Compare the2026 BMW X2VS 2025 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 X2 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 X2 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 X2 has a standard 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.

The X2 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 X2 and Stelvio have rear cross-traffic warning, but the X2 has Cross Traffic Warning with braking function (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 X2 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, all wheel drive, 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 X2’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Stelvio’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X2 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 doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Stelvio.

There are over 3 times as many BMW dealers as there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the X2’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 X2’s reliability 11 points higher than the Stelvio.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Alfa Romeo is rated below average.

The X2 M35i xDrive’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 32 more horsepower (312 vs. 280) than the Stelvio’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the X2 M35i xDrive is faster than the Alfa Romeo Stelvio:

On the EPA test cycle the X2 gets better mileage than the Stelvio:

Regenerative brakes improve the X2’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 BMW X2 higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Alfa Romeo Stelvio (4). This means the X2 produces up to 13.2 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Stelvio every 15,000 miles.

The X2 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 X2’s optional 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.

The X2 stops much shorter than the Stelvio:

For better traction, the X2 has larger tires than the Stelvio (245/45R19 vs. 235/55R19).

The X2 xDrive28i’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’s standard 55 series tires. The X2’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Stelvio’s optional 40 series tires.

The X2 M35i xDrive handles at .86 G’s, while the Stelvio pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The X2 M35i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Stelvio (26.1 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

The X2 xDrive28i is 5.3 inches shorter than the Stelvio, making the X2 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The X2 has 3.7 inches more front legroom, 4.8 inches more rear legroom and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Stelvio.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the X2’s rear seats recline. The Stelvio’s rear seats don’t recline.

The X2 has a much larger cargo volume than the Stelvio with its rear seat up (25.3 vs. 18.5 cubic feet).

The X2 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 X2 the driver can close all of them 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 X2’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 X2 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.

The X2 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 X2’s Automatic Parking Assistant 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. The Stelvio doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 BMW X2 retains 48.83% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 41.36% resale value of the 2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio after five years, which can save the BMW’s owner up to $6062.72117 in depreciation.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW X2, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio isn't recommended.

The BMW X2 outsold the Alfa Romeo Stelvio by 17% during 2024.