The verdict
A struggling compact luxury suv, strong on driving and held back by ownership.
Overall 1.81 (C-) across 10 graded subjects. Its strongest is driving experience at 3.14 (B), its weakest cost of ownership at 0.55 (F). 5 of 10 subjects grade at C− or better.
Jump to scoresStrengths
- Driving Experience
- Value & Market Position
- Reliability & Quality
What holds it back
- Cost of Ownership
- Space & Comfort
- Efficiency & Range
Top alternatives
Cars shoppers cross-shop with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio
2.79B-
BMW X3Compact Luxury SUVThe Stelvio out-steers the X3 and matches its base-engine acceleration while undercutting it on price, but the X3 counters with more rear legroom, ~10 cu ft more max cargo, a 4,400-lb tow rating, available mild-hybrid and PHEV powertrains, and dramatically better predicted reliability and resale value.
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2.74B-
Audi Q5Compact Luxury SUVBoth are compact luxury SUVs with standard AWD in the low $50k range; the Stelvio offers sharper handling and a quicker 0-60, while the Q5 wins on cabin material quality, back-seat space, cargo volume, PHEV availability, dealer network, and long-term ownership costs.
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2.72B-
Mercedes-Benz GLCCompact Luxury SUVThe GLC has moved to a larger touchscreen, hybrid-assisted powertrains, and a plusher, quieter cabin — clear wins for comfort and daily livability — while the Stelvio counters with more communicative steering, more standard content at a lower base price, and a more driver-focused character.
CompareHow it's evolved
9 scored model years · 2018–2026
Subject scores by year
Hover or tap a score to see what moved it versus the year before. A corner mark flags a big swing.
| Year | Performance | Efficiency | Safety | Space | Cost | Reliability | Tech | Use-case | Driving | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 50 | 45 | 59 | 37 | 24 | 44 | 64 | 61 | 79 | 61 |
| 2025 | 51 | 43 | 57 | 41 | 39 | 61 | 55 | 57 | 76 | 63 |
| 2024 | 54 | 41 | 43 | 42 | 14 | 56 | 56 | 59 | 81 | 73 |
| 2023 | 55 | 38 | 51 | 41 | 23 | 62 | 56 | 57 | 81 | 66 |
| 2022 | 53 | 47 | 71 | 39 | 30 | 58 | 53 | 58 | 79 | 71 |
| 2021 | 55 | 49 | 54 | 40 | 28 | 47 | 51 | 59 | 78 | 74 |
| 2020 | 55 | 43 | 56 | 41 | 29 | 46 | 55 | 59 | 79 | 75 |
| 2019 | 55 | 44 | 42 | 39 | 32 | 40 | 39 | 56 | 73 | 75 |
| 2018 | 55 | 41 | 43 | 39 | 43 | 43 | 36 | 56 | 80 | 82 |
Compare two years
Best fit & conditions
Higher scores mean a better fit for that use case. Learn more about use-case fit →
Subject profile
Detailed scoring by subject
1Performance & PowertrainGrades below the middle of the scale.1.39D
The sole core 2025 U.S. powertrain is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 280 hp. The appearance-oriented Tributo Italiano and Intensa editions do not increase output, and the Quadrifoglio is absent for 2025.
The standard 2.0-liter turbo makes a strong 306 lb-ft at low engine speed across the entire 2025 U.S. lineup.
At 5.4 seconds to 60 mph, the standard AWD Stelvio is quick for a compact luxury SUV with a four-cylinder engine.
The engine delivers unusually strong, responsive midrange power and is generally smooth, but some tests report initial turbo lag, tentative low-speed delivery, or a gruff note near redline. It is engaging rather than class-leading in polish.
The ZF eight-speed automatic is quick and decisive under load, with excellent manual control through large column-mounted paddles. Minor low-speed roughness keeps it just short of seamless.
A 3,000-pound maximum is useful for a small trailer but trails the 3,500- to 4,400-pound ratings offered by several compact luxury SUV rivals.
Q4 all-wheel drive is standard on every 2025 Stelvio, and its rear-biased operation preserves sporty handling while sending torque forward when needed. A mechanical limited-slip rear differential is available through the Veloce package, though there is no low range or broad terrain-mode suite.
