- Design: A Head-Turning SUV
- Interior: It’s… Fine
- Driving Impressions: Italian DNA
- Practicality: On The Small Side
- Verdict: The Tonale Problem
But does Alfa Romeo now have a more compelling option in the lineup?
The 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is a puzzling vehicle. Most luxury crossovers, even the supposedly sporty ones, prioritize feature content and practicality over driving pleasure. The Stelvio feels different. Named after the highest paved road in the Italian Alps, this SUV puts driver connection over everything else, for better or worse.
Aside from a few minor upgrades, the Stelvio hasn't changed drastically since it arrived on the market for the 2018 model year; it got some new tech for the 2022 model year and two new trim levels for 2023, the Lusso and the Estrema. CarBuzz recently spent a week in the Estrema, a supposed bridge between the standard Stelvio and the hardcore Quadrifoglio, to find out if the less powerful engine can still deliver the thrills of its Ferrari-inspired halo version. We discovered a mixed bag of beautiful styling, a less-than-stellar interior, and sharp handling.
We also wondered if Alfa's latest crossover, the Tonale, may have surpassed its older sibling as the most compelling package in the lineup.
Design: A Head-Turning SUV
If there's one thing the Stelvio gets right, it's the styling. This car attracts compliments everywhere it goes, which is rare for a crossover at this price point; the flashy Misano Blue paint (a $660 option) may have something to do with that. The limited edition Estrema, which means extreme in Italian, is the sportiest non-Quadrifoglio trim with standard 21-inch black wheels and carbon fiber accents around the grille and on the mirror caps. Sadly, if you like this look, you better act fast; Alfa Romeo says the Estrema is no longer available to order, meaning the remaining dealer inventory is all that's left.
On the plus side, you can still order a Stelvio Lusso, another new trim level for the 2023 model year. This version lacks a few performance options (an adaptive suspension and limited-slip differential) found on the Estrema but rides on the same 21-inch wheels finished in silver. We prefer the silver finish wheels because they don't hide the beautiful spoke pattern as much.
Alfa Romeo will give the Stelvio a facelift for 2024 with styling that looks more like the Tonale; we think it looks even prettier than the current car.
Interior: It’s… Fine
Though the exterior garnered exclusively positive opinions from everyone who rode in the Stelvio during our week of testing, the interior did not. It's okay, but not impressive for a luxury vehicle. Some materials feel expensive, like the leather and carbon fiber, while some buttons and switchgear would be more at home in a Kia or a Mazda than an Audi or a BMW. They come from the same suppliers as those Germans, but they have a distinct “last generation” quality.
Ditto for the technology, which feels outdated in 2023. The 8.8-inch touchscreen is only a tad larger than you get in a Toyota Corolla, and the large black bezels make it seem even smaller. We got used to the interface over the course of a week, but it's less intuitive than competitor infotainment systems. On the plus side, wireless Apple CarPlay is standard, and Alfa Romeo lets drivers choose whether to touch the screen or use the controller on the center console. There are also plenty of physical controls for the radio and climate. As a small change for 2024, the Stelvio will get a digital gauge cluster that should make the cabin feel slightly more modern.
Driving Impressions: Italian DNA
It's a cliche to say that all Italian cars drive well, but the Stelvio is among the most thrilling luxury crossovers available. The powertrain is the lone dim spot, not matching the rest of the experience. A 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder produces 280 horsepower and 306 lb-ft of torque. This is a higher output than most base powertrains in this segment, but the way it delivers power isn't very exciting. The engine redlines at under 6,000 rpm and the torque hits low in the rev range, almost like a diesel. It doesn't make a particularly pleasing sound and often gets caught feeling laggy during normal driving.
The eight-speed automatic transmission works great in automatic, but it could be sharper in manual mode. This is a bit disappointing given how satisfying the Stelvio's column-mounted paddle shifters are to use. Alfa says the Stelvio can hit 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, which is perfectly believable. If you brake-torque it to spool up the turbo, the Stelvio flies off the line with immediacy. Sadly, the acceleration off the line feels less instantaneous if you just mash the throttle unprompted.
Dynamic Mode primes the powertrain for maximum acceleration, and there is a noticeable difference between the standard Natural setting and especially the Advanced Efficiency Mode, which feels particularly sluggish, even for an eco-focused setting. The Estrema is the only non-Quadrifoglio Stelvio to get adaptive dampers, though they are tuned softer than the aforementioned high-performance model, thankfully.
Placing the car into Dynamic Mode stiffens the suspension, though a button on the DNA controller lets you put it back into the soft setting while keeping the other sporty settings. This is how we preferred to drive the Stelvio around: Dynamic Mode with the soft suspension.
The Stelvio drives more like a hatchback than a crossover. It has sharp steering that borders on twitchy without being uncomfortable on the highway and phenomenal body control when driving spiritedly. For an enthusiast who needs to trade in their hot hatchback to accommodate a larger family, the Stelvio is a great option, and has been since it first arrived.
It also feels distinctly rear-driven when you're really hustling, which feels great.
Practicality: On The Small Side
As an SUV, the Stelvio is not the most impressive people are cargo hauler. The rear seats only offer 31.9 inches of legroom, which is on the low side for this segment. As a reference point, the BMW X3's rear seat has 36.4 inches. The Stelvio's back seat does at least have rear air vents, USB ports, and heated seats.
The trunk is a similar story; there is just 18.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 56.5 with the seats folded. To reference the X3 again, it has 28.7 and 62.7 cubes, respectively. If you want the maximum carrying capacity in the segment, look elsewhere. In fact, the new Alfa Romeo Tonale bests the Stelvio with 22.9 cubic feet of space behind the second row and falls just short on overall storage with 50.5 cubes.
Verdict: The Tonale Problem
Pricing for the Alfa Romeo Stelvio starts at $46,575 for the 2023 model and the Estrema trim, which is no longer available to order, costs $59,825 ($60,425 as-tested). These prices will decrease slightly for the 2024 model year to make the Stelvio more competitive with rivals, and we're looking forward to the 2024 changes, including the new headlights and digital gauge cluster. But spending a week in the Stelvio reminded us that Alfa Romeo now has a more compelling crossover that's available for nearly the same price.
The Tonale Sprint starts at $42,995, a bit less than the Stelvio. With options, a Tonale can max out around $59,000. It comes with a hybrid 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque when combined with an electric motor. Unlike the Stelvio, the Tonale can drive on electric power for 30 miles and gets superior fuel economy (29 mpg average). Inside, the Tonale gets a newer Uconnect 5 infotainment system and ventilated seats up front. It feels more modern than its larger sibling and despite riding on a front-drive platform, it's not noticeably less entertaining to drive in 80% of scenarios.
If we were in the market for an Alfa Romeo SUV in 2023, we'd take a long look at the Tonale before pulling the trigger on a Stelvio.
Keyword: Driven: 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Estrema Is Still A Driver's SUV