Compare the2022 Audi Q3VS 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

The Q3’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Stelvio doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q3 and Stelvio have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q3 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Stelvio’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Q3 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Q3. But it costs extra on the Stelvio.

The Q3 Premium Plus has a standard Top View Camera System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Stelvio only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Q3 and the Stelvio have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras 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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Q3 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 115 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Stelvio has not been tested, yet.

The Q3’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Stelvio’s (12 vs. 5 years).

There are over 2 times as many Audi dealers as there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Q3’s warranty.

The Audi Q3’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the Stelvio’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

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 Q3’s reliability 17 points higher than the Stelvio.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Q3 second 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 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Alfa Romeo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Audi 20th in reliability. With 69 more problems per 100 vehicles, Alfa Romeo is ranked 32nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Alfa Romeo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 15 places higher in reliability than Alfa Romeo.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi Q3 higher (7 out of 10) than the Alfa Romeo Stelvio (3). This means the Q3 produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Stelvio every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Q3’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Stelvio:

The Q3 stops much shorter than the Stelvio:

The Q3’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Stelvio’s standard 60 series tires. The Q3’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Stelvio’s optional 45 series tires.

The Q3 handles at .91 G’s, while the Stelvio Sprint AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Q3 is 8 inches shorter than the Stelvio, making the Q3 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q3 has 3.4 inches more front legroom and 4.2 inches more rear legroom than the Stelvio.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Q3’s rear seats recline. The Stelvio’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Q3 has a much larger cargo volume than the Stelvio with its rear seat up (23.7 vs. 18.5 cubic feet).

If the windows are left open on the Q3 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows 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.

The Q3’s optional Park Steering Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Stelvio doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Insurance will cost less for the Q3 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Q3 will cost $1135 to $2870 less than the Stelvio over a five-year period.

The Q3 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Q3 will retain 49.77% to 50.28% 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 Audi Q3 will be $10942 to $11787 less than for the Alfa Romeo Stelvio.

The Audi Q3 outsold the Alfa Romeo Stelvio by over three to one during the 2021 model year.