Volkswagen Touareg vs Alfa Romeo Stelvio

What's the difference?

The Volkswagen Touareg 210TDI Elegance is aptly named. It looks handsome inside and out, has a bunch of luxury features and offers true practicality for families. I like how it handles and that it’s relatively affordable for the segment. You don’t miss out with this one.

My son didn’t spend much time in this but thought it looked fancy and loved his space in the back.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Veloce is the car you get when you want a sports car but happen to have a kid or two. Its ride comfort is on the lower end but it has heaps of power and enough features that it manages to slide into its price tag without feeling too cheeky. The back seat’s size will limit this to smaller families, though. And I would prefer to see better tech at this grade level, so this gets a 7.1/10 from me.

My son didn’t spend much time in this one but he liked the red paintwork. My mum, however, loved the power and sexy packaging. She gives it an 8/10.

Not a lot has changed for the external styling of the Touareg.

The classic VW pleating across the panelling remains but the updated I.Q Matrix LED headlights, as well as the long light strip across the rear and an illuminated badge give it some serious sex appeal.

The 20-inch alloy wheels and a heavy hand with chrome accents round out the total look for what is essential a big, handsome and sharply styled SUV.

The interior has seen most of the updates – with a dual screen setup that houses a huge 15-inch touchscreen multimedia system and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

The setup looks well-integrated into the dash - it's the best I've seen in the segment - and flows beautifully with the understated but high-quality aesthetic found throughout the cabin.

Our test model has the optional two-toned grey Varenna leather seats which add some flair and the interior finishes look great.

While the Veloce has had a facelift, the changes are so minor I would dare to ask, why bother?

The daytime running light signature has been tweaked but only die-hard Stelvio fans will notice it. I do like the larger 12.3-inch digital instrument display but surprisingly the multimedia screen remains on the smaller side at 8.8 inches.

Otherwise, there’s no denying the Veloce looks like an Alfa Romeo, staying true to its Italian heritage. It’s solid, with a 1903mm wide stance, but so robust that it moves away from words like 'sleek' or 'sexy'.

The black grille, 20-inch alloy wheels and red brake calipers make it look sports car mean and hint at what's under the bonnet.

The interior looks well made and it's got a bat cave element with the black headliner and panoramic sunroof. There's a plethora of soft touchpoints throughout and the circular air-vents found in both rows add some flair.

Overall, though, the interior is understated and if you’re looking for something as flashy as the exterior, you may be disappointed.

The cabin inside reflects that the Touareg is a big car. Stacks of head- and legroom is on offer in each row. The seat comfort is also fantastic with even the rear row featuring plush padded comfort. This is the SUV you take on a road trip.

The individual storage is good with multiple cubbies up front for your bits and pieces, including a ventilated glove box, a drawer on the drivers side and a net on the side of the centre console that can fit a small handbag.

There is also a dedicated phone spot with a wireless charging pad, three USB-C ports and a 12-volt socket.

Amenities and storage options in the second row are great, with directional air vents, two USB-C ports, a 12-volt socket, reading lights and retractable sunblinds. The latter are particularly handy when travelling with kids and my son loves using his.

I also like that you get hardened kickplates because my kid loves to put his feet on everything and I find them easier to clean.

There's ample storage with two map pockets, storage bins and three cupholders in a fold-down armrest.

Families with lots of stuff will love the 810L boot capacity and you can bumped it up to 1800L if you fold the rear row. The back seat has a 40/20/40 split which also opens up your storage options and you get multiple luggage nets, a cargo cover and a 12-volt socket.

There is a collapsible spare tyre and a compressor underneath the floor and you can change the height of the boot with the adaptive air suspension. This also has a powered tailgate, which I always find handy.

In terms of the updated tech, you won’t be using the multimedia system on the go until you get used to this system as there is a lot going on with it, but the level of customisation available is fantastic and helps personalise the driving experience. The Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, is wired and wireless and there is a built-in satellite navigation system.

