Compare the2022 Subaru OutbackVS 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Outback 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.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Outback are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Stelvio doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Outback has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Outback (except Base/Premium) offers optional Reverse Automatic Braking 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Outback. But it costs extra on the Stelvio.

Both the Outback and the Stelvio have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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 standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Outback its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 74 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Stelvio has not been tested, yet.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Outback 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 4 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Outback’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 Outback’s reliability 51 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 Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Alfa Romeo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 24th in initial quality. With 22 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 Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Alfa Romeo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 17th in reliability. With 71 more problems per 100 vehicles, Alfa Romeo is ranked 32nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Alfa Romeo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 21 places higher in reliability than Alfa Romeo.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Outback lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Stelvio doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

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

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

The Outback has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Stelvio (18.5 vs. 16.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Outback 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 Outback Wilderness/Onyx Edition XT has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Stelvio; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

For better maneuverability, the Outback’s turning circle is 2.4 feet tighter than the Stelvio’s (36.1 feet vs. 38.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outback has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Stelvio (8.7 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Outback to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outback Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 1.4 inches higher than on the Stelvio (9.5 vs. 8.1 inches).

The Subaru Outback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 250 pounds less than the Alfa Romeo Stelvio.

The front grille of the Outback 2.5i 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 Outback has 11.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Stelvio (109 vs. 97.6).

The Outback has 6.2 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 7.6 inches more rear legroom and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Stelvio.

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

The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Stelvio with its rear seat up (32.5 vs. 18.5 cubic feet). The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Stelvio with its rear seat folded (75.7 vs. 56.5 cubic feet).

The Outback’s cargo area is larger than the Stelvio’s in every dimension:

Maximum trailer towing in the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is limited to 3000 pounds. The Outback offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Outback’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Outback Base). The Stelvio doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Outback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Stelvio doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Outback Limited/Touring 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.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Outback Touring 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.

Insurance will cost less for the Outback owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Outback will cost $1765 to $3810 less than the Stelvio over a five-year period.

The Outback will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Outback will retain 55.15% to 57.32% of its original price after five years, while the Stelvio only retains 44.42% to 45.21%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Outback will be $17577 to $20209 less than for the Alfa Romeo Stelvio.

Consumer Reports® chose the Subaru Outback as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio isn't recommended.

The Subaru Outback outsold the Alfa Romeo Stelvio by almost 15 to one during the 2021 model year.