Alfa Romeo Stelvio vs Lexus RX

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio starts from $82,950 before on-road costs, while the Lexus RX opens at $84,900. That makes the Alfa Romeo Stelvio the more affordable entry point by $1,950.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $91,245 and $93,390 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

Both the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Lexus RX hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 97% for the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and 90% for the Lexus RX.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio packs more ADAS features with 7 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 6 in the Lexus RX.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and 8 in the Lexus RX.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio features a 8.8-inch touchscreen, while the Lexus RX gets a 14-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio stands out with Apple CarPlay and Harman Kardon audio that you will not find on the Lexus RX. The Lexus RX counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, head-up display, wireless charging, panoramic roof, heated front seats and Lexus Premium Sound audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio uses a Petrol producing 206kW and 400Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.7 seconds.

The Lexus RX responds with a Hybrid making 179kW and 221Nm, paired to a automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.7 seconds.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio has the clear power advantage at 206kW vs 179kW. In the real-world sprint, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is 2.0s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio measures 4,686mm long on a 2,818mm wheelbase, 204mm shorter than the Lexus RX at 4,890mm (2,850mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Lexus RX generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 525L in the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and 612L in the Lexus RX, giving the Lexus RX a 87L advantage.

For towing, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio leads with a 1,814kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 314kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,138/year for the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and $1,967/year for the Lexus RX. That is a $171 annual difference in favour of the Lexus RX.

Estimated annual total: $2,138 (Alfa Romeo Stelvio) vs $1,967 (Lexus RX). The Lexus RX saves you roughly $171 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 150,000km (Alfa Romeo Stelvio) vs 4 years / 100,000km (Lexus RX). The Alfa Romeo Stelvio has longer coverage. Capped-price servicing: —4yr (Lexus RX).