Compare the2022 Honda PassportVS 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

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 Passport 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.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Passport deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Passport’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.

Both the Passport 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available all wheel drive.

Honda’s powertrain warranty covers the Passport 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 Passport’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 Passport’s reliability 40 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.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Honda Passport is faster than the Alfa Romeo Stelvio:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Passport’s fuel efficiency. The Stelvio doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

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

The Passport has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Stelvio (19.5 vs. 16.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Passport 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.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Passport, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Stelvio.

For better traction, the Passport has larger standard tires than the Stelvio (245/60R18 vs. 235/60R18). The Passport EX-L/Elite’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Stelvio (265/45R20 vs. 255/45R20).

The Passport has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Stelvio doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Passport is 3.3 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Stelvio.

The Passport 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.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Passport Elite AWD is quieter than the Stelvio Sprint AWD (39 vs. 43 dB).

The Passport has 17.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Stelvio (114.9 vs. 97.6).

The Passport has 4.3 inches more front legroom, 4.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 7.7 inches more rear legroom and 5.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Stelvio.

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

The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Stelvio with its rear seat up (41.2 vs. 18.5 cubic feet). The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Stelvio with its rear seat folded (77.7 vs. 56.5 cubic feet).

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

The Passport’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Stelvio’s (3500 vs. 3000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is only 3000 pounds. The Passport AWD offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Passport uses the Vehicle Stability Assist sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Stelvio doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

If the windows are left open on the Passport 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.

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

When the Passport 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 Passport Elite 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 Passport owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Passport will cost $515 to $2730 less than the Stelvio over a five-year period.

The Passport will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Passport will retain 50.86% to 51.72% 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 Honda Passport will be $9347 to $10503 less than for the Alfa Romeo Stelvio.

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

The Honda Passport outsold the Alfa Romeo Stelvio by almost five to one during the 2021 model year.