Verdict
The Alfa Romeo Giulia is the leaner, more practical choice at RM440,078: 1,490 kg and a 480-litre boot versus the Mercedes-Benz S-Class’s 2,385 kg and 350 litres. But the RM738,888 S-Class earns its huge RM298,810 step up with 362 hp, 500 Nm, a 28.6-kWh battery and 100 km of EV range, plus air suspension and rear-seat luxury the Alfa cannot match. For Malaysian buyers who will use the rear cabin or can charge regularly, the S-Class is in another class; the Giulia makes more sense for a driver carrying luggage.
Giulia
Pick the Alfa Romeo Giulia if you want the lower RM440,078 entry price, a 480-litre boot and 895 kg less mass.
S-Class
Pick the Mercedes-Benz S-Class if you want plug-in hybrid running, 100 km of EV range and a genuinely lavish rear cabin.
Key differences
- Price: Alfa Romeo Giulia RM440,078; Mercedes-Benz S-Class RM738,888
- Power and torque: Giulia 276 hp and 400 Nm; S-Class 362 hp and 500 Nm
- 0-100 km/h: Giulia 5.7 seconds; S-Class 5.2 seconds
- Dimensions: Giulia 4,643 mm long with 2,820 mm wheelbase; S-Class 5,289 mm with 3,216 mm wheelbase
- Weight and boot: Giulia 1,490 kg and 480 litres; S-Class 2,385 kg and 350 litres
- Plug-in hybrid hardware: Giulia has no motor or battery; S-Class has a 147-hp motor, 28.6-kWh battery and 100 km EV range
Giulia
- RM298,810 less expensive
- 480-litre boot, 130 litres larger
- 1,490 kg kerb weight and 5-year/150,000-km warranty
- 276 hp and 400 Nm trail the S-Class’s 362 hp and 500 Nm
- No motor, battery or 100-km EV range
- Eight airbags versus 14, and rear occupants only get vents rather than dedicated climate control
S-Class
- 362 hp, 500 Nm and 5.2-second 0-100 km/h time
- 28.6-kWh battery, 147-hp motor and 100 km EV range
- Air suspension, massage seats and rear entertainment displays
- RM298,810 more expensive
- 350-litre boot is 130 litres smaller
- At 2,385 kg, it is 895 kg heavier
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM440,078✓ | RM738,888 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Luxury |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM378✓ | RM2,128 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, turbocharged with variable valve timing | 24-valve DOHC with Electric Twin-scroll Turbocharger, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 1,995 cc | 2,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 276 hp at 5,250 rpm | 362 hp at 5,500 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 400 Nm at 2,250 rpm | 500 Nm at 1,600 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 6 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid |
| Bore × Stroke | 84 mm × 90 mm | 83 mm × 92.4 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10 | 10.5 |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 147 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 440 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 28.6 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 100 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 60 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8-speed Automatic | 9G-TRONIC |
| Gears | 8 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Mercedes-Benz (Daimler AG) |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.7 seconds | 5.2 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | — | 1 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 240 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Co2 | — | 22 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,643 mm | 5,289 mm |
| Width | 1,860 mm | 1,954 mm |
| Height | 1,436 mm | 1,503 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,820 mm | 3,216 mm |
| Weight | 1,490 kg | 2,385 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 58 litres | 67 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres✓ | 350 litres |
| Front Tyre | 225/40R19 | 255/40R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/35R19 | 285/35R20 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli P Zero | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 ZP |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Italy (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 19" Alloy | 20" Twin 10-spoke Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Alloy | 20" Twin 10-spoke Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Adaptive Dampers |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 8 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver and Front Passenger Knee Airbag) | 14 (Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Rear Passengers, Front and Rear Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Rear Left Cushion) |
| 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 with Illumination and Rear Belt Bags |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on two outer rear passenger seats | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection (up to 130 km/h) and Evasive Steering Assist (up to 108 km/h) |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Pre-Safe, Pre-Safe Impulse Side, Driver Attention Monitor with Eye Tracking |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Matrix Adaptive LED Projectors | Adaptive LED Projector with Matrix High Beam (Digital Light with Projection Function) |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Side Memory | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory, Heating and Massage Functions; Pillow Headrests; Passenger Seat Adjustment from Rear Seats |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | Power Adjustable Outer Rear Seats with Memory, Heating, Ventilation, Massage and One-touch Recline Functions; Folding Rear Pillow Headrests with Built-in Neck Warmers; Powered Ottoman and Leg Rest for Left Seat with Massage Function; Centre Load-through |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with Air Balance Perfume System and Ioniser |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 3 USB Front, 1 USB Rear | 4 Front USB-C, 6 Rear USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Active Ambient Lights (64 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Double Sun Visors, Powered Rear Windscreen and Rear Door Window Sunshades |
| Audio | 8.8" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 14-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 12.8" OLED Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Augmented Reality Navigation; 11" Rear Entertainment Displays; 7" Rear Android Tablet; 15-speaker Burmester 3D Surround Sound System (710 Watts) |
| 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 with Pop-out Door Handles |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist, Stop and Go and Speed Limit Assist |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes, Parallel and Perpendicular |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | — | Soft Close Function, All Doors |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | MBUX Interior Assistant, Fingerprint Scanner, Front and Rear Qi Wireless Chargers, Rear Wireless Headsets |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 4 years |
| Warranty Notes | — | 8-year/160,000 km Battery Warranty |
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.
Used Giulia & S-Class for sale
Giulia vs S-Class FAQ
Is the Alfa Romeo Giulia or Mercedes-Benz S-Class better?
The S-Class is better for rear-seat comfort, safety equipment and plug-in hybrid capability, with 100 km of EV range. The Giulia is the better fit if boot space, lower weight and a far lower purchase price matter more.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class costs RM298,810 more than the Alfa Romeo Giulia: RM738,888 against RM440,078.
Can the Mercedes-Benz S-Class be driven on electric power?
Yes. Its plug-in hybrid system uses a 28.6-kWh battery and 147-hp electric motor, with a stated EV range of 100 km. The Giulia is petrol-only and has no electric motor or battery.