Standard AWD and 8.1 inches of clearance can manage snow and maintained dirt roads, but the Stelvio is pavement-focused and offers no dedicated off-road trim, low range, locker, skid-plate package, or crawl control.
Every 2025 U.S. Stelvio uses the same 280-hp 2.0-liter turbo, eight-speed automatic, and AWD. With the Quadrifoglio and RWD configuration gone and no hybrid or plug-in choice, this is a take-it-or-leave-it lineup.
2Efficiency & RangeOne of the Stelvio's weakest categories.0.83F
The sole 2025 AWD configuration earns 24 mpg combined, a middling result among gas compact luxury SUVs.
The turbo four's stop/start system helps the standard-AWD Stelvio reach 22 mpg in the EPA city cycle.
The eight-speed automatic helps deliver a respectable but unexceptional 28 mpg highway rating.
The 16.9-gallon tank and EPA unrounded combined consumption produce an estimated 410-mile full-tank range, adequate for the class.
EPA's standard 15,000-mile assumption produces a high $3,150 annual bill because the Stelvio combines only average fuel economy with premium gasoline pricing.
The 2.0-liter engine can run on 87-octane regular, but Alfa recommends 91 octane for optimum performance. That avoids a hard premium requirement while still encouraging the costlier grade.
3SafetyMid-pack among this car's ten categories.1.80C-
NHTSA has not published an overall rating for the 2025 Stelvio or an earlier model year of this generation. The required numeric value is therefore a conservative estimate, not a measured NCAP result.
IIHS has no published crashworthiness results for the Stelvio and it earned no 2025 Top Safety Pick award. Its five-star 2017 Euro NCAP result is reassuring but cannot substitute for current IIHS small-overlap, updated moderate-overlap, or updated side testing.
The single volume trim includes full-speed forward-collision warning/AEB, adaptive cruise, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. Lane Keep Assist and the lane-centering Highway/Traffic Jam assists require the optional Active Assist Plus Package, preventing a top-band score.
Full-speed Forward Collision Warning-Plus with active braking is standard, but IIHS has never published vehicle-to-vehicle or pedestrian front-crash-prevention results for the Stelvio. There is no verified current-protocol nighttime pedestrian performance, so the hardware earns only a lower-middle score.
Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-path detection are standard, giving the volume trim useful alert coverage. Active steering intervention is available only through Active Assist Plus, and Alfa lists neither rear cross-traffic braking nor safe-exit or trailer-aware coverage.
Actual Lane Keep Assist and hands-on lane centering through Highway Assist and Traffic Jam Assist are available, but all are confined to an option package. The system can center the vehicle when equipped, though Alfa warns that it depends on visible markings and requires continuous driver control.
Adaptive cruise is standard and manages following distance, while the optional package adds stop-and-go Traffic Jam Assist and lane-centered Highway Assist. This is capable hands-on assistance, but its best integration costs extra and trails newer luxury-SUV systems in capability.
No hands-free highway-driving system is offered. Even the optional Level 2 Highway/Traffic Jam Assist explicitly requires the driver to keep hands on the steering wheel.
Adaptive LED headlamps with auto leveling and automatic high beams are standard across the one-trim range, strong equipment on paper. IIHS has not tested their illumination, so they cannot receive the Good-rated top-band treatment.
The low dashboard helps forward vision, but thick front and rear pillars, a pinched rear window, and a small backup-camera display create meaningful blind zones. Blind-spot monitoring helps, but no surround-view camera is listed for the 2025 U.S. volume trim.
Two outboard LATCH positions are provided and the SUV ride height makes loading easier than in the related sedan, but the notably tight rear seat limits rear-facing-seat clearance and makes three-across unrealistic. No IIHS LATCH ease-of-use rating is published for the Stelvio.
4Space & ComfortOne of the Stelvio's weakest categories.0.71F
The sole volume Stelvio configuration is a two-row, five-passenger SUV.
Official 2025 accommodation data provides the volume-trim measurement.
The official figure is unusually short by SUV measurement standards.
Rear head clearance is respectable despite the sporty roofline.
Second-row legroom is near the bottom of the SUV normalization range.
No third row is offered.
The cargo hold is exceptionally small for a compact luxury SUV.
Maximum capacity only narrowly clears the bottom of the SUV band.
A phone slot, knee-area tray, removable console tray and average small-item cubbies make storage useful but not innovative.
