After forcing Google to open up Android to third-party app stores, the EU is back with a new target, and this time it’s Gemini‘s home-field advantage. The European Commission ordered Google on July 16 to give rival AI apps the same deep access to Android that’s currently exclusive to Gemini. The order falls under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), and it directs Google to stop treating its own assistant as a first-class citizen on a platform it controls.
What Google now has to hand over
Under the ruling, Google must allow competing AI apps to respond to voice triggers on Android the same way Gemini does, meaning users should be able to summon ChatGPT or Claude with similar wake words. Google also has to let those apps complete tasks across the device, including other apps and background processes, and give them the same access to context from apps and sensors that Gemini already uses to offer proactive help.
The access even extends to hardware and on-device AI models, resources that currently only Gemini gets to use. Google has until August 1, 2027, to build all of this out, and it hasn’t taken to it kindly, warning the changes put user privacy and security at risk.
Google is complying, while Apple is stuck in limbo
Apple hit a similar wall with the EU earlier this year. The DMA’s interoperability rules would have required Apple to give competing AI services the same access to Siri and iOS that Apple Intelligence features get. Apple says it spent months negotiating alternative proposals, all of which EU regulators rejected, and confirmed Siri AI won’t be included when iOS 27 launches in the EU, sharing no timeline for when it might arrive.
Rachit Agarwal / Digital Trends
Google is taking the opposite approach, building out access instead of pulling Gemini’s AI features from the region. So nothing changes for Android users in the EU right away. Gemini will keep its head start until the 2027 deadline hits, but the countdown on that advantage has already started.
How this ruling could lighten the load on your wallet
The most immediate benefit here is choice. If you’re already using ChatGPT or Claude, this ruling means those apps could eventually do things on your Android phone that only Gemini can do today. You wouldn’t have to switch to Gemini to get that level of integration.
However, that level of access won’t necessarily be free. Some of Gemini’s most capable features, like screen automation, have limits based on your subscription tier. If ChatGPT and Claude build out similar Android integration, there’s a good chance their versions will come with the same kind of paywall.
That’s where cheaper alternatives could matter. Models coming out of China, including DeepSeek, Kimi, and MiniMax, cost far less to run than Gemini, ChatGPT, or Claude, anywhere from ten to a hundred times cheaper, depending on the model. Similar functionality built using these models could cost users a fraction of a typical subscription, once the same level of Android access becomes available to them.
Whether that happens is still up in the air. What’s certain is that Google no longer gets to make that decision alone.
Luxury SUVs have become incredibly good at almost everything, but that’s also made a lot of them feel the same. Big screens, plush cabins, and effortless speed are easy to find, while genuine personality is much harder.
That’s exactly where the Alfa Romeo Stelvio stands apart. It delivers the kind of sharp handling, distinctive styling, and driver-focused feel that many mainstream luxury SUVs have gradually moved away from.
Better still, it doesn’t demand the kind of budget you’d expect. Whether you’re buying new or used, the Stelvio offers an engaging alternative to the usual German choices without the eye-watering price tag.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Alfa Romeo and other authoritative sources, including Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, and TopSpeed.
These 10 luxury SUVs offer top-tier reliability in 2025, combining premium comfort with proven durability for a worry-free ownership experience.
Luxury SUVs have lost their spark
Many German rivals now favor comfort over driver engagement
Credit: Mercedes-Benz
Luxury means different things to different drivers. For some, it’s all about plush seats and cutting-edge tech, while others care more about how a vehicle feels when the road starts to twist.
That’s where many modern luxury SUVs have changed. They’re quicker than ever and loaded with screens, but a lot of them feel bigger, heavier, and more isolated than the driver-focused machines that helped build their reputations.
Drivers want character again
Credit: NetCarShow.com
Not every luxury buyer wants another SUV that looks and drives like everything else on the road. More enthusiasts are searching for something with real personality, sharp steering, and styling that stands out instead of blending in.
That’s opened the door for alternatives like Alfa Romeo. It delivers the kind of emotional driving experience many shoppers feel has been missing from some of the more established German brands.
Digital-first philosophy that prioritizes the in-vehicle experience as the new definition of luxury.
The Stelvio still puts driving first
It delivers the agility many luxury SUVs have left behind
The Stelvio proves you don’t have to spend German luxury money to get a premium SUV that feels genuinely special. Between its unmistakable styling and the choice of rear- or all-wheel drive, it delivers the kind of driver engagement that’s becoming increasingly rare in the segment.
It carries over the same personality that makes the Giulia sedan so appealing, but packages it in a more practical SUV that’s just as easy to live with every day.
