Alfa Romeo Stelvio vs BMW X3

BMW offers the 2026 X3 in two flavors: 30 xDrive and M50. The latter is tuned for performance, but the base X3 30 xDrive is so good that you might be happy trading the M50’s outright speed and sheer capability for significant savings. BMW redesigned this compact luxury crossover in 2025, and the only tweaks for 2026 make the base model look and feel a little more upscale inside.

Verdict: For this review, we evaluated the BMW X3 M50. It was terrific, but with a sticker price more than $15,000 higher than the rewarding X3 30 xDrive, it’s hard to justify the extra money.

Since 2018, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio has tugged hearts with its sinewy design and serious performance. With gutsy turbocharged engines, the Stelvio delivers effortless speed, impeccable steering, and an immediacy to its handling that other luxury SUVs can't deliver. Unfortunately, the Stelvio suffers from poor resale value, which directly correlates to Alfa Romeo’s reputation for poor reliability. For 2024, the Stelvio receives a mild refresh and a new Competizione trim level. We tried one in Michigan to discover the subtle changes.

Verdict: With any Alfa, trying one is usually better than buying one. Service issues aside, the Stelvio is the only SUV that always feels connected to the driver, undoubtedly thanks to a lack of extemporaneous software blocking that sensation.