Supportive leather front seats and broad power adjustment are strong, but the cramped rear seat limits four-adult comfort.
The well-damped chassis remains compliant and composed, even on the tested 20-inch wheels, with harsh bumps the main exception.
Acoustic windshield and laminated front glass help, though the intentionally audible four-cylinder keeps it from being library-quiet.
The consolidated volume trim is unusually rich, with heated front and rear leather seats, heated wheel, dual-zone climate and remote start standard.
5Cost of OwnershipThe Stelvio's lowest-graded category.0.55F
The sole core Stelvio AWD trim is also the entry configuration for 2025; the sticker includes the $1,995 destination charge.
Alfa consolidated the 2025 range around one core Stelvio AWD trim, making it the representative volume configuration rather than either limited/special edition.
This combines Edmunds' model-year- and core-trim-specific five-year maintenance and repair projections at 15,000 miles annually.
The model-level projection is appropriate for the core 2025 trim and aligns with KBB's assessment that the Stelvio sits at the bottom of its class for resale.
Coverage is typical for a European luxury-brand vehicle and one year longer than mainstream three-year plans.
Unlike many non-luxury competitors, Alfa does not extend powertrain protection beyond the basic warranty term.
One included first service and four years of roadside assistance are useful but fall well short of the multi-year scheduled-maintenance programs that earn top scores.
$52,245 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (45.1% retained, or about $23,562) leaves about $28,683 in depreciation. Add the projected $6,868 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $35,551 in total.
6Reliability & QualityOne of the Stelvio's strongest categories.2.14C
The 2025 Stelvio is a mature carry-over of the generation introduced for 2018, but Consumer Reports lacks enough responses to publish a model-level prediction. Its long production run and strong recent initial-quality result support an average outlook rather than either a top-tier or clearly poor prediction.
Alfa Romeo's recent dependability result is close to, but slightly worse than, the industry average. That is mid-pack evidence and an improvement over the brand's historic reputation, though Consumer Reports' low predicted-reliability mark prevents a stronger score.
The exact 2025 model has two safety recalls: a buckle-switch connection that can prevent proper front-airbag deployment and a rear-camera PCB/software defect. Both require attention, but neither identifies a 2025 engine, transmission, fire, or structural failure pattern, and NHTSA estimates only about 1% of the later camera-recall population is defective.
The volume 2025 Stelvio uses the established 280-hp 2.0-liter turbo four and ZF eight-speed automatic used throughout this generation, so it avoids first-year powertrain risk. The transmission is well proven and no exact-year powertrain recall was found, but scattered coolant, oil-seal, turbo-wastegate, and electrical complaints keep it below the class leaders.
Standard leather, handsome aluminum trim, and a well-finished dashboard make the volume trim appropriately premium. Reviewers nevertheless identify cost-cutting and switchgear/material quality below the BMW X3 and Genesis GV70, so it is acceptable rather than class-leading for the price.
The mature Cassino-built platform is generally solid, and the Stelvio's segment-leading 2023 initial-quality result is meaningful evidence against pervasive assembly defects. Reviews still describe less polish and solidity than leading luxury rivals, supporting an average score rather than a premium benchmark result.
Alfa Romeo's authorized U.S. network is sparse and geographically concentrated, making warranty and specialist service inconvenient outside major markets. The competitive 4-year/50,000-mile warranty and roadside assistance help, but cannot offset the limited coverage.
The long-running four-cylinder powertrain and Mopar distribution aid routine-parts supply, but the low-volume Italian-built vehicle has a shallow U.S. aftermarket and costly specialist work. Projected maintenance and repair spending is high enough to place ownership support below normal.
7Technology & InfotainmentGrades below the middle of the scale.1.68D
The sole screen is small by 2025 luxury-SUV standards.
Touch and a useful rotary controller make it workable, but the aging interface and tiny display feel dated.
Both projection systems are standard but require a USB cable.
Native navigation and voice control are standard and functional, though phone maps are preferable because guidance can be late.
The standard eight-speaker system is adequate and a powerful 14-speaker Harman Kardon upgrade is available.
A crisp 12.3-inch fully digital cluster with three distinct layouts is standard.
Connected services support infotainment-related updating, but there is no evidence of feature-adding whole-vehicle OTA capability.
