2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

The luxury crossover market is the evolved version of a rather armature segment, but that doesn't mean the competition is left dry. Other luxury oriented crossovers like the Volvo XC60, Audi Q5, and Porsche Macan are keeping the Stelvio on its toes.

The rise of the crossover market has practically revolutionized the commuter and luxury vehicle segment. New SUV inspired values were adopted in a wagon’s shell making SUVs more accessible. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is crafted from the same values as a compact crossover segment. It was offered in a monochromic all-wheel drive but that changes in 2019 as Rear wheel drive option was added to the base Stelvio and Sport. Other trims like the Ti, Ti Lusso, and Ti Sport are only offered in Rear Wheel drive mode. The entire Stelvio line up shares a 2.0L Turbo Inline-4 engine except for the Quadrifoglio which is in its own class. The base Stelvio homes a multicity of feature which expands with every trim level.

Trim	Alfa Romeo Stelvio	Sport	Ti	Ti Lusso	Ti Sport
MSRP	$41,440	$43,995	$44,195	$46,695	$46,995
RWD	$40,195	$41,995	N/A	N/A	N/A
	18-inch wheels	Larger diameter wheels- 19 inches for base, 20 inches for the Ti	19-inch wheels	Upgraded front seats	Transmission, Cruise And Audio Controls On Steering Wheel
	Brembo brakes	Different exterior and interior aesthetics	Front parking sensors	Additional leather upholstery and upgraded interior trim	8-Way Power Front Passenger Adjustable Seat
	Xenon headlights	Paddle shifters and stiffer suspension tuning	8.8-inch touchscreen		8-Way Power Driver Adjustable Seat
Key Features
	Power liftgate	Sport front seats with power-adjustable bolsters	Satellite radio		Sport Front Seats
	Keyless ignition and entry		Heated front seats		Bucket Front Seats
	Dual-zone automatic climate control		Heated steering wheel		Colored Brake Calipers
	Power-adjustable front seats and adjustable drive settings				20" X 8.5" Sport Aluminum Wheels
	Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support
	Technology features include a large driver information display
	Rearview camera
	6.5-inch central touchscreen

WeRecommend-

Though the base Stelvio is highly capable of satisfying your all your needs however, we would recommend you to go with TI for its heated seats and steering wheels with parking sensors.

“The Stelvio is an SUV for people who love driving. It has a strong and responsive engine, a sporty transmission and engaging handling. It's of the more entertaining SUVs on the road”- Edmunds

Engine and Transmission

Alfa Romeo roars in the face of these premium SUV’s and shows off its dominance in the most retro way, by overpowering the other SUVs with raw power. All trims harbor a similar 2.0L Turbo Inline- engine backed the uninterrupted 8-speed automatic transmission. The powerplant cranks out 280 horsepower and 306-pound-feet of torque. The class-leading power makes it a superior crossover in the market. The engine’s power is linear and uninterrupted.

Models	Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum	Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI Premium suv	Porsche Macan suv
MSRP	$41,440	$39,200	$42,950	$47,800
Engine	2.0L i4	2.0L i4	2.0L i4 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded	2.0L i4 Turbocharged
Transmission	8 Speed automatic	8 Speed automatic	7 Speed automatic	8 Speed automatic
Horsepower	280 hp@ 5200rpm	285 hp@ 5700rpm	252 hp@ 5000rpm	248 hp
Torque	306 ft-lbs@ 2000rpm	258 ft-lbs@	273 ft-lbs@ 1600rpm	273 ft-lbs

The short-shifting 8-speed automatic transmissions may feel a little hard to shift but it gets the job done. The downshifts are pretty quick and sporty on the Stelvio. The Quadrifoglio’s V6 engine defines brute power but that’s a story for another article.

Acceleration

The potent engine bombards the rear or all wheels with torque without disruption. The engine is responsive and eager to race as you jab the accelerator. The Stelvio zooms from a standstill to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds and hits the quarter mile light in 14.3 seconds. However, if you are a power hungry SUV lover the Quadrifoglio will be a better option though this one is not disappointing either.

Models	Alfa Romeo Stelvio suv	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum	Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI Premium suv	Porsche Macan suv
0-60 MPH	5.4 Seconds*	4.9 sec	N/A	6.3 sec
Quarter mile	14.3 seconds*	N/A	N/A	N/A
Engine	2.0L i4	2.0L i4	2.0L i4 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded	2.0L i4 Turbocharged
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	N/A	N/A	N/A	9.3

Despite the high power output, Stelvio is not the quickest crossover, that mantel goes to the Volvo XC60. The Porche Macan, on the other hand, has everything to beat the Stelvio but speed is not one of them. Its 6.3-second acceleration will only take you so far.

Ride and Handling

Although it’s is a crossover, the Stelvio’s driving dynamics resembles a hatch’s stealth but at the same time, the weight shows traces of its SUV orientation. The steering is responsive and nicely weighted with a good on-center feel, making it even more fun to maneuver on empty roads. Around the corners, the Stelvio feels planted and heavy, the kind which resists body roll. In the city, the Stelvio is pretty controllable with short shift ratios making it more suited for the city.

