Overview
Those who value curb appeal and engaging driving dynamics will feel perfectly at home behind the wheel of the charismatically stylish and impressively agile Alfa Romeo Stelvio crossover. Its balanced chassis is complemented by a punchy turbo-four that hits above its weight class, offering power delivery that feels more like a beefy V-6. The snappy eight-speed transmission compliments the engine with smooth operation and quick shifts. Rear-wheel drive is standard for the base Sprint model, while all other trims get all-wheel drive. We appreciate the Stelvio’s design and performance, but we found its luxury and utility to be a bit lacking. Cabin materials aren’t quite up to snuff when compared to rivals such as the more affordable Genesis GV70, and the 8.8-inch infotainment screen looks outdated. The rear seat is a bit cramped, and cargo room is limited—the BMW X3 offers 10 more cubic-feet of space behind the rear seats. Although the Stelvio lags behind competitors when it comes to practicality, it’s still worthy of consideration for shoppers who appreciate its sporty Italian flare.
What’s New for 2024?
For 2024, the Stelvio gets a new 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster that can be set to three different configurations: Evolved, Relax, and Heritage. Alfa has made slight tweaks to the front fascia, including the repositioning of the logo and revisions to the two bottom air ducts. The Italian crossover also gets cool new headlights with LED matrix technology and “3+3” accent lights, giving the Stelvio the same lighting signature as the new, smaller Tonale. The taillights have also been updated with rearranged LED elements. Alfa has shown a new Competizione model as well but hasn’t indicated whether it’s coming to the U.S. market.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
We think the Stelvio Ti is the one to get. It comes standard with all-wheel drive, which is an extra-cost option on the entry-level Sprint trim. The Ti adds desirable standard features that include larger 19-inch wheels, built-in navigation, a sunroof, and more available options. Most paint colors cost extra, and there’s a variety of wheel designs. We’d stick with the stock wheels and opt for the Performance package (aluminum paddle shifters, limited-slip differential), and the Premium package (14-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, leather dashboard and upper doors).
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Stelvio’s turbocharged four-cylinder sends a hearty 280 horsepower through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The engine was effortlessly quick in our testing and during daily driving, and we were particularly fond of its responsive throttle and smooth power delivery. Its raspy exhaust note sounded enthusiastic and appropriate for this application. Those seeking even greater thrills should look to the high-performance Quadrifoglio, which we review separately. Rear-wheel drive is standard on the base model, but all-wheel drive is optional there and standard on the rest of the lineup. Towing capacity is 3000 pounds. In addition to its lively powertrain, the Stelvio boasts athletic handling and a compliant ride. The version we tested was equipped with 20-inch wheels, and yet it provided sufficient isolation from all but the harshest bumps. Although its maximum cornering grip is similar to rivals, the Alfa is the alpha dog when it comes to driving engagement. The chassis, which is shared with the Giulia sedan, has damping that’s composed and comfortable. Although the Stelvio’s steering isn’t as sharp as the Giulia’s, its light effort and quick reflexes are still exceptional—especially for a crossover.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Although the Stelvio’s real-world fuel economy and highway range are unremarkable, they align with four-cylinder competitors. The EPA has yet to release ratings for the 2024 model year, but we expect figures to remain the same. For 2023, the rear-drive model was rated at 22 mpg city and 29 highway. Adding all-wheel drive drops that highway rating by 1 mpg. The Stelvio we ran on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, returned 26 mpg. Rival such as the X3 and the Lexus RX are thriftier at the pump. For more information about the Stelvio’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Like the Giulia sedan, the Stelvio offers a stylish interior and a comfortable driving position. Sportier models can be had with carbon-fiber trim, but those seeking a more upscale appearance can choose wood inlays. The supportive front seats are upholstered in leather, and handsome aluminum accents adorn the dash, doors, and center console. The Stelvio has some useful storage tricks up its Italian sleeve, but with a small cargo area behind the back seat, it’s not the most capacious crossover among this set. Although the Alfa’s other cubbies only held average amounts, we appreciated the useful smartphone slot between its cupholders and the tray near the driver’s left knee. The center console also has a nifty removable tray at the bottom.
Infotainment and Connectivity
For 2024, the Stelvio gets a new 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster that can be set to three different configurations: Evolved, Relax, and Heritage. The infotainment system still only comes in one size—8.8 inches—and responds to touch inputs as well as the handy rotary controller on the center console as a redundant control. Built-in navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are standard. We found the infotainment system to be visually attractive, but navigation alerts occasionally occurred too late, resulting in missed turns. Using one of the two standard smartphone-integration interfaces for navigation solves this minor issue.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The Italian-bred crossover has a host of standard driver assists. For more information about the Stelvio’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Standard adaptive cruise control
- Standard blind-spot monitoring
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Despite the company’s reputation for reliability woes, Alfa Romeo endows the Stelvio with average warranty coverage.
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for one year or 10,000 miles
Specifications
Specifications
2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, rear- or all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
BASE PRICE
$42,640
ENGINE TYPE
turbocharged and intercooled SOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement
122 cu in, 1993 cc
Power
280 hp @ 5200 rpm
Torque
306 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 110.9 in
Length: 184.6 in
Width: 74.9 in
Height: 66.0 in
Passenger volume: 89 cu ft
Cargo volume: 19 cu ft
Curb weight (C/D est): 3950–4050 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 5.3–5.5 sec
100 mph: 14.6–15.1 sec
¼-mile: 14.0–14.4 sec
Top speed: 144 mph
EPA FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST)
Combined/city/highway: 24–25/22/28–29 mpg
