It’s fair to assume since you’re reading this site that you like cars. And you probably know the difference between a good one and a bad one, and a fun one and a boring one.
But when push come to shove, how prepared are you to take the braver, left-field choice over the safe, sensible alternative? Would you, for instance, let your head rule your heart and spend your $29k on a used 2018 Honda CRV, or put that same money into a same-age Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV?
Back in 2018 you probably wouldn’t have been cross-shopping those two. A CR-V in top-flight Touring spec with the optional all-wheel drive transmission had an MSRP of $34,050, while even the most basic all-wheel drive Stelvio cost $41,995 and a mid-spec Sport stickered at $43,795.
Related: 2022 Alfa Romeo Palade: Here’s Everything We Know About The Stylish Electric Baby SUV
Today, though, thanks to the wonders of deprecation, you can buy a 40,000-mile example of either the Honda or the Alfa for just under $30,000. And that’s exactly the dilemma one Carscoops writer faced. Here’s how he broke it down.
Performance
When it comes to the Alfa, that $30k buys a 280-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four that makes 280 hp and 306 lb ft of torque and drives all four wheels through the excellent ZF eight-speed automatic you’ll find in countless BMWs (among others). Zero to 60 mph (96 km/h) takes just 5.4 seconds.
The Honda’s only hope of ever accelerating that quickly from a dead stop is to break down on a railroad crossing and hope the next train is coming in hot. Base CR-Vs got a 185 hp naturally aspirated 2.4-liter four-cylinder, but the plush Touring-grade cars came with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four that sent its 190 hp and 179lb ft through a CVT transmission on all North American cars. The trip to 60 mph takes over 2 seconds longer in the Honda.
Heart says: Stelvio
Economy And Insurance
On the flip side, Honda is rated at 29 mpg and the Alfa just 24 mpg. Since the Carscoops writer in question had already previously owned a Stelvio, we know that figure’s as optimistic as the one attached to Alfa’s sales predictions. He got closer to 18 mpg IRL.
And according to Smart Financial the average cost to insure a 2018 Stelvio is $1656, whereas the same driver could get cover on a CR-V of the same vintage for $1034.
Head says: Honda
Interior Quality And Practicality
The Stelvio is supposed to be a premium car, but models built before the 2020 MY update didn’t feel quite as premium inside as they should have. Some of the plastics weren’t up to the CR-V’s standard, let alone those of its supposed BMW and Mercedes rivals, and the infotainment system lagged miles behind a BMW’s iDrive, too.
Saying that, the CRV’s sluggish infotainment system (shared with the last Civic; the ’22 Civic has a vastly improved setup) was hardly reference quality stuff. But where the CR-V really kicks the Stelvio’s ass is in the practicality stakes. The CR-V serves up far more rear legroom and, thanks to a 39.2 cu-ft trunk, twice as much luggage space.
Head says: CR-V
Feelgood Factor
The Stelvio is dripping with feelgood factor. It looks sexy in a way SUVs seldom are, and it’s also great to drive; fast and fun with sports sedan-like handling that doesn’t come at the expense of a rock-hard ride.
The CR-V is none of those things. It’s not ugly, and it’s not terrible to drive. It’s a competent car that will graft tirelessly on your behalf, and be more useful than the Stelvio ever could be. But you’ll never glance over your shoulder for one last look after you’ve parked up and walked away, and it will never encourage you to take the long way home – unless it’s to visit the dealer because the check engine light has come on.
“Exactly!”, Honda fans will say. You won’t be feeling so good about your Stelvio when those inevitable Alfa quality gremlins start appearing. And it’s true, Alfa Romeo is rated second lowest on J.D. Power’s 2021 Vehicle Dependability Study, placing 31st out of 32 brands, sandwiched, you won’t be surprised to learn, between Land Rover and Jaguar. But here’s the shocker: Honda is only four places higher!
Heart says: Stelvio
Head says: Are you sure about those J.D. Power stats for the Honda? (We are)
Verdict
So which would you choose? There’s no right or wrong answer. Most of us would probably like to think we’d take the Alfa, because who wouldn’t rather see that on the driveway, and who doesn’t want to think of themselves as the brave maverick?
The Carscoops writer who previously owned a Stelvio ended up going for a CR-V this time. He loved the looks, handling and performance of the Alfa, and the car was pretty reliable, but the poor dealer service soured the experience. Did he make the right choice?