Alfa Connect supplies useful remote management, but active services are subscription-dependent and no digital key is offered.
Five USB outlets and standard wireless charging are generous, though the rear ports are charge-only and there is no household outlet.
Passive entry, push-button start, remote start and a power liftgate cover the core conveniences, but phone-as-key is absent.
Front/rear sensors and a rear camera are provided, but there is no surround view and the camera image is notably poor.
A head-up display is not offered on the 2025 Stelvio.
8Use-Case FitMid-pack among this car's ten categories.1.87C-
Two-row access and LATCH basics work, but tight rear legroom and the tiny 18.5-cu-ft cargo hold complicate car seats and strollers.
AEB, adaptive cruise and blind-spot monitoring are standard, but the model lacks a current published U.S. crash-test distinction and newer family-alert features.
Heated rear seats and good ride quality help four-person trips, but rear space, cargo capacity and rear amenities trail rivals.
Responsive power, a smooth eight-speed and light quick steering make traffic duty easy, though the sporty calibration is less serene than class leaders.
Its 24-mpg combined rating and premium-fuel requirement make commuting relatively costly even within the luxury class.
The 184.6-inch length and quick steering are manageable, but a 38.5-foot circle, limited visibility aids and poor rear-camera image demand care.
Standard AWD, 280 hp and a 3,000-lb tow rating handle light trailers, but cargo space and tow headroom are modest.
Luxury leather trim, premium-fuel engine and limited fleet presence make it poorly suited to repeated jobsite abuse.
There is no bed, onboard AC power, washable cabin or meaningful upfit ecosystem.
Supportive seats, acoustic glass, compliant ride and adaptive cruise make it a good tourer, while small rear/cargo space and middling highway economy cap the score.
Standard Q4 AWD, 8.1 inches of clearance and 3,000-lb towing are useful for gravel roads and small recreational trailers, not serious off-roading.
Split-folding rear seats, roof-rail and hitch capability provide basic flexibility, but 18.5/56.5-cu-ft cargo volumes are restrictive.
9Driving ExperienceThe Stelvio's best-graded category.3.14B
The Stelvio remains one of the segment's most agile, communicative crossovers, though current testing shows only average grip and noticeable roll.
Light effort, exceptionally quick reflexes and genuine feedback remain defining strengths.
Standard four-piston Brembo front brakes sound strong on paper, but the 2025 test vehicle's 131-foot 60-0 stop was far behind key rivals.
The 280-hp turbo four has crisp response and smooth delivery, while the ZF eight-speed shifts quickly without much harshness.
The engine is audible under load but its raspy character is engaging rather than coarse; acoustic glass controls cruise noise.
The circle is average for an SUV of this footprint.
A comfortable driving position, 10-way power seat, physical controls and excellent metal column paddles suit enthusiastic daily use.
Even without the departed Quadrifoglio, steering feedback, chassis communication and punchy response make this a rare take-the-long-way-home SUV.
10Value & Market PositionOne of the Stelvio's strongest categories.2.24C
The single core trim includes AWD, real leather, navigation, a 12.3-inch cluster, Brembo front brakes, heated controls, and key driver assists, although richer active-assistance and audio features remain packaged.
A strong 280-hp engine, standard AWD and unusually engaging chassis provide credible performance value, but the $52,245 entry price, dated 8.8-inch infotainment and tight cabin prevent bargain status.
The simplified lineup offers one core AWD configuration and two appearance-led special editions; RWD and the high-performance Quadrifoglio disappeared, sharply limiting drivetrain and budget choice.
The Stelvio is a niche, rapidly declining seller rather than a mid-pack compact-luxury SUV, with U.S. volume falling in both 2024 and 2025.
Alfa Romeo's Italian design and motorsport identity give the Stelvio substantial enthusiast appeal and rarity, though reliability concerns and a small U.S. footprint weaken the ownership halo.
Buyers can secure meaningful savings through both factory cash and substantial market discounts, though their scale also reflects weak demand and leftover inventory.
The 2025 Stelvio remains the generation launched for U.S. model year 2018; its 2024-model-year facelift improved lighting and the gauge cluster, but core platform and infotainment technology are old.
Reviewers consistently celebrate its steering, handling and styling, but its packaging and aging cabin keep it from current class-winning status or major U.S. award recognition.
