2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Review

　　

2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is a small luxury SUV that aims to blend a premium feel with engaging driving characteristics all in a practical package. It certainly stands out in a crowd thanks to sharp looks that draw heavily from Alfa Romeo's other models, especially the Giulia sedan. It doesn't take long behind the wheel to see just where the engineers behind the Stelvio really put their resources. After a minor update in 2020 that included a new infotainment system and a revised interior, the Stelvio heads into 2021 without any significant changes.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Sprint 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 Sprint

　　Stelvio Sprint

　　Sprint 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $42,350 MSRPSprint 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $44,350 MSRPTi 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $47,600 MSRPTi Sport 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $50,800 MSRPQuadrifoglio 4dr SUV AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $81,250 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　We don't think the Stelvio has quite the premium and luxurious feel of the class leaders, but there are few SUVs in any class that are as enjoyable to drive as this Alfa. That's especially true in the frankly bonkers Quadrifoglio trim that will give any SUV from Porsche, Mercedes-AMG or BMW's M division a run for its money. Want to know more? Check out the in-depth evaluation categories of our Expert Rating to learn more about this year's Stelvio.

　　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. For starters, there's not much clearance, 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 nicely 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 it falls short of class leaders in total cargo volume. 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 recommend going with the midlevel Stelvio Ti. It's relatively affordable for the class and includes standard all-wheel drive and heated seats among its features. We also suggest adding the Active Driver Assistance package for its included driver safety aids.

　　

2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio models

The 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV is available in four trim levels: Sprint, Ti, Ti Sport and Quadrifoglio. The Sprint, Ti and Ti Sport are all powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (280 horsepower, 306 lb-ft of torque) and use an eight-speed automatic transmission. The high-performance Quadrifoglio gets a significant bump in power thanks to a turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 engine (505 hp, 443 lb-ft of torque).

　　Sprint

　　The Sprint is the base trim for the Stelvio. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available as an option. Standard features include:

　　18-inch wheels Xenon headlights LED taillights Leather upholstery Power-adjustable front seats Dual-zone automatic climate control 8.8-inch touchscreen display Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Keyless entry and push-button start Power liftgate Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Front parking sensorsOptions include:

　　Active Assist 1 package Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the Stelvio and the car in front) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Automatic high-beam headlights Front and rear parking sensors Ti

　　The Stelvio Ti builds off the Sprint trim. It comes with standard all-wheel drive, plus:

　　19-inch wheels Heated front seats Integration navigation system Dual-pane sunroof Heated steering wheelThe Ti is also available with more options than the Sprint. These include:

　　Active Assist 2 package. It's similar to the Active Assist 1 but also has: Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued) Lane keeping assist (steers the Stelvio back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Traffic sign recognition Premium package Household-style power outlet Adjustable cargo rail tie-down system Harman Kardon sound system Heated second-row seats Wireless device charging pad Ti Sport

　　The Ti Sport isn't much different from the standard Ti, adding a few sporty visual touches and some performance upgrades. Those include:

　　Limited-slip rear differential (can enhance traction when accelerating) 20-inch wheels Sport-tuned suspension Sport steering wheel with column-mounted paddle shifters Sport front seats Aluminum interior trim Gloss black exterior trimQuadrifoglio

　　This is the hottest version of the Stelvio you can buy. It's one of the fastest and most powerful SUVs on the road today, but performance upgrades aren't limited to the Quadrifoglio's turbocharged V6. Other changes includes:

　　Upgraded all-wheel-drive system Adaptive suspension Torque-vectoring rear differential (can enhance traction and handling balance when exiting corners) Leather and simulated suede sport front seats 20-inch wheels Brembo brakes Restyled hood, bumpers and grille Dual-mode exhaust Carbon-fiber interior trim

　　

2021 Stelvio Highlights

Type: QuadrifoglioSUVSUV

　　Trim: SprintTiTi SportQuadrifoglioSprint

　　

Base MSRP	$42,350
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