Though the All-wheel drive gives Stelvio off-road capabilities it comes out best on a flat road. It has hill assist but the low ground clearance may keep you from this madness. The ride quality is magical, hardly any noise or bumps penetrate the cabin confirming the engineer's intentions of building a sporty crossover.

 Braking

Stelvio's handling is inspiring but its braking is serviceable and nothing impactful. The SUV has a decent set of brakes with front brakes rated at 13 and the rear 12.5 inches. You have three options for brake calipers with red, yellow, and black hues. In low speeds, brakes become galoot and are pretty unpredictable. In the panic brake test, the Stelvio halts from the speed of 60 mph in 127 feet.

Model	Alfa Romeo Stelvio suv	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum	Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI Premium suv	Porsche Macan suv
Brake Front (in.)	13	13.6	13.3	14.2
Brake Rear (in.)	12.5	12.6	13	13
Curb Weight (lbs.)	4044	4210	4045	4099
60-0 MPH (ft.)	127*	130*	N/A	N/A

The brakes feel grabby at slow speeds but on the panic brake test, the Stelvio performs like any other luxury crossover. Other performance-oriented crossovers like the Volvo XC60 takes a few feet more to halt from a speed of 60 mph. 

Sure the power and strong driving dynamics inspire any car fanatic, but how much money will you need to fuel this fun. In the city, the Stelvio delivers 22 mpg and on the highway, it pushed the envelope to 28 mpg. The transmission tries to maintain the higher gear for better fuel economy numbers. You can expect a combined fuel economy of 24 mpg on the Stelvio which is pretty average for a compact crossover.

Model	Alfa Romeo Stelvio suv	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum	Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI Premium suv	Porsche Macan suv
MPG (city)	22	19	23	17
MPG (highway)	28	27	27	23
MPG (combined)	24	22	25	19
Range (city/highway)	372/473	357/508	N/A	N/A
Tank Capacity (gal)	16.9	18.8	18.5	19.8

It's not the most efficient crossover in the lot but its close to the best and that would be the Audi Q5. Other cars like Porsche Macan and Volvo XC60 are rated at 19 mpg and 22 mpg which is not as efficient as the Stelvio.

“The Stelvio has a good amount of space both front and back. The controls are clearly marked and easy to find, and basic infotainment functions are streamlined nicely. But the settings menus are convoluted. The biggest demerit is poor visibility due to thick roof pillar”- Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

Modish is the most fitting word for Stelvio’s interior. Largely inspired from the Giulia, the Stelvio is an amalgamation of style and substance. Everything is smartly located and all the switches and nobs are easy to use, however, you will find some plasticky touches and issues with the electronics, otherwise, the cabin is pretty capacious and the driving position is pretty fair for adults.

Model	Alfa Romeo Stelvio suv	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum	Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI Premium suv	Porsche Macan suv
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	N/A
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	40.2/NA/36.6	38.0/58.2/41.5	41.7/57.7/40.9	N/A
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.9/NA/31.9	38.0/56.3/38.0	39.3/56.5/37.8	N/A

The cabin is roomy and is build to harbor 5 people with comfort and it gets the job done. Front seats are carved in leather and are heated and power adjustable, but you need extra dough to mirror it for the rear. The front cabin is delivered 40.2 inches of headroom and 36.6 inches of legroom which is ideal for the average adult though too cozy for anyone over that. The rear cabin does not face the space crisis like in other crossovers, its pretty fair with 38.9 inches of headroom and 31.9 inches of legroom space.

Cargo volume

Though its an SUV the Stelvio is not big of a utilitarian when it comes to cargo. The standard cargo bay is rated at 18.5 inches but it's narrow and deep rather than being wide, this limits easy boarding of cargo. With all seats intact the Stelvio’s cargo is rated at 18.5 inches, though you can expand the cargo volume to 56.5 cubic feet. The cabin utility it not that fantastic either, you have sleek door pockets for bottles, a console, and a glove box.

Model	Alfa Romeo Stelvio suv	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum	Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI Premium suv	Porsche Macan suv
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	18.5	29.7	26.8	17.7

Strong engine and nimble handling dynamics feel fine but you cannot ignore the practicality of a crossover. Unfortunately, the Stelvio runs low on cargo capacity. While cars like Porsche Macan suffer from the same issue others like the Volvo XC60 and Audi Q5 are much better at hauling cargo.

Interior Features

• Electrochromatic Inside Rearview Mirror
• Front And Rear Door Pockets
• Leather And Simulated Alloy Steering Wheel
• Electric Power Steering
• Rear View Camera
• Tilt And Telescopic Steering Wheel
• Universal Remote Transmitter (For Garage Door, Security System, Etc.)
• Interior Air Filtration
• Front And Rear Parking Sensors
• Heated Steering Wheel
• Transmission, Cruise And Audio Controls On Steering Wheel
• Dual Illuminating Vanity Mirrors
• Front And Rear Cupholders
• Rear Parking Sensors

Infotainment

There is a 6.5-inch infotainment screen which is controlled through a rotary knob. The menus are not that easy to track, it will take a while to get the hang of all the controls. For the 2019 model, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as a standard feature on all trims.

