Compare the2022 Honda CR-VVS 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the CR-V deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The CR-V’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Stelvio’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The CR-V’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Stelvio.

Both the CR-V and the Stelvio have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CR-V the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Stelvio has not been tested, yet.

Honda’s powertrain warranty covers the CR-V 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Alfa Romeo covers the Stelvio. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Stelvio ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 7 times as many Honda dealers as there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CR-V’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the CR-V’s reliability 64 points higher than the Stelvio.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Alfa Romeo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 17th in initial quality. With 40 more problems per 100 vehicles, Alfa Romeo is ranked 28th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Alfa Romeo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 27th in reliability. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Alfa Romeo is ranked 32nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Alfa Romeo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 24 places higher in reliability than Alfa Romeo.

On the EPA test cycle the CR-V gets better mileage than the Stelvio:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda CR-V uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Stelvio requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The CR-V has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Stelvio doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda CR-V higher (6 out of 10) than the Alfa Romeo Stelvio (3). This means the CR-V produces up to 23.4 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Stelvio every 15,000 miles.

The CR-V 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 Stelvio doesn’t offer a CVT.

The CR-V stops much shorter than the Stelvio:

The CR-V Touring handles at .85 G’s, while the Stelvio Sprint AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the CR-V’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Stelvio’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CR-V has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Stelvio (8.2 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the CR-V to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Honda CR-V may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 550 pounds less than the Alfa Romeo Stelvio.

The front grille of the CR-V uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Stelvio doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

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

The CR-V has 8.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Stelvio (105.9 vs. 97.6).

The CR-V has 4.7 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom and 8.5 inches more rear legroom than the Stelvio.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the CR-V’s rear seats recline. The Stelvio’s rear seats don’t recline.

The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Stelvio with its rear seat up (39.2 vs. 18.5 cubic feet). The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Stelvio with its rear seat folded (75.8 vs. 56.5 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CR-V easier. The CR-V’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26 inches, while the Stelvio’s liftover is 28.5 inches.

The CR-V’s cargo area is larger than the Stelvio’s in almost every dimension:

If the windows are left open on the CR-V the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Stelvio can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Insurance will cost less for the CR-V owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the CR-V will cost $1455 to $3110 less than the Stelvio over a five-year period.

The CR-V will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the CR-V will retain 51.86% to 55.49% of its original price after five years, while the Stelvio only retains 41.71% to 42.82%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda CR-V will be $20605 to $22968 less than for the Alfa Romeo Stelvio.

The Honda CR-V has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

The CR-V was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 20 years. The Stelvio has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

Motor Trend selected the CR-V as their 2018 Sport Utility of the Year. The Stelvio has never been chosen.