Alfa Romeo Stelvio vs Subaru Forester

Price and cost per week

Safety Rundown

ANCAP's published record does not give the Alfa Romeo Stelvio a rating. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.

Recalls on our record

A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.

Feature Showdown

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio features a 8.8-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Subaru Forester gets a 11.6-inch display and 4.2-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio stands out with Apple CarPlay, ventilated seats, power tailgate, Harman Kardon audio and ambient lighting — features our data doesn't list for the Subaru Forester. The Subaru Forester counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging and heated front seats. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Alfa Romeo Stelvio gets leather upholstery while the Subaru Forester offers cloth.

Drivetrain

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 Subaru Forester responds with a Petrol making 136kW and 247Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio has the clear power advantage at 206kW vs 136kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Space & Comfort

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio measures 4,687mm long on a 2,818mm wheelbase, 32mm longer than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Alfa Romeo Stelvio generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 499L in the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and 496L in the Subaru Forester, giving the Alfa Romeo Stelvio a 3L advantage.

For towing, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio leads with a 2,300kg braked capacity vs 1,800kg. That 500kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Subaru Forester's turning circle is 1.0 m tighter, 10.8 m against 11.8 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.

Cost to own

At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Alfa Romeo Stelvio costs about $1,995 a year (7 L/100km) and fuel for the Subaru Forester about $2,252 a year (7.9 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh. That is $257 a year less for the Alfa Romeo Stelvio.

Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Alfa Romeo Stelvio) and 5 years / Unlimited (Subaru Forester). Capped-price servicing: no data (Alfa Romeo Stelvio), 5 years (Subaru Forester).

Where each one leads

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio: more power (206kW against 136kW), the bigger boot with the seats up (499L against 496L), the higher braked towing limit (2,300kg against 1,800kg) and lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($1,995 a year against $2,252).

The Subaru Forester: the lower starting price ($45,990 against $85,990).

The Verdict

Subaru Forester scores higher, 76 vs 68

The Subaru Forester scores 76 to the Alfa Romeo Stelvio's 68 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 1 of the 5 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: safety (Subaru Forester ahead by 31 points), performance (Alfa Romeo Stelvio ahead by 25 points), value (Subaru Forester ahead by 12 points). At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Alfa Romeo Stelvio costs about $257 less (7 L/100km against 7.9 L/100km, at $1.90 a litre).

Common questions