Alfa Romeo Stelvio

Alfa Romeo Stelvio: At home off the beaten track

(D)ynamic. (N)atural. (A)ll Weather.

All Alfa Romeo vehicles come with selectable Alfa DNA driving modes...but it’s also a good description of the Stelvio in general, I think.

It’s dynamic to drive with a natural driving position and is good in all weather conditions – just what you want from an SUV.

But the Alfa has more. It’s lovely to look at. One of those cars that you’ll park and have a quick look back at as you’re walking away. Who doesn’t want a bit more style than the usual German offerings, for instance?

And it’s also practical. In general, it’s more powerful, better on fuel and boasts lower emissions than it’s main rivals, on paper at least.

In addition, it’s comfortable, roomy and has a decent boot. Things are looking good….

But it’s an Alfa Romeo – and they’ve earned a reputation for unreliability haven’t they?

Well, it appears that things are changing there too. This is the new breed of Alfa – and they don’t fare any worse up to now than of their rivals in the JD Power Survey.

So could this be an Alfa Romeo that you might actually want to buy? I’d have to say a resounding yes!

Our test car was the Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.0 Turbo Petrol 280 hp Q4 AWD Milano Edizione, a launch specification that’s only available with this engine and the 207bhp diesel.

Specifications for this model include 20in alloys, electrically adjustable and heated leather sports seats, front & rear parking sensors, reversing camera, heated steering wheel, fixed aluminium shift paddles and a sat-nav system which implements a 3D street view. A powered tailgate and hilldescent control also feature. What’s it like?

Inside the cabin, it’s pretty good news. The leather sports seats are firm yet comfortable, the rather large side bolsters hugging you nicely and giving a hint of the ‘sportyness’ that underlies this Alfa. They provide a great driving position too.

The dash is minimalist and clean, a look straight out of the Giulia saloon...the flat bottomed, heated leather steering wheel and aluminium gearshift paddles further confirming this vehicle’s sporty aspirations. A central knob controls the built-in infotainment system which is easy to use (though not quite as snappy as it could be). Connecting my iPhone to the system was a breeze and everything seemed to work well. Music from the afore-mentioned device was delivered through the upgraded Harmon Kardon 10 speaker audio system - and it sounded very good. A subwoofer in the boot area giving a nice bass response.

Materials throughout are just about premium in feel – a big step up for Alfa, yet there are a couple of places where you’d perhaps hope for slightly better materials…I’d like to have seen a stitched leather dash finish for example, rather than the soft touch finish that is the norm. Switchgear didn’t feel flimsy but certain items could have felt more expensive and weighty, like the main control knob for example.

A decent sized storage area resides under the armrest and offers USB sockets to charge devices and an aux in socket.

In the back, there’s decent leg room for adults but although there is seating for three, I can’t imagine that the middle seat passenger would find things quite so comfy. There’s access to a couple of USB charging ports here too, which are welcome.

The electric tailgate is an expected feature which always proves useful and provides access to the ample boot space. This is flat and has no lip, making it great for loading & unloading – the seats also fold leaving no obtrusive bump and opening up the load carrying area to a very decent volume. There isn’t any under-floor storage here though - a ‘get you home’ spare resides in the well under the floor.

Overall then, the Stelvio’s cabin is not a bad place to be. With a few extra touches and perhaps an upgrade to some of the plastics, this could rival any of the other offerings in the segment. The optional sunroof might be a good addition in order to make the cabin feel lighter, however, you may sacrifice a little bit of headroom with this.

But it’s on the road where the Stelvio really shines. On the road

The 280hp petrol engine mated to the ZF 8 speed auto (the same type BMW uses in the X3 and Jaguar in the F-Pace) is a very sweet combination providing a powerful yet smooth drive. Pop the DNA selector into (D)ynamic mode and the Stelvio transforms again into a much more fun and engaging ride. Gearshifts are more urgent, the engine is more free revving and everything tightens up to whisk you along at a pace that you can’t help but smile about.

And the steering. The steering is sublime...sharp, quick...it almost reads your mind. It really does change the perception that you have of a large SUV. It shouldn’t be this nimble and agile. But it is. Yes, the Stelvio has been put on a diet, weighing in at just 1660kg through the use of lightweight materials such as aluminium and such but….it feels lighter than it should, it’s sure footed and there is minimal lean around corners. A claimed 5.7 sec 0-62 mph time doesn’t seem outlandish. It is quick.

With a towbar fitted, I’m sure that it it would make light work of any load, there’s that much power and torque. A Quadrafoglio version boasting 503hp will become available soon providing ludicrous power to weight ratios to rival any SUV out there. We look forward to the opportunity to test that beast.

And the Stelvio stops as well as it goes, although it might take a little practice to get used to the electro-mechanical system in use here. Initially, you’ll be testing the limits before settling on the correct braking regime.

Ride quality is also unexpectedly good...though firm. Yes, things can get a little jiggly over particularly bad road surfaces but in the main, the Stelvio keeps it’s manners, soaking up bumps and speed humps in its stride.

The Q4 all-wheel drive system offers obvious benefits under more inclement weather conditions and provides a certain amount of offroad ability though this isn’t going to be quite in the same league as a Land Rover, clearly. But it isn’t supposed to be.

There’s a definite rear wheel bias, with up to 50% of the power being distributed to the front wheels when required. This worked very well inpractice when driving down muddy tracks and wet tarmac stretches.

Safety-wise, the Stelvio managed a full five-star rating when it was tested by Euro NCAP. Final thoughts

Alfa Romeo seem to be back and the Stelvio is a very well built SUV. Offering a more stylish and sportier alternative to rival models from the likes of BMW, Mercedes and Audi, this tempting mix in the form of Stelvio should appeal to those who might want to dare to be different. Driving to the next agricultural event shouldn’t be this much fun...and seeing the admiring glances of the people who ‘know’ would be priceless.

The others who ‘don’t know’ will stick to their usual rides...and their in-ground Alfa predjudices.

Remember when the likes of Skoda and Kia were frowned upon?

It’s too soon, perhaps, to say with confidence that the Stelvio will be last thing in reliability. A longer term test would be very useful to establish this. But for now, things are looking pretty good for this new Alfa Romeo SUV and it was a sad day when it had to be returned. I have to say that I was somewhat won over and enjoyed this drive more than I realised.

This particular model has an OTR price of £45,405 (£46,950 with the options fitted)

Andrew Poulton, Editor