2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

Think of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio as the anti-SUV. The acronym SUV stands for Sports Utility Vehicle. Historically, the first two words were never placed together because they are mutually exclusive. Something utilitarian and practical is, by nature, not meant to be sporty. You'll never find a forklift GTI, for example. In the context of cars, the "sports" in the acronym is rather a fancy way of saying that this large vehicle's handling is car-like. There are a few exceptions to the rule and the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is one of them. It's powered by a 280-horsepower engine and features a stunning exterior. Everything about it shouts performance. It does lack a certain amount of utility, however. You wouldn't dream of taking it off-roading, never mind towing something behind it. No, sir. This is an SUV for people who want to upgrade from a hot hatch and into something a bit more practical. They want the utility of a bigger car, without having to sacrifice too much of the driving experience they love so much. In that context, the Stelvio shines. But so do rivals like the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, making this segment one of the most difficult to compete in.

There's no mistaking the Stelvio for anything but an Alfa Romeo. It features all of the most well-known historical design features, including the V-shaped grille, curvaceous lines, and aggressive alloy wheel designs. It's essentially the Alfa Romeo Giulia's design but lifted and rounded off at the back to form an SUV shape. This modern, striking design incorporates features like HID headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, and alloy wheel sizes that range from standard 18-inch items to optional 21s. This year, the front grille, exhaust tips, roof rails, and skid plate get the dark treatment and the Ti sports a dark-gray body kit.

The Stelvio is a chunky crossover, with a wheelbase of 111 inches. Other dimensions include a total length of 184.6 inches, making it slightly longer than the Mercedes-Benz GