Compare the2022 Lexus UXVS 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus UX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the UX deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The UX’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 UX has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Front Seatbacks, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Front Seatbacks system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Stelvio doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The UX has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Stelvio doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The UX offers optional Parking Support Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Stelvio doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The UX’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.

The UX has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Stelvio’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the UX has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Stelvio.

Both the UX and the Stelvio have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 and available rear parking sensors.

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 UX 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.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the UX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Alfa Romeo covers the Stelvio. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Stelvio ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The UX’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Stelvio’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 69 percent more Lexus dealers than there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the UX’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 UX’s reliability 86 points higher than the Stelvio.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the UX first among small premium suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Stelvio isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Alfa Romeo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 60 more problems per 100 vehicles, Alfa Romeo is ranked 28th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Alfa Romeo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 115 more problems per 100 vehicles, Alfa Romeo is ranked 32nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Alfa Romeo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus third in reliability. Alfa Romeo is ranked 29th.

On the EPA test cycle the UX gets better mileage than the Stelvio:

			MPG
UX
	FWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	29 city/37 hwy
	AWD	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	41 city/38 hwy
Stelvio
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the UX Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Stelvio doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus UX higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Alfa Romeo Stelvio (3). This means the UX produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Stelvio every 15,000 miles.

The UX 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 UX stops shorter than the Stelvio:

	UX	Stelvio
70 to 0 MPH	171 feet	176 feet	Car and Driver

The UX’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Stelvio’s standard 60 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the UX can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Stelvio doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For better maneuverability, the UX’s turning circle is 4.3 feet tighter than the Stelvio’s (34.2 feet vs. 38.5 feet).

The Lexus UX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 600 pounds less than the Alfa Romeo Stelvio.

The UX is 7.6 inches shorter than the Stelvio, making the UX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The UX has 5.4 inches more front legroom and 1.2 inches more rear legroom than the Stelvio.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Alfa Romeo. J.D. Power ranks Lexus second in service department satisfaction. With a 98% lower rating, Alfa Romeo is ranked 32nd.

The UX offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Stelvio doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left open on the UX 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. (This window function must be activated by your Lexus service department.) The driver of the Stelvio can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

When the UX with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Stelvio’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the UX keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Stelvio doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus UX, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio isn't recommended.

The Lexus UX outsold the Alfa Romeo Stelvio by 66% during the 2021 model year.