2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Review

　　

2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Review

by the zzdcar Experts

　　Most people who shop for an SUV are thinking about maximizing utility. Performance and general athleticism tend to be afterthoughts. But a few SUVs cater to those who want baked-in performance and personality. One of the better ones is the 2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$188/mo  for Stelvio Base

　　Stelvio Base

　　4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $41,400 MSRP4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $43,400 MSRPSport 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $42,850 MSRPSport 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $44,850 MSRPTi 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $45,800 MSRPTi Sport 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $48,300 MSRPTi Lusso 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $48,300 MSRPTi Sport Carbon 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $52,300 MSRPQuadrifoglio 4dr SUV AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $80,500 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　The Stelvio's performance and personality are inherited directly from the Alfa Romeo Giulia sport sedan, with which the Stelvio shares its underpinnings and engines. This connection provides a liveliness to the Stelvio that sets it apart from most of its mundane competition. The Stelvio can put a smile on your face even in its base trim level, to say nothing of what the mental 505-horsepower Quadrifoglio can do.

　　Prioritizing all that fun has led to a few compromises. Cargo space is subpar, for instance, and the Stelvio's technology features aren't as innovative or useful as what you'll find on rival SUVs such as the BMW X3, Mercedes GLC and Porsche Macan. But this Italian luxury SUV has an undeniable charm and a twinkle in its headlights. It deserves a look.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.3

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Stelvio drive? The Stelvio is an SUV for people who love driving with a strong and responsive engine, sporty transmission, and engaging handling. Power delivery from the four-cylinder engine is urgent, and you'll be hard-pressed to feel the difference between the Stelvio and some vehicles with bigger engines. Our as-tested 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds puts the Stelvio within half a second of some heavy hitters.

　　While the brakes also perform well, they respond inconsistently to input at low speeds. As far as venturing off-road, the Stelvio is all-wheel-drive and comes with hill descent control, but it's meant to be driven on the road. There's not much clearance, for starters, and there are no all-terrain modes as some SUV competitors have.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Stelvio? Ride quality is impressive for a sporty crossover. The Stelvio absorbs sharper bumps and road imperfections yet still feels connected to the road. It can get bouncy, especially on uneven concrete-slab freeways. Around town, it's one of the more comfortable sport-oriented crossovers.

　　The Stelvio's seats are also sculpted for support, keeping us comfortable for long stints. But they aren't cushy. The leather is on the stiff side, the headrests are brick-hard, and the seat cushions are a bit short for long-legged drivers. Road and tire noise is muted, especially for a sporty SUV.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The Stelvio has pleasing ergonomics and a useful amount of passenger space for both front and rear passengers. The controls are clearly marked and easy to find, and basic infotainment functions are streamlined.

　　The biggest demerit is poor visibility due to the thick roof pillars. The rear-quarter view over the shoulder, in particular, is obstructed, and the view through the small rear window is limited. Fortunately, the large side mirrors make up for some of the obstruction.

　　

Technology

6.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The Stelvio's technology is cleanly integrated, but there's no question it lags the competition. A good adaptive cruise system and high-quality stereo aside, it's clear that technology isn't the Stelvio's focus. In our testing, Bluetooth took a surprisingly long time to boot up. We also had issues accessing music on phones via USB.

　　

Storage

6.0/10

　　How’s the storage? One of the Stelvio's biggest compromises is practicality. The cargo space is narrow, and total cargo volume falls short of class leaders. There are a number of interior cubbies, but most are small and of limited usefulness.

　　The Stelvio's rear seat is big enough for family duty. For child safety seats, the car seat anchor points are clearly marked and easy to access thanks to plastic covers, so you won't have to dig in between the seat cushions. But bulky rear-facing infant seats will infringe on the front seat's range of motion.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The regular Stelvio AWD gets an EPA-estimated 24 mpg in combined city/highway driving, which is pretty good for a sporty SUV. On our 115-mile mixed-driving evaluation route, we averaged 23.5 mpg. That's a decent result, but we suspect the Stelvio might be a little thirstier in the real world than the lab.

　　

Value

6.5/10

　　Is the Stelvio a good value? The Alfa Romeo is a mixed value proposition. On the one hand, you can get a great driver's SUV for less than many competitors. But even fully loaded, it lacks a lot of features found on other SUVs. There's also the question of reliability and longevity, which already seems somewhat questionable. We noticed some creaks and rattles in the cabin and had issues with several electronic systems.

　　

Wildcard

9.0/10

　　The Stelvio feels lively and eager on the road, and it encourages you to keep driving and push just a little harder. If you want a fun and sporty SUV and don't mind giving up some practicality and technology, it's a great pick. The Stelvio's distinctive styling helps it stand out too.

　　

Which Stelvio does zzdcar recommend?

We think the sweet spot of the Stelvio range is the midgrade Ti thanks to its standard all-wheel drive and extra features such as heated front seats. To that, we'd add the Active Driver Assist package that has useful safety features such as adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist. You could also consider getting the Performance package if you want to up the Stelvio's sporting character.

　　

2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio models

The 2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is available in four main trim levels; Stelvio RWD, Stelvio AWD, Stelvio Ti AWD and Stelvio Quadrifoglio. There's a long list of standard equipment, even for the base model, and many appearance options are available across most trim levels for extra personalization.

　　The Stelvio RWD, AWD and Ti AWD are powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (280 horsepower, 306 lb-ft of torque) and use an eight-speed automatic transmission. Standard equipment includes 18-inch wheels, a power liftgate, power-adjustable front seats, leather upholstery, an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment screen, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

　　The Ti AWD gains a few extra features and unlocks access to the broadest variety of option packages. The Active Driver Assist package is the main one you should consider getting.

　　The Stelvio Quadrifoglio ups the ante in both power and equipment. Power comes from a turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 engine (505 hp, 443 lb-ft of torque) and is routed through all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Sportier interior appointments, as well as appearance packages specific to the Quadrifoglio, are also available.

　　

2020 Stelvio Highlights

Type: QuadrifoglioSUVSUV

　　Trim: BaseSportTiTi SportTi LussoTi Sport CarbonQuadrifoglioBase

　　

Base MSRP	$41,400
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$188/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	18.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles