Compare the2026 Lexus ESVS 2026 Alfa Romeo Giulia

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

Safety

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Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The ES offers optional Auto 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.

The ES Luxury/Premium+ has a standard 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 Lexus ES’ rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Alfa Romeo Giulia does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the ES and Giulia have rear cross-traffic warning, but the ES offers optional Rear Cross-Traffic Braking (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 ES 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and driver alert monitors.

The Lexus ES weighs 413 to 1328 pounds more than the Alfa Romeo Giulia. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the ES 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 ES’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Giulia’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 2 times as many Lexus dealers as there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the ES’ warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the 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 71 more problems per 100 vehicles, Alfa Romeo is ranked 20th.

Engine

The ES 500e’s standard electric motors produces 58 more horsepower (338 vs. 280) than the Giulia’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the ES running on electricity gets better mileage than the Giulia:

			MPGe
ES
	FWD	19" Wheels Electric Motor	135 city/118 hwy
		21" Wheels Electric Motor	129 city/112 hwy
	AWD	500e 19" Wheels Electric Motors	119 city/108 hwy
		500e 21" Wheels Electric Motors	118 city/105 hwy
Giulia
			MPG
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/33 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy

The ES can travel with zero emissions for 272 to 307 miles (dependent on model). The Giulia can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the ES’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Giulia doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Lexus ES uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Giulia requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

The ES 350h has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Giulia doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	ES	Giulia
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	13 inches
Rear Rotors	13.3 inches	12.5 inches

The ES’ 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.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the ES has larger tires than the Giulia (235/55R19 vs. 225/45R18). The ES’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Giulia (235/55R19 vs. 225/40R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the ES has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Giulia. The ES’ optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Giulia.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the ES’ wheelbase is 5.1 inches longer than on the Giulia (116.1 inches vs. 111 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the ES is 4.3 inches wider in the front and 2.7 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Giulia.

Chassis

The ES uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Giulia doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The ES has 1.4 inches more front hip room, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, 5.6 inches more rear legroom, .2 inches more rear hip room and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Giulia.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the ES 350e Luxury’s available rear seats recline. The Giulia’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The ES has a much larger trunk than the Giulia (17.4 vs. 12 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the ES has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the ES 350e Luxury, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Giulia doesn’t offer a power trunk.

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 35% lower rating, Alfa Romeo is ranked 19th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Giulia, the ES Luxury has a 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 ES Luxury/Premium+ has a standard heads-up display that projects speed in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Giulia doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

On a hot day the ES’ driver can lower all the windows 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.

The ES’ standard Smart Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the car, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless-Enter-n-Go standard on the Giulia doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The ES offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Giulia doesn’t offer headlight washers.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the ES Luxury to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Giulia doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

When the ES 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.

The ES has standard front air conditioned seats and the ES 350e Luxury offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Giulia doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The ES has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Giulia.

Both the ES and the Giulia offer available massaging front seats. The ES 350e Luxury also offers optional massaging rear seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging rear seats aren’t available in the Giulia.

The Lexus ES stands out above the Alfa Romeo Giulia by offering not one, but two Qi-compatible phone chargers. This convenience helps travelers with multiple devices to keep powered up on-the-go. Wireless charging eliminates lost or cluttered charging cables and one of them provide more flexibility.

The ES Luxury/Premium+’s Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Giulia doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

The Lexus ES outsold the Alfa Romeo Giulia by over 29 to one during 2025.

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