Compact executive sedan shootout! Alfa Romeo Giulia vs. Lexus IS vs. Jaguar XE

By Martin Pretorius

To a large degree, the appeal of the sporty compact executive sedan lies in its snob value. It’s a way to show the world that its owner is successful, appreciates the finer things in life, and enjoys showing off their personal style. But instead of simply following the masses and buying something German, these buyers may just find the dashing car of their dreams from a different source.

Even though the current fashion in the automotive world revolves around SUVs and Crossovers, there’s still a significant section of motoring enthusiasts who prefer their cars to be slow-slung and sleek. And it’s even better if that car carries a premium badge, and appeals to both the driver and onlookers. This is a highly competitive market segment, with a host of accomplished offerings all vying for the attention of very discerning buyers – and most of these contenders carry a German badge.

But some buyers want more than just a sleekly styled saloon with impressive performance. They want something unusual, something to show that they not only desire a premium-branded car, but also demand to stand out from the crowds. It’s for these buyers that relative fringe players offer something different, with a prestigious badge, equally engaging road manners, and unique styling. We’ve selected three often-overlooked compact executive saloons, and compare them to see which one we’d recommend to these discerning drivers. They’re priced within R21 000 of each other, are available exclusively with rear-wheel drive, and are all powered by turbo-charged 2.0 petrol engines.

	Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0T Super	Jaguar XE 25t Prestige	Lexus IS300 EX
Engine size	4-cyl, 2.0-litre, turbo-petrol	4-cyl, 2.0-litre, turbo-petrol	4-cyl, 2.0-litre, turbo-petrol
Power/Torque	147 kW/330Nm	184 kW/365 Nm	180 kW/350 Nm
Kerb Weight	1 429 kg	1 540 kg	1 680 kg
Length (mm)	4 639	4 672	4 665
Wheelbase (mm)	2 820	2 835	2 800
Airbag count	7	6	10
Ave Consumption *	5.9 ℓ/100 km	6.3 ℓ/100 km	7.5 ℓ/100 km
Warranty	3-yr/100 000 km	3-yr/100 000 km	4-yr/100 000 km
Price	R 686 900	R 694 236	R 674 100

*Manufacturer's official figures.

Analysis

It must be noted that the Jaguar represents the entry point in its range in Prestige specification, and to bring the other two closer to price parity, we selected the higher-trim variants of each. The least-expensive Alfa costs R 70 000 less than the Super derivative we selected here, and the least-expensive Lexus costs about R60 000 less in IS 300E trim. The cheaper Alfa and Lexus are however mechanically identical to their higher-trim siblings, so the price difference is entirely made up of added standard equipment.

The first thing you will notice when studying the comparison table is that the Alfa has a significant power disadvantage – the Lexus has 33 kW extra, while the Jaguar has a 37 kW advantage over the Alfa. The Alfa also has at least 20 Nm less torque than the next lowest output, but its lower kerb weight does compensate for this to some degree. In addition, the Alfa has a broader spread of torque at low revs, which does translate into snappier responses in traffic, albeit at the expense of some top-end stamina. That said, none of these cars are slow, with the Alfa landing between the other two in both the acceleration- and top speed stakes. The Jaguar is the performance king of these three, however, which justifies its price premium to a large extent.

As far as specification levels go, the Lexus has a clear advantage, with LED headlights, keyless start & entry, parking sensors all round, and a rear-view camera all coming as standard with the EX trim level. It’s also the contender with the most airbags, boasting a total of 10 airbags in contrast to the 6 or 7 on offer in the others. The Lexus draws level with the Alfa for the top spot in luggage capacity, but the Alfa has more rear-seat space. However, the Alfa is the only one here without heated and ventilated front seats, and electric adjustment is only available as an option.

The Alfa fights back with better claimed fuel efficiency (likely because of its less potent engine), and offers standard adaptive cruise control in Super trim as featured here. The latter is optional in the Jaguar, but isn’t available in the Lexus at all. There’s very little difference in the way they drive, with all three contenders threatening to depose all of the Germans as far as handling dynamics goes, but the Jaguar’s healthy slug of extra torque gives it a decisive advantage in overtaking acceleration. The Lexus brings up the rear in this regard, as its engine’s responses are somewhat softer, and its automatic gearbox (an 8-speed unit, just like the others) prioritizes smooth shifts over outright performance.

But, as always, safety has to take precedence in this comparison, which means that the Lexus scores an easy win with its multitude of airbags and LED headlights. It’s better-equipped too. The Jaguar has the best performance, however, and the Alfa arguably out-handles them all, so performance junkies and driving enthusiasts will also be able to find their ideal car between these three.

The Lexus only has two real drawbacks: its drivetrain is just a tad too soft of response, and its looks are challenging – unlike a horse, it’s best approached from behind. But style is subjective, and it’s not really slow either, so its higher feature count and added safety saves the day for the Lexus IS. And if you want even better value, look at the entry-level IS 300E – it doesn’t lose all that much in equipment (mainly the sat-nav), but it appears to be stunning value at only R 614 000.