Alfa Romeo Stelvio in the test
Alfa Romeo came to the SUV relatively late, but with success: Without the Stelvio, the brand would probably have already sunk into insignificance. The Stelvio is one of the mid-range SUVs and is supposed to meet the highest demands. In terms of price, it also plays in the same league as the German premium manufacturers. Can the pretty, powerfully motorized and expensive Italian keep up? The answer is surprisingly clear.
Alfa Romeo derives the name of the Stelvio, which has been available since 2017, from the "Passo dello Stelvio", the highest Italian mountain pass at 2,757 meters. In Germany, we know it better as the "Stelvio Pass". The naming after one of the most attractive mountain roads in the Alps could certainly be understood as an Alfa announcement. With the mid-size SUV, the Italians had big plans from the beginning. To some extent, they have been fulfilled, the Stelvio sells significantly better than the technically closely related Giulia sedan.
Prices and features
Alfa Romeo provides us with the version with the most powerful diesel. The 2.2-liter engine produces 210 hp and always comes with all-wheel drive and eight-speed automatic transmission. This much in advance: The powerful, sovereign drive is certainly the best choice among three petrol engines and two diesel engines on offer. However, this is also a matter of course, the fun is an expensive pleasure. This is partly due to the fact that the engine is only delivered with the Lusso equipment variants, which are relatively high up in the price list, in a rather sporty design and Veloce in a more comfortable design.
Alfa is calling for around 57,500 euros for both models. The test car even costs 66,480 euros with some, mostly sensible additional equipment. However, measured against what is on offer, this seems appropriate in a segment comparison. The Stelvio convinces. Together with the Giulia sedan, the Alfa SUV represents the best that the Fiat Group currently has to offer in terms of technology. A lot of effort has gone into this car.
Interior: Elegant but a bit bland
You can see and feel it immediately after getting in. Inside, the Alfa Stelvio has a tidy cockpit with logically arranged control surfaces, buttons and switches. This is definitely worth mentioning, because for a long time this was not a matter of course for Italian models. In the Stelvio, things are exemplary neat, almost "German". However, this also has a perceived disadvantage: the cockpit, which is predominantly black but accentuated by fine chrome surrounds, does not exactly cause heart palpitations. The Italian lightness is somewhat missing.
Body: Pretty, but not extremely practical
The exterior design is more impressive. Tastefully distributed body pleats, a sporty sloping roofline and, last but not least, the small Scudetto (shield) with the Alfa emblem at the front give the Alfa SUV a very special, elegant character. In addition, the Stelvio with its tight body overhangs stands nicely on the road. The beauty also has a disadvantage: getting into the rear is not very comfortable. In general, it is rather cramped at the back of the head. Other SUVs in this size class offer more family transporter quality. Especially since Alfa Romeo theoretically designs the rear bench for three, but in fact only for two. The cardan tunnel necessary for all-wheel drive practically nullifies the third seat.
Drive: Powerful and economical
This makes it clear that this SUV is more about driving than practical use. The 2.2-liter diesel gets down to business right from the start. It develops its maximum torque of 470 Newton meters at 1,750 rpm, but there is always enough power available even at lower or higher revs, at least up to 3,000 rpm. The diesel engine works clearly audibly, but those who enjoy driving should of course also hear their engine. The large Alfa is surprisingly economical. After all, the engine has to move a curb weight of 1.8 tonnes.
Our practical consumption of just over 6 liters is therefore quite exemplary, especially since we do not drive the Alfa cautiously in every situation, but sometimes drive longer distances a little more boldly on the highway. A maximum of 215 km/h is possible with the powerful diesel, and the Stelvio reaches 100 km/h from a standstill in 6.6 seconds. These are good values, but they also show that Alfa has fortunately not forcibly trimmed this SUV for sportiness. The typical Alfa driving dynamics control DNA with its settings for "Dynamics", "Normal" and "Advanced Efficiency" is thankfully part of the standard equipment. The latter setting is supposed to save fuel, but robs us of too much driving pleasure for our taste. With "Normal", on the other hand, you always drive well, perhaps with the exception of deliberately dynamic driving passages.
Handling: A tad too nervous
The smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF proves to be very attentive. Alfa Romeo designs the steering very precisely, almost a little too direct. This helps the active driver, but can almost be a bit annoying on longer motorway sections. Overall, the Stelvio is not only surprisingly manageable for its size. Thanks to its very well-tuned chassis, it hardly shows any weaknesses in handling. Only when it gets very tight, or you even have to turn, does a major disadvantage of the all-wheel drive become apparent: The turning circle of 11.75 meters is not exactly small. It feels even bigger, and when turning, the Alfa seems downright cumbersome. This does not quite match its handiness in everyday life, as long as it is mostly straight ahead.
Conclusion: Alfa keeps up
Overall, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio amazes us with its capabilities. It offers enough space for a family, also thanks to the 525-liter trunk. At the same time, it does not become too farm animal-like in its appearance. The large diesel engine delights with power and even more so with its economy. In addition, the entire vehicle makes a high-quality impression. The negligence in workmanship feared "by the Italian" cannot be found.
However, Alfa pays very well for the drive, equipment and quality. At the price of the test car, you get similarly motorized noble SUVs from German manufacturers. For example, an Audi Q5 or a BMW X3. However, the Stelvio offers more equipment at a similar price, a four-year warranty and an absolutely competitive value. And on top of that, the good feeling of driving a car that is rather rare in this country. Especially since the 57,500 euro list price is not the last word in practice: On mobile.de, new Stelvio 2.2 Diesel Veloce can be found for just over 46,000 euros (as of February 2021).
| Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.2 Diesel Veloce | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Length | 4.69 meters |
| Width | 1.90 meters |
| Height | 1.69 meters |
| Wheelbase | 2.82 meters |
| Trunk | 525-1,600 litres |
| Engine | 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesel |
| Achievement | 154 kW/210 hp |
| Torque | 470 Nm |
| Drive | All-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Eight-speed automatic |
| 0-100 km/h | 6.6 s |
| Vmax | 215 km/h |
| Standard consumption | 5.5 – 5.7 l/100 km |
| CO2 | 144-150 g/km (NEDC) / 162-182 g/km (WLTP) |
| Price Alfa Stelvio | from 42,890 euros |
| Price of the test car | 66,480 euros |