Used Alfa Romeo buying guide
About Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo was founded in 1910 in Milan, Italy, and boasts an impressive racing heritage. This sporting pedigree has also influenced its road cars, leading to decades of remarkable performers. The 1960s saw the introduction of the iconic Alfa Romeo Spider roadster. During the 1970s, Alfa collaborated with renowned Italian design houses such as Zagato, Pininfarina, and Bertone to create some truly stunning vehicles. In the late 1990s, Alfa Romeo was sold to Fiat, and today, it offers a range of sporty options for buyers seeking something a bit different.
Alfa Romeo FAQs
Alongside the 4C sports car (2015-2020), there are several other Alfa Romeo models available. The Tonale is a compact SUV that shares its platform with the Dodge Hornet. The Stelvio SUV is slightly larger but also considered a compact. If you're after a sedan, the Giulia is a compact executive car.
No, but there is a connection. Ferrari's founder, Enzo Ferrari, was a driver for the Alfa Romeo racing team in the 1920s and later managed the team. The brand was originally called ALFA until Nicola Romeo acquired it. Ownership shifted among various entities, including the Italian government, until the Fiat Group bought the company in the 1990s. Today, the parent company is Stellantis, which owns 14 brands, including Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, RAM, and Fiat.
Historically, Alfa Romeo was not known for its reliability. However, this perception has changed as many key components are shared with other brands. For instance, several Jeep models also use the base 2.0L engine found in the Stelvio and Giulia. Due to Alfa Romeo offering performance models, the average annual maintenance cost, according to RepairPal, is $834, higher than most automakers.
Alfa Romeo sold the two-seat 4C sports car in the U.S. from 2015 to 2020 but has since focused on four- and five-passenger vehicles. The subcompact Tonale SUV offers a small SUV with Italian flair. If you need more room, the Stelvio SUV has additional room for passengers and cargo. The handsome Giulia sedan is built on the same platform and delivers sporty performance with a luxury interior. Ramp up to the Quadrifoglio trim of the Stelvio or Giulia, and you'll get an impressive twin-turbo engine.
No, while Alfa Romeo and Porsche have raced against each other many times, Porsche does not own Alfa Romeo. The Fiat Group acquired the company in the 1990s. The parent company is Stellantis, which encompasses 14 brands, including Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, RAM, and Fiat.
Compare used Alfa Romeo models
Alfa Romeo offers two SUVs in their current lineup, but the Alfa Romeo Tonale and Alfa Romeo Stelvio are quite different in many ways. The Stelvio is the original SUV from Alfa Romeo, offering a lively, turbocharged engine producing 280 horsepower. It is an engaging driver's SUV that focuses more on driver experience than fuel economy or cargo space as it shares a platform with the sporty Guila sedan. The Tonale is a smaller SUV that's down on space and luxury content when compared to the Stelvio. It will still offer Alfa Romeo's signature driving dynamics, but in a smaller package. Ultimately, if you need more passenger and cargo space, the Stelvio is superior; if you frequently navigate smaller parking spaces or tight city streets, the Tonale may be a better match.
Check out our model comparison tool to help you find the right fit for you.
While both the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Alfa Romeo Stelvio share a performance-focused platform, they deliver Alfa Romeo's signature driving excitement in very different ways. The Giulia is a beautifully designed sedan with a focus on driving experience, offering great handling characteristics. Being a sedan, it offers less cargo capacity than the Stelvio, but comes with a more elegant design. The Stelvio offers the Alfa Romeo experience as an SUV, with a higher ride height and more cargo space than the Giulia. It is still fun to drive, but it is not as capable as the Giulia when it comes to performance metrics. If performance and driving experience are your primary concern, the Giulia is likely a better fit for your needs. That said, the Stelvio delivers a similar experience in a more practical package.
If you are unsure, use our model comparison tool to help find the right fit for you.
The Alfa Romeo Tonale and Alfa Romeo Giulia both offer the driving excitement the Alfa brand is known for, though they deliver the experience in different ways. The Tonale is a small SUV built on a platform shared with the Dodge Hornet. It's powered by a four-cylinder turbocharged engine, which is slightly less powerful than the Giulia's. The Tonale has a higher ride height and a more versatile cargo area than the Giulia. While the Tonale is better for cargo and ride height, the Giulia sedan is much more capable in terms of performance and driver engagement. Its more powerful engine is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission with either rear- or all-wheel drive. The Tonale is a better pick if you need SUV ride height and space, but the Giulia will be more satisfying if you're focused on the driving experience.
Still unsure? Use our model comparison tool to help you choose.
RepairPal reliability ratings
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features. RepairPal Reliability Ratings are provided by RepairPal and CarMax is not responsible for their accuracy. These ratings are based on RepairPal Reliability data as of August 2023. Learn more about RepairPal reliability ratings.
Unless otherwise noted, information related to these featured vehicles comes from third-party sources, including manufacturer information. We make every effort to provide accurate information, but please verify before purchasing. Product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of third-party entities. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by these entities. We hope you found this information helpful. This content is intended to inform and is not meant to indicate that a particular vehicle is currently available or recommended for you.
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are provided by RepairPal and CarMax is not responsible for their accuracy. These ratings are based on RepairPal Reliability data as of 3/18/2025. Learn more at repairpal.com/reliability.
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Various factors may impact towing capacity, including weight of passengers, cargo, and options/accessories.
We hope you found this information helpful. This content is intended to inform and is not meant to indicate that a particular vehicle is currently available or recommended for you.
Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
Unless otherwise noted, information related to featured vehicles comes from third-party sources, including manufacturer information. Product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of third-party entities. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by these entities. By clicking on any video links, you will be taken to a third-party site maintained by YouTube, Inc.
We make every effort to provide accurate information, but please verify before purchasing.