“With hardly a straight line in sight, the 2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio reminds us that SUVs don’t have to be blocky. The Alfa Romeo name has adorned some of the best-looking cars in history, so it’s no surprise that the 2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is a head-turner too” The Car Connection

Design and Styling

With design largely inspired from Giulia, the Stelvio looks better than its low riding cousin. The trilobo grill looks aesthetically logical on the SUV body than a sedan. All the curves on the Stelvio give these so-called curvaceous SUVs something to look forward to from a design point of view. Where the hood looks long and flowing the rear is more muscular with sloping rear windows. The vivid paint schemes sum up the Stelvio with colors like Alfa Rosso Red, Montecarlo Blue, Verde Visconti Green and more. The optional alloy wheels spice up your choice even further.

Model	Alfa Romeo Stelvio suv	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum	Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI Premium suv	Porsche Macan suv
Curb weight (lbs.)	4044	4210	4045	4099
Length(in)	184.6	184.6	183.6	184.9
Width(in)	74.9	78.7	74.5	82.6
Height(in)	66.0	65.3	65.3	63.9
Ground clearance (in)	8.1	8.5	-	8.0
Wheelbase (in)	111.0	112.8	111	110.5
Track width (in) F/R		65.1/65.2	63.6/63.3	65.2/65

Dimensions and Weight

Weighing over two ton the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is a heavy crossover. Despite the weight, it’s a pretty average compact SUV when you factor the dimensions. Right from the long hood to the muscular tailgate the Stelvio measures 184.6 inches in length and 74.9 inches in width. The height is pretty mediocre as well at 66 inches. The ground clearance is 8.1 inches which limit the Stelvio’s off-road capabilities.

Exterior Features

• Colored Brake Calipers
• Trailer Tow Hitch
• 20" X 8.5" Sport Aluminum Wheels
• 18" X 8.0" Double Y-Spoke Aluminum Wheels
• Dual-Pane Sunroof
• Gloss Red Calipers W/White Script
• 20" X 8.5" Sport 5-Hole Aluminum Wheels
• Gloss Yellow Calipers W/Black Script
• Headlamp Washer

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is yet to undergo a third-party crash test, however, it is brimmed with safety features like Electronic stability control, Hill assists, Traction control, Tire pressure monitoring, remote start, and Alfa DNA Drive mode system.

• 4-Wheel ABS
• Self-Leveling Headlights
• Turn Signal Mirrors
• Daytime Running Lights
• Engine Immobilizer
• Rear Center 3-Point Belts
• Child Seat Anchors
• Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags
• Stability Control
• Emergency Braking Assist
• Dusk Sensing Headlamps
• Tire Pressure Monitoring
• Traction Control
• Ventilated Front Disc / Solid Rear Disc Brakes
• Xenon High Intensity Discharge Headlamp

Volvo XC60 vs Alfa Romeo Stelvio

The Volvo XC60 is the only car which outruns the Stelvio in terms of power and acceleration. Though it is more sporty rather than being a luxury crossover, on the other hand, the Stelvio is more fun to drive. In terms of cabin comfort, the Stelvio takes the lead again but the germ of inferior quality banks Volvo with more points. Factoring the economy the Stelvio is slightly more fuel efficient but the core practicality is where Volvo makes a mark again.

Both cars are competitive and focus on different aspects, but the XC60 is revived with more features and is a more sensible car in terms of deliverables.

Audi Q5 vs Alfa Romeo Stelvio

The Q5 may not be as sporty as the Stelvio but its everyday practicality is what magnetizes shoppers to Audi’s showroom. Audi clearly made it more road-friendly than the Stelvio and is more feature rich vehicle too. In terms of efficiency and practicality the Q5 bags more points, plus Audi’s MMI infotainment is responsive and one of the best in the business. The cargo volume is greater than the Stelvio making it a more sensible choice. Though there is an All-wheel drive system the single engine option discourages the buyer, which is possibly the only flaw in the Q5.

Porsche Macan vs Alfa Romeo Stelvio

In terms of deliverables and the overall driving dynamics, there is only one SUV which is onto the Stelvio’s tail, the Porsche Macan. Porsche gave special attention on Macan’s ride quality plus the rich standard feature list adds a cherry on the cake. However, the Stelvio is compact luxury’s king kong for a reason, the Macan may feel aggressive to drive but it doesn’t match the Stelvio’s potential when it comes to economy, power, and practicality, The Stelvio makes more sense in that regime.

Just like a beauty with brains is hard to find, an SUV which is both good looks and fun to drive attitude is hard to track too, but all your searching comes to an end with the Stelvio. In a segment largely focused on practicality and ferrying people Alfa Romeo put their money on ride quality. The handling is nimble and power is sufficient for what its intended. The buttery smooth 8-speed automatic gearbox is the major attraction in the powertrain, however, the low cargo volume and average ergonomic numbers make the choice a little less attractive.

Overall, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is the King of the Ring for the compact luxury crossover segment, you won’t be displeased with your choice.