Base Trim Engine
2L I4 ICE
Base Trim Transmission
8-speed automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
280 HP @5200 RPM
Base Trim Torque
306 lb.-ft. @ 2000 RPM
Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
22/28/24 MPG
Make
Alfa Romeo
Model
Stelvio
Segment
Compact Luxury SUV
The 2026 Stelvio may be down to a single trim, but it hasn’t lost the athletic character that made it stand out in the first place. Its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder sends 280 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed automatic, delivering plenty of punch for everyday driving.
On paper, those numbers won’t blow away the competition. Out on the road, though, the Stelvio’s lighter feel and eager handling make it one of the most rewarding luxury SUVs to drive.
Italian style you won’t find in German SUVs
Credit: NetCarShow.com
Italian design is part of the Stelvio’s appeal from every angle. Its flowing lines and unmistakable styling help it stand out in a sea of luxury SUVs that increasingly look alike.
Inside, the cabin mixes sporty character with everyday comfort, thanks to supportive leather seats, aluminum trim, and a driver-focused layout. Clever touches like a smartphone slot between the cupholders and extra storage by the driver’s knee add a welcome dose of practicality without taking away from its personality.
If you’re after curb appeal with a side of passion, this Italian stunner is calling.
The Stelvio is cheaper to own than you’d think
Used prices undercut German luxury rivals
Credit: NetCarShow.com
The Stelvio takes a big depreciation hit early on, losing well over $17,000 in its first year. That’s bad news for the original owner, but great news if you’re shopping used, where the savings can be substantial.
A new 2026 Stelvio starts at $49,995, but a lightly older model can deliver a lot more value. The 2020 model, the third year of the current generation, originally retailed for between $44,695 and $83,195, yet now sells for roughly $16,500 to $33,200, with the range-topping Quadrifoglio offering supercar-rivalling performance for a fraction of its original price.
The Quadrifoglio is where things get serious
Credit: Alfa Romeo
If you look at the 2020 Stelvio or any year that includes the Quadrifoglio, you’ll find a broader trim lineup than the current 2026 model offers. Back in 2020, there were seven trims in total, including the range-topping version.
The Quadrifoglio is where things really escalate, using a Ferrari-derived 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6 that produces 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. It comes with standard AWD and requires premium 91-octane fuel, but the trade-off is serious performance that puts it in another league.
This monstrous machine leaves sports cars in its dust.
Luxury without the overcomplication
More driving feel, less tech overload
Credit: NetCarShow.com
The Stelvio’s cabin keeps things refreshingly simple, with a clean layout and tactile controls that feel like a break from the screen-heavy interiors of most modern luxury SUVs. It doesn’t try to look like a fighter jet cockpit—just a space that lets you focus on driving without distractions.
That said, it’s not stuck in the past. The 2024 update brought a 12.3-inch digital driver display for clearer info, paired with a more modest 8.8-inch infotainment screen. You still get both touch input and a rotary controller on the center console, giving you modern connectivity without overcomplicating the experience.
Performance that still works daily
Straight-line speed still matters, and the current Stelvio gets from 0–60 mph in 5.3 seconds with a 144 mph top speed. Step up to the Quadrifoglio and things get serious, with 0–60 mph dropping to 3.3 seconds and a claimed 176 mph top speed.
It’s not just about performance either. You still get 18.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 56.5 cubic feet with them folded down, plus enough room for four adults to travel comfortably—whether that’s a weekend getaway or a golf trip with friends.
This EV SUV surprised me—it’s packed with space and comfort, even if the drive itself is a bit mellow.
Why the Stelvio is a smart used buy
Enthusiasts are catching on
Credit: Alfa Romeo
Driving the Alfa Romeo Stelvio—no matter the model year—is a big part of its appeal. It looks the part too, with standout styling inside and out, plus enough performance to make an open road genuinely enjoyable.
At the same time, it doesn’t forget it’s an SUV, offering enough practicality for a small family weekend away with gear in tow. That mix of character, usability, and driver focus is exactly why it stands out in a sea of lookalike SUVs, built around the idea that driving should still feel like the main event rather than something filtered through screens.
Character that’s getting hard to find
Credit: Alfa Romeo
What really sets the Stelvio apart from most luxury SUVs is its sense of character. Instead of being built around tech overload or comfort-first isolation, it’s designed with driving enjoyment at its core.
The steering is sharp and unusually communicative for an SUV, and the chassis feels eager to turn in. Add in its distinctive Italian styling, and it brings a level of personality most rivals in this segment simply don’t match.
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