The front row benefits the most in terms of space and features. I have stacks of headroom and legroom in the front seat and didn’t feel like I was too close to my passenger this week.

I like the comfortable electric seats and the fact you can adjust the side bolsters and under-thigh support.

Individual storage options are on the slim side throughout the car and it was something my mum and I found annoying on our road trip because there aren’t a lot of spots to put your little items up front. Think snacks, sunglasses, lip balm etc.

The two cupholders are really drink bottle holders because they’re too large to fit a small takeaway cup without popping the lid off but I like the large storage bins in each front door.

It's a tight squeeze in the back seat for my 168cm (5'6") height and that’s behind my driving position! It could feel a tad cramped back there for those with longer legs.

It’s also a bit awkward getting in and out of the back seat because of the large wheel arches.

The storage bins in the doors are too small to hold a drink bottle but the middle armrest has two cupholders and a phone holder.

Charging options are fantastic up front with two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, a 12-volt socket and a wireless charging pad to choose from. You even get an 'aux' jack, too.

The amenities in the back seat are okay and you get a couple of net map pockets, reading lights, a USB-A and C port, as well as directional air vents.

This Alfa has a no-nonsense approach with the other tech, though. I usually don’t mind that but the touchscreen multimedia system is a little too no-nonsense for this spec-level.

I found it to be laggy and too small. It also regularly turned itself off and rebooted. This happened a few times while needing satellite navigation directions, which was annoying.

Also on the sat nav, you can’t search for a general name of something, like a business, you have to input an address which meant using my iPhone anyway. It’s great that you get wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though.

The digital instrument panel looks upmarket but isn’t properly customisable and I was disappointed the ambient lighting package only meant that there are lights in the footwells and a tiny overhead light. Adding some extra lighting would have transformed the night-time driving experience.

The boot is the highlight for me because you get a decent capacity at 499L. The load space is level and I like the back row's 40/20/40 split-fold. We had plenty of room on our road trip for luggage and shopping.

You get a temporary spare tyre and a retractable cargo blind. The latter is stiff enough to double as a shelf which is handy and a handsfree powered tailgate comes standard, as well.

There are three models for the Stelvio and ours is the mid-spec Veloce grade, which will cost you $82,950, before on-road costs. The pricing should make it competitive compared to its rivals but the features list isn’t as robust as it could be.

The interior gets most of the big-ticket items with leather upholstered sports front seats, extended leather trim on the doors and dashboard as well as a heated steering wheel.

Both front seats are electric with six-way power adjustment, powered side bolsters and four-way adjustable lumbar support. They also feature a heat function and extendable under-thigh support.

The luxury items continue with the panoramic sunroof, real aluminium accents throughout and a premium Harman Kardon sound system that boasts 14 speakers.

Other standard features include full LED adaptive 'Matrix' headlights, aluminium sports pedals, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, push-button start and a handsfree powered tailgate.

It's the technology that lets the Stelvio down but I'll go into that later.

The 210TDI Elegance is an AWD and has a powerful 3.0L V6 turbo-diesel engine which produces 210kW of power and 600Nm of torque.

That supports a 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity, which should entice camping or boating enthusiasts. Yep, you can have your cake and eat it too.

The Elegance can do a 0-100km/h sprint in a quick 6.0 seconds and features an eight-speed auto transmission which is ridiculously smooth.

The Veloce has a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that gives a maximum power output of 206kW and 400Nm of torque. It’s an all-wheel drive and has an eight-speed auto transmission which is very smooth. 

Checking out the specs I didn’t think this would be as powerful as it is. But it’s really fun when you need to put your foot down! I mean, it can go from 0-100km/h in just 5.7 seconds.

The official combined fuel-cycle consumption figure is a low 7.4/100km and my real-world usage sits at 8.4L after mostly open-road driving this week.

Considering the power, size and fun that I've had with this model, I'm super happy with how efficient the 210TDI Elegance is.  

