:

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Jetta GLI higher (7 out of 10) than the Alfa Romeo Giulia (5). This means the Jetta GLI produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Giulia every 15,000 miles.

The Jetta GLI offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and fuel economy. The Giulia doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Jetta GLI offers an optional sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Giulia doesn’t offer an SMG.

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

The Jetta GLI’s 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 Jetta GLI stops much shorter than the Giulia:

The Jetta GLI’s 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 Jetta GLI has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Giulia.

The Jetta GLI 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 Jetta GLI handles at .95 G’s, while the Giulia Ti Q4 pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Volkswagen Jetta GLI may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 pounds less than the Alfa Romeo Giulia.

The Jetta GLI has 2.3 inches more rear legroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Giulia.

The Jetta GLI has a much larger trunk than the Giulia (14.1 vs. 12 cubic feet).

If the windows are left open on the Jetta GLI the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows with the driver’s door power window switch. The driver of the Giulia can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

When the Jetta GLI is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Giulia’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Jetta GLI 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.

Insurance will cost less for the Jetta GLI owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Jetta GLI will cost $3985 to $7875 less than the Giulia over a five-year period.

The Jetta GLI will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Jetta GLI will retain 51.86% to 52.14% of its original price after five years, while the Giulia only retains 48.07% to 50.12%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Volkswagen Jetta GLI will be $16308 to $29493 less than for the Alfa Romeo Giulia.

The Volkswagen Jetta outsold the Alfa Romeo Giulia by almost 14 to one during 2023.