Verdict
The Alfa Romeo Giulia costs RM31,078 more, but its 276 hp and 400 Nm give it a decisive 5.7-second 0-100 km/h time against the Lexus IS’s 241 hp, 350 Nm and 7.0 seconds. It is also 130 kg lighter, rides on 19-inch wheels and brings matrix LED lamps, adaptive cruise control and autonomous braking. The IS counters with a 66-litre tank, five-star Euro NCAP and ANCAP ratings, 10 airbags, plus heated and ventilated front seats. For Malaysian buyers, the Giulia is the driver’s choice; the IS is the better-equipped, lower-priced alternative.
Pick the Alfa Romeo Giulia if quicker 5.7-second performance, 400 Nm and a fuller active-safety suite matter more than RM31,078 and front-seat ventilation.
Pick the Lexus IS if you want to spend less while getting 10 airbags, heated and ventilated front seats, and a larger 66-litre fuel tank.
Key differences
- Price: Alfa Romeo Giulia RM440,078; Lexus IS RM409,000.
- Performance: Giulia 276 hp, 400 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 5.7 seconds; IS 241 hp, 350 Nm and 7.0 seconds.
- Kerb weight: Giulia 1,490 kg; IS 1,620 kg.
- Fuel tank: Giulia 58 litres; IS 66 litres.
- Wheels and tyres: Giulia 19-inch wheels with 225/40R19 front and 255/35R19 rear tyres; IS 17-inch wheels with 225/45R17 tyres front and rear.
- Airbags: Giulia 8; IS 10.
Giulia
- 276 hp and 400 Nm from its 2.0-litre turbo engine.
- 5.7-second 0-100 km/h time and 1,490 kg kerb weight.
- Matrix adaptive LED headlamps, adaptive cruise control and autonomous braking.
- Costs RM31,078 more.
- Has a smaller 58-litre fuel tank versus 66 litres.
- Misses the IS’s heated and ventilated front seats and has two fewer airbags.
IS
- RM409,000 entry price.
- 10 airbags plus five-star Euro NCAP and ANCAP ratings.
- Heated and ventilated 10-way power front seats and a 66-litre tank.
- Its 241 hp, 350 Nm and 7.0-second sprint trail the Giulia’s 276 hp, 400 Nm and 5.7 seconds.
- At 1,620 kg, it is 130 kg heavier than the Giulia.
- No autonomous braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot information system or reverse camera.
What the Giulia has over the IS
What the IS has over the Giulia
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The Giulia is 50 mm wider — more shoulder room, but a tighter fit in parking bays.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM440,078 | RM409,000✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM378✓ | RM379 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM4,490/mo | RM4,175/mo✓ |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM11,755 | RM10,947✓ |
| Fuel / year (est.) | — | RM2,786 |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | — | RM13.93 |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | — | RM70,561 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, turbocharged with variable valve timing | 16-valve DOHC direct injection with twin-scroll turbocharger, variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,995 cc | 1,998 cc |
| Horsepower | 276 hp at 5,250 rpm✓ | 241 hp at 5,800 rpm |
| Torque | 400 Nm at 2,250 rpm✓ | 350 Nm at 1,650 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 84 mm × 90 mm | 86 mm × 86 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10 | 10 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8-speed Automatic | 8-speed Sports Direct Shift |
| Gears | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Aisin |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.7 seconds✓ | 7 seconds |
| Rated Economy | — | 7 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 240 km/h✓ | 230 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,643 mm | 4,665 mm |
| Width | 1,860 mm | 1,810 mm |
| Height | 1,436 mm | 1,430 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,820 mm | 2,800 mm |
| Weight | 1,490 kg | 1,620 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 58 litres | 66 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres | 480 litres |
| Front Tyre | 225/40R19 | 225/45R17 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/35R19 | 225/45R17 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli P Zero | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Italy (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19" Alloy | 17" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Alloy | 17" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 5 stars |
| ANCAP | — | 5 stars |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 8 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver and Front Passenger Knee Airbag) | 10 (Driver and Passenger, Front Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Rear Side) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | Manual for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | — |
| ISOFIX | Available on two outer rear passenger seats | Available on two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | No |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Matrix Adaptive LED Projectors | Bi-Xenon Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Side Memory | 10-way Power Adjustable Seats, Heated and Ventilated |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | Rear Vents |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 3 USB Front, 1 USB Rear | 1 Front |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 8.8" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 14-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 7" Lexus Premium Audio with DVD/MP3 Player and 8 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | — |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Electroluminescent Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration. Running-cost estimates assume 20,000 km/year. Fuel at RM1.99/litre (RON95, subsidised). Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked October 2026.
Used Giulia & IS for sale
Our reviews & guides
Alfa Romeo Giulia
Giulia vs IS FAQ
Is the Alfa Romeo Giulia or Lexus IS better?
The Giulia is better for performance and driver assistance, with 276 hp, 400 Nm and a 5.7-second sprint. The IS is the stronger choice for lower purchase cost, 10 airbags, heated and ventilated seats, and its 66-litre tank.
What is the price difference?
The Alfa Romeo Giulia costs RM440,078 and the Lexus IS costs RM409,000, so the Giulia is RM31,078 more expensive.
Which car is quicker, the Giulia or IS?
The Giulia is quicker: it reaches 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds, 1.3 seconds ahead of the IS at 7.0 seconds. Its 276 hp and 400 Nm also exceed the IS’s 241 hp and 350 Nm.