Alfa Romeo Stelvio Review 2023
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is a luxury SUV that's a good option for those who like to stand out. With a handsome exterior and an engaging drive, the Stelvio is a good alternative to the typical German rivals.
Rivals to the Stelvio include the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Jaguar F-Pace, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Volvo XC60.
Our Alfa Romeo Stelvio review covers:
- Superb exterior design with traditional Alfa characteristics
- Good interior design and infotainment system is easy to use
- 525-litre boot
- A petrol, diesel, and V6 performance engines available
- Three trim levels: Sprint, Veloce, and Competizione
Pros:
- Unique exterior styling
- Fun to drive
- Practical rotary controller for the infotainment system
Cons:
- Suspension is quite firm
- Rivals have better interior quality
- No hybrid or electric engine options
Like all Alfa's, the Stelvio has an exquisite exterior design. At the front, there's the iconic 'V' shaped front grille, which is complemented by large air intakes and three-bulb LED headlights. Get side on, and you'll notice creases in the bodywork and slick alloy wheels, while there's a rounded rear end. In short, it looks the business.
As an SUV, the Stelvio has a relatively spacious interior, but it slightly falls short of the Audi Q5 and Jaguar F-Pace. You'll have no issues in the front; there's plenty of leg and headroom to get comfortable. However, taller passengers will struggle for room in the rear, and it's more suited towards children.
Climb inside the Stelvio, and you'll find yourself in a smart and well-designed cabin. The steering wheel looks and feels great, and the dashboard is simple to navigate and features a range of soft-touch plastics. The only downside is that as you move down, you find a few too many cheaper materials, making it fall short of the Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60.
On the dash, you get an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a DAB radio, smartphone mirroring, and sat-nav. Our standout feature is that the system can be used via a rotary controller on the centre console, which makes it easy to use when driving. The graphics are okay and responsive, but it's less advanced than its German rivals.
New to 2023 is a digital dial display that displays all the required information with clear graphics. It has three display modes: a standard one, a minimalist one, and a retro twin-dial offering.
Three trim levels are available: Sprint, Veloce, and Competizione.
Sprint has 19-inch dark alloy wheels, techno-leather/cloth seats, aluminium shift paddles, an 8.8-inch infotainment system, a rear-view camera with dynamic grid lines, blind spot monitoring, and heated washer jets.
Veloce has 20-inch alloy wheels, a black gloss DLO, a Vulcano black body kit, sporty leather seats, aluminium interior inserts, and a limited slip differential.
Competizione adds 21-inch alloy wheels, red brake calipers, a Competizione badge, dark tinted rear windows, a Harman Kardon audio system, a leather dashboard and central armrest, and Alfa synaptic dynamic control suspension.
Three engines are available for the Stelvio. The entry-level unit is a 2.2-litre diesel, then there's a 2.0-litre petrol, and the range-topper is the performance V6 Quadrifoglio. All come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and have four-wheel drive.
The 2.2-litre diesel is our pick of the bunch and is best for those looking for a well-balanced engine. Coming with 210hp and achieving 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds, it pulls well from low revs and accelerates up to motorway speeds easily. It also returns the best fuel economy, coming in at around 46mpg.
Those looking for more power will look towards the 2.0-litre petrol unit that has 280hp and shoots from 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds. It'll keep you and your passengers entertained by returning engaging performance on country roads, but it's worth considering that it decreases economy by around 10mpg.
The range-topper is the performance-based Quadrifoglio. A 2.9-litre V6 engine that has a whopping 510hp and shoots from 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds, it's a ridiculously powerful unit that exceeds the Audi SQ5 and even the V8 Jaguar F-Pace. It delivers razor-sharp acceleration, and its handling is superb on country roads. This is the option for those who want a lot of fun on the road and have a lot of money to spare!
The Stelvio is seriously fun to drive on a country road, but it can be frustrating around town. At low speeds, the first thing you'll notice about the Stelvio is that its handling is quite heavy, and it has a firm suspension. Parking in tight spots can be tricky, even with the parking sensors, and you'll feel potholes and bumps in the road.
Get on a motorway or dual carriageway, and the Stelvio is much more comfortable. Again, the suspension is a bit firm, but the engines perform well at cruising speed, which makes for enjoyable long-distance driving.
Find yourself on a country road, and the Stelvio comes to life. All engines return a good punch and handle well, and they feel secure and agile regardless of conditions. If you want maximum fun, upgrade to the Quadrifoglio engine, which has stunning performance and sounds truly amazing.
Prices for the new Alfa Romeo Stelvio start from £45,859.00 OTR* or to lease from £635.38 per month.
Looking to get behind the wheel of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.
Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.
*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.
