Compare the2025 Mercedes AMG GLBVS 2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes AMG GLB 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 its rear seat belts.

The AMG GLB’s optional 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 AMG GLB offers an optional Post Collision Brake, 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.

The AMG GLB has a standard Surround View 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 AMG GLB and Stelvio have rear cross-traffic warning, but the AMG GLB has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Stelvio’s Rear Cross-Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the AMG GLB 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, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available lane departure warning systems.

There are over 3 times as many Mercedes dealers as there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the AMG GLB’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the AMG GLB has a standard 800-amp battery. The Stelvio’s 525-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Alfa Romeo vehicles. With 20 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Alfa Romeo.

The AMG GLB’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 22 more horsepower (302 vs. 280) than the Stelvio’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mercedes AMG GLB is faster than the Alfa Romeo Stelvio:

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

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes AMG GLB higher (5 out of 10) than the Alfa Romeo Stelvio (4). This means the AMG GLB produces up to 5.2 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Stelvio every 15,000 miles.

The AMG GLB offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Stelvio doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

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

The AMG GLB stops shorter than the Stelvio:

The AMG GLB’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’s standard 55 series tires. The AMG GLB’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Stelvio’s optional 40 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the AMG GLB can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Stelvio doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The AMG GLB’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Stelvio doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The AMG GLB 35 handles at .87 G’s, while the Stelvio pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The AMG GLB offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Stelvio can only carry 5.

The AMG GLB has .5 inches more front headroom, 4.5 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more rear headroom and 6.2 inches more rear legroom than the Stelvio.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the AMG GLB’s middle row seats recline. The Stelvio’s rear seats don’t recline.

The AMG GLB’s cargo area provides more volume than the Stelvio.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Stelvio, the AMG GLB has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, suspension setting, power steering assist, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The AMG GLB offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer 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 AMG GLB 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 AMG GLB’s standard Keyless-Go allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless-Enter-n-Go standard on the Stelvio doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The AMG GLB’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.

When the AMG GLB 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 AMG GLB 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 AMG GLB 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 AMG GLB’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Stelvio doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The AMG GLB will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the AMG GLB will retain 54.15% of its original price after five years, while the Stelvio only retains 51.75% to 52.66%.

The Mercedes GLB outsold the Alfa Romeo Stelvio by over three to one during 2023.