Pros: excellent steering and handling; There are two sporty engines available; stands out from the crowd
Shortcoming: mediocre interior; lackluster technology; short for its segment
The 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio looks promising for the compact crossover segment with its Italian lineage, sharp styling and sporty performance. It checks the boxes of a luxury daily driver, while still offering sharp driving dynamics, which could mean its owners miss the sports car that no longer suits their lifestyle. And, you can’t deny that this thing stands out from the rest of the pack. An Italian car with its signature “Scudetto” grille certainly stands out in a parking lot filled with more generic family vehicles with more tailored designs – especially if you opt for one of the bolder, brighter paint colors from Alfa’s palette.
The biggest stumbling block with the Stelvio is that its interiors don’t live up to the grandeur of the rest of the vehicle. It’s not particularly roomy, and lackluster material quality and general artistry undermine the illusion of exoticism in an otherwise glamorous and sporty Stelvio (though if you like carbon fiber, the Quadrifoglio’s got you – and practically every surface – covered). While serviceable, it’s less spectacular than what you’ll find in the competition (though given how heavy some infotainment systems can feel today, that might not be the worst thing ever).
The Stelvio is due for an update for 2024, so we’ll see this generation stick around for a few more years before Alfa starts rolling out a bunch of electric models. Still, whether you want to buy one now or wait until next year, we don’t expect any major changes, especially not in terms of performance. And while we feel some of its competitors offer more in terms of luxury and utility, the Stelvio is still a great option for a customer who really cares about driving dynamics and standing out from the crowd.
Interior and Technology | Passenger and Cargo Space | performance and fuel economy
how does it feel to drive Pricing & Trim Levels | Crash Rating & Safety Features
What’s new for 2023?
The Stelvio gets the Estrema trim that borrows features like adaptive suspension and limited-slip differential from the line-topping Quadrifoglio, without taking a step up in engine performance and without the much higher price tag that comes with it. There will also be a limited-edition Lusso trim that builds on the Ti with “Crema” Cannelloni-designed leather upholstery, leather dash and door trim, and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.
How is the Stelvio interior and in-car tech?
The interiors of the Stelvio do not have the luxurious look and feel that you find in Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche or Volvo. From the somewhat pedestrian design to the ho-hum materials, it doesn’t seem like you would be buying the Stelvio for its interior ambience. That said, it’s less likely now that you can get away with it. The switchgear doesn’t look or feel like a toy anymore, the leather quality is still top notch, and the steering wheel alone is enough to make you forget about some of the cheaper bits. It’s perfectly contoured to your hands, the enclosed start button is great, and you have to give Alfa credit for including massive, Ferrari-style paddle shifters crafted from metal.
Infotainment is also no longer the deal-breaker it was before its 2020 update. Its standard widescreen is perhaps a bit underwhelming and doesn’t offer the versatility of Porsche’s similarly configurable system, but we like that the Alfa offers the redundant control options of a touchscreen and a rotary control knob. Nothing like BMW’s gesture controls or natural speech recognition, but if you can get them to work (which is iffy), they’re arguably parlor tricks. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, along with satellite radio.
How big is the Stelvio?
Outside, the Stelvio is shaped similarly to its primary competitors from Germany: the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Porsche Macan and the Mercedes-Benz GLC. The interior is a similar story apart from the two most important factors: backseat legroom and cargo capacity. Going by the Alfa’s specifications, the Stelvio has 31.9 inches of rear legroom, which is 5-6 inches less than the aforementioned competitors. It’s hardly a limo, but it certainly isn’t much different from those competitors in a practical sense, and we suspect it may just be a matter of different measurement techniques.
The same can be said about the cargo area, which, as we discovered in our Stelvio luggage test, is capable of carrying far more than its modest official measurements (so much, the numbers aren’t even worth mentioning). We found that it can hold five suitcases of different sizes, which is quite good for an SUV of this size. Maximum cargo volume of 56.5 cubic-feet seems realistic. It’s not as much as you’ll find in a BMW X3 or Volvo XC60, but it matches the GLC and outperforms the Q5 and Macan.
What are the Stelvio fuel economy and performance specs?
The Stelvio comes standard with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, as do almost all its competitors. However, it produces 280 hp and 306 pound-feet of torque, which basically crushes them all, and results in a 5.4-second 0-60-mph sprint — ditto. An eight-speed automatic is standard, as is all-wheel drive on all except the base Sprint trim, which comes with rear-wheel drive (AWD is optional). Fuel economy is 22 miles city, 29 mpg highway and 25 mpg with RWD and 22/28/24 mpg with AWD. This is on par with most competitors.
