2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia vs 2021 Lexus IS

01/29/2021

2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia vs 2021 Lexus IS: For performance and styling

The small and midsize luxury sedan segments are inundated with variations on the same relatively boring formula. It's as though no manufacturer wants to stand out in an ocean of greys and mundane designs. Alfa Romeo is not one of these manufacturers.

Penned like no other

The Giulia was designed to seduce and Alfa Romeo makes no excuses for making it so. The car's sensual curves and voluntary simplicity are virtually subdued in contrast to some of the Lexus IS' styling elements but only one of these two cars will be noticed for the right reasons.

And speaking of getting noticed, while it might be an insignificant detail for some, the ability to select from more than a dozen exterior colours with a vast array of interior shades further enables the owner to separate themselves from the masses of greys. The Lexus IS is offered in tinges of white, grey, blue, and one red, depending on trim and options.

Cabin designed for driving

The Alfa Romeo's flair for the dramatic is evident once onboard. The multiple surfaces and textures blend beautifully into each other, all of it assembled with unmatched craftsmanship. Striking though it may all be, there is purpose in the layout where the driver feels as though they are at the controls of a potent driving machine, which they are. Onboard the Lexus, passengers are faced with repetitive ergonomics in a cold and uninspired dashboard.

Beyond the feast for the eyes, the Alfa Romeo also delivers an impressive array of must-have features and technology. The Alfa Romeo's included 8.8-inch display trumps the Lexus' 8-inch screen, not to mention that also includes leather front 10-way power front seats. The Giulia also sports a race-inspired steering wheel with a built-in push-start button.

Real-world performance

The start button brings to life the Giulia's turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder which will impress at every occasion. With 280 horsepower and 306 lb.-ft. of torque on tap, the Giulia's powertrain out-performs the Lexus IS' turbocharged 241-horsepower 2.0-litre and 3.5-litre V6 engines. The most powerful IS 350 produces only 280 lb.-ft. of torque, 26 fewer than the Giulia's standard engine.

And the Giulia's only getting warmed up. It is delivered with Alfa Romeo's complex Q4 all-wheel-drive system. With the latter and an 8-speed automatic transmission, not only is the Alfa Romeo quicker than all versions of the IS but it's also more fuel-efficient.

Finally, from behind the wheel, the Giulia also provide the driver with an unmatched driving experience thanks to extremely precise and direct steering and supremely powerful front Brembo brakes.

- Des Sources Alfa Romeo