Compare the2023 BMW X3VS 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

The X3’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.

The X3 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Stelvio doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The X3 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, 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 X3 offers optional Active Park Distance Control 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 X3 offers an optional Surround View 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 X3 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, 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.

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 X3 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 96 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Stelvio has not been tested, yet.

The X3’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Stelvio’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X3 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Alfa Romeo only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Stelvio.

There are almost 3 times as many BMW dealers as there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the X3’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 X3’s reliability 29 points higher than the Stelvio.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X3 first among compact premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Stelvio isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Alfa Romeo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 46 more problems per 100 vehicles, Alfa Romeo is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Alfa Romeo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Alfa Romeo is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Alfa Romeo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 17 places higher in reliability than Alfa Romeo.

The X3 M40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 102 more horsepower (382 vs. 280) and 63 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 306) than the Stelvio’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the X3 M40i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Alfa Romeo Stelvio:

On the EPA test cycle the X3 sDrive30i gets better fuel mileage than the Stelvio RWD (23 city/29 hwy vs. 22 city/29 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the X3’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Stelvio doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The X3 M40i’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Stelvio doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the X3 M40i’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Stelvio:

The X3 stops much shorter than the Stelvio:

For better traction, the X3 has larger standard tires than the Stelvio (245/50R19 vs. 235/60R18).

The X3’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Stelvio Sprint’s standard 60 series tires. The X3’s optional 275/35R21 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Stelvio’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X3 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Stelvio Sprint.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the X3 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. Run-flat tires aren’t available on some tire packages on the Stelvio.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X3’s wheelbase is 1.9 inches longer than on the Stelvio (112.8 inches vs. 110.9 inches).

The X3 M40i xDrive handles at .88 G’s, while the Stelvio Sprint AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The X3 M40i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Stelvio Ti AWD (25.9 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

The front grille of the X3 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.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the X3 M40i xDrive is quieter than the Stelvio Sprint AWD (40 vs. 43 dB).

The X3 has 3.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Stelvio (101.4 vs. 97.6).

The X3 has .9 inches more front headroom, 3.7 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom and 4.5 inches more rear legroom than the Stelvio.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the X3’s rear seats recline. The Stelvio’s rear seats don’t recline.

The X3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Stelvio with its rear seat up (28.7 vs. 18.5 cubic feet). The X3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Stelvio with its rear seat folded (62.7 vs. 56.5 cubic feet).

The X3’s cargo area is larger than the Stelvio’s in almost every dimension:

The X3’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Stelvio’s (4400 vs. 3000 pounds).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Alfa Romeo. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 65% lower rating, Alfa Romeo is ranked 32nd.

The X3 offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, 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 X3 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 or with the driver’s door power window switch. The driver of the Stelvio can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The X3’s LED headlights produce a white, bright light using less electricity than the Stelvio’s xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. HID headlights can be slow to reach full brightness or power cycle, causing issues when flashing them to signal other vehicles; LED headlights light instantly. LED lights also last about three to four times as long.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the X3 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Stelvio doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the X3 is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Stelvio’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the X3 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.

The X3’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Stelvio doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW X3, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio isn't recommended.

The BMW X3 outsold the Alfa Romeo Stelvio by almost seven to one during the 2021 model year.