Compare the2024 BMW X6VS 2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

The X6’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.

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 X6 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 X6 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 X6 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 X6 offers an optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a 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 X6. But it costs extra on the Stelvio.

The X6 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 X6 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, 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.

The BMW X6 weighs 995 to 1399 pounds more than the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The X6’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Stelvio’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X6 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, 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 X6’s warranty.

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.

The X6 xDrive40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 95 more horsepower (375 vs. 280) and 92 lbs.-ft. more torque (398 vs. 306) than the Stelvio’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The X6 M60i xDrive’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 243 more horsepower (523 vs. 280) and 247 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 306) than the Stelvio’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Regenerative brakes improve the X6’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Stelvio doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The X6 has 5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Stelvio (21.9 vs. 16.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The X6’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 X6’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Stelvio:

For better traction, the X6 has larger standard tires than the Stelvio (275/45R20 vs. 235/60R18). The X6’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Stelvio (F:275/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. 255/45R20).

The X6’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Stelvio Sprint’s standard 60 series tires. The X6’s optional 275/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the Stelvio’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X6 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Stelvio Sprint. The X6’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the Stelvio.

The X6 M60i offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Stelvio doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The X6 M60i xDrive offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Alfa Romeo doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Stelvio.

The X6 has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Stelvio doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X6’s wheelbase is 6.2 inches longer than on the Stelvio (117.1 inches vs. 110.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the X6 is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than on the Stelvio.

For greater off-road capability the X6 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Stelvio (8.5 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the X6 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the X6 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 X6 has 3.8 inches more front legroom, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, 3.8 inches more rear legroom and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Stelvio.

The X6 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Stelvio with its rear seat up (27.4 vs. 18.5 cubic feet). The X6 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Stelvio with its rear seat folded (59.6 vs. 56.5 cubic feet).

Optional Trailer Stabilization Control on the X6 uses the Dynamic Stability Control 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.

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.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Stelvio, the X6 M60i has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The X6 offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning, navigation instruction and driver assistance information 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 X6 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 X6’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 X6 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Stelvio doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the X6 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 X6 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 X6 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Stelvio.

The X6’s Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling the transmission and speed with the brake pedal. With its available fully controlled system, the driver just activates it and it parks autonomously, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Stelvio doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X6 second among upper midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Stelvio isn’t in the top three in its category.

The BMW X6 outsold the Alfa Romeo Stelvio by 76% during 2022.