Based on the official combined fuel cycle and large 90L fuel tank, expect a hefty theoretical driving range of 1216km. Which means this is a perfect road-trip car.

The official combined cycle fuel economy figure is 7.0L/100km and my real-world usage came to 8.4L/100km.

I drove our test model hard but did A LOT of open road driving - 2051km to be exact - so I was happy with the average but I would expect it to be higher in the city.

Based on the official combined cycle number and 64L fuel tank, you theoretically should be able to get a driving range of around 914km but my real-world tests see that figure come in closer to 700km.

Alfa Romeo recommends a minimum 95 RON petrol be used for the Stelvio.

The 210TDI Elegance handles like a thoroughbred - it manages to be smooth but powerful, large but not cumbersome.

It also feels a hell a lot smaller than what it is when you're manoeuvring around a little car park

One of the best things about the driving experience is having the support from the powerful diesel engine. Power delivery feels effortless and assured, no matter the conditions.

The Elegance accelerates smoothly with gear changes that shift on time and without skipping a beat.

Handling also feels pretty effortless with the suspension absorbing the worst of the bumps without feeling floaty. You get enough road feedback to know what’s going on underneath you but any jiggling or vibration is ironed out.

The steering feels adaptive - quick-witted in the city and controlled on the highway.

Cabin noise is whisper quiet with barely any wind, road or engine noise. The driving experience feels relaxed and refined because of it.

The adaptive 360-degree view camera system, which shifts its view when you turn the steering wheel, helps you easily slide into a tight car spot. This is definitely Westfield carpark friendly. Hurrah!

The Veloce is downright fun to drive because of how damn responsive it is. There is plenty of power, so much so, that you’ll look forward to hitting the open road. 

The sporty steering makes for sharp handling and the car moves decisively. I have felt confident all week that it would do what I wanted it to do. It's wide stance also makes it hug the road like an old friend.

However, the suspension is also sporty, aka firm! The padded seats help soften the impact when you hit a bump but you’ll still know it when you hit one. There's also a resonating 'ker-thump' in the cabin, in case you didn't feel it.

The big thing that marred the driving experience for me, at least for a longer trip, is how loud road and wind noise are at higher speeds. It’s loud enough that you need to raise your voice to talk, which I didn’t enjoy.

The Veloce earns back points with how easy it is to park and it handles those stupidly small hotel car parks extremely well.

I don't rate the reversing camera, though. The quality of the image is terrible for this grade-level.

The Stelvio has most of the major items that I like to see on a family car and the standard safety features include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, driver attention monitor, traffic sign recognition, lane keeping aids, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a reversing camera, daytime-running lights, front and rear parking sensors, and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

It's important to note though that the safety systems only scored a 60 per cent with ANCAP.

It has autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and car detection and is operational from 7.0 - 200km/h.

The Veloce has a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating but it was done ages ago in 2017, which means it will expire this December. It also only has six airbags, which is low for a family car but the curtain airbags cover the back row.

There are ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard rear seats and three top tethers in the second row but two seats will fit best.

You can just squeeze a 0-4 rearward facing child seat in but it will encroach on front passenger comfort.

The Touareg comes with a five-year/unlimited km warranty, which is a normal term for the class.

You can pre-purchase either a three-, or five-year servicing plan and both are cheaper than the pay-as-you-go option and are not outrageous for the class.

The three-year or up to 45,000km plan costs $1900 (or an average of $633 per service) and the five-year or up to 75,000km plan costs $3500 (average of $700 per service).

Servicing intervals are reasonable at every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.

The ongoing costs aren’t too shabby on the Stelvio because it comes with a five-year/unlimited km warranty and you also get five years roadside assistance.

It’s a 24/7 complimentary service that covers a host of items but check out the terms and conditions for more information.

There’s capped priced servicing for five years or up to 75,000km, whichever occurs first.

Services cost an average of $573, which is competitive for the class and servicing intervals are good at every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.