The 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is powered by a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 derived from a modular Ferrari engine family that produces 505 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. It comes standard with an eight-speed auto and AWD. It’s clocked at 0-60 in 3.6 seconds, which is absolutely bonkers for an SUV – or anything, really. It has far more power and is far quicker than, for example, the Porsche Macan Turbo, which costs more. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio’s fuel economy is 17/23/19 mpg, which isn’t too bad considering its performance level.
How does it feel to drive the Stelvio?
What will immediately feel a little different behind the wheel than its competitors is the Stelvio which is shockingly quick, yet precise and steers smoothly at low parking-speeds. Apart from that, the standard Stelvio impresses with its abundant power, well-dampened ride quality and above-average road-holding. However, it’s not as spirited or characterful as you might expect. It generally feels more like a regular luxury SUV than its Alfa Romeo Giulia sibling, which is sturdier than its own sport sedan competition. Sharper response, maybe something a little closer to the Quadrifoglio, or a more interesting engine/exhaust note might do the trick.
However, there’s no shortage of excitement in the Quadrifoglio, which is just as hot and wild as you may have heard. Like the exceptional steering, all its other controls require an equally well-thought-out and precise touch. The brakes have bite now, the throttle doesn’t tolerate harsh inputs, and the pedals are positioned closer together like they would be in a sports car (driving in work boots is not recommended). The Quadrifoglio also exhibits sports-car-like behavior at low speeds, with more off-throttle deceleration than you’re used to in a car with a regular automatic transmission. As such, it can get a little rough when you’re in traffic, trying desperately to feel like a caffeinated puppy and running around the house.
Road holding is exceptional, and whoever thought of including the soft suspension button for the car’s “Dynamic” mode (a feature also available on Sport trims) was a genius. This allows you to quickly soften the springs when driving over rough pavement which can disturb the car’s chassis or your spine. The ride quality is really good considering the sporty bent of this hyper-performance SUV.
What other Alfa Romeo Stelvio reviews can I read?
2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio road test: Driver choice comes down to compromise
Our first drive of the Stelvio after its facelift, which helped make up for some of its shortcomings, but not all.
The 2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio exhaust is as cool as you’d expect
Hear the exhaust sound of the hottest Stelvio in action.
Alfa Romeo Stelvio luggage test: How much cargo space?
Find out how much stuff fits in the Stelvio, plus other cargo area features.
2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio review: A third impression
We were blown away by the way it drives (which is still standing) and overwhelmed by its interior (after getting mostly done right).
2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Drivers Notes review: Everything you’d expect
The 505-hp twin-turbo V6 makes the Stelvio addicting to drive, but other crossovers do the “crossover” part better.
2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Drivers Notes: Italy’s last savior
Our review of the Ti Sport trim level model.
2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio First Drive: Quite equal parts form and function
Our first drive of the Stelvio, which includes an in-depth look at its design and engineering.
What is the price of 2023 Stelvio?
The base Stelvio—the Sprint trim with RWD—starts at $48,170 including destination, while the AWD retails for $2,000. All other trims come with AWD as standard. The bare-bones Sprint up to the Estrema, with its luxury materials and ride and handling upgrades, uses the same 2.0-liter engine. The line-topping Quadrifoglio includes a 2.9-liter engine, several dynamic upgrades, and a carbon fiber interior, but items like advanced driver assistance features and a dual-pane sunroof are still optional, even at this level. We think the Stelvio Ti is a nice spot in terms of style, comfort and value, but the addition of the Estrema with its adaptive suspension and rear limited-slip differential make it an attractive choice of driver’s companion without making the leap to the Quadrifoglio. ,
What follows is a 2023 Stelvio price breakdown by trim (including $1,595 in destination fee), and you can find a full breakdown of specs, features and local pricing for each trim level here. autoblog,
- Sprint RWD: $48,170
- Sprint AWD: $50,170
- Ti: $53,780
- Veloce: $55,580
- Cost: $61,420
- Quadrifoglio: $89,770
What are the Stelvio safety ratings and driver assistance features?
Standard driver assistance features include stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning and front and rear parking sensors. Also available are lane-keeping steering assist, traffic sign recognition, active blind-spot assist and driver inattention detection.
The Stelvio is yet to be crash tested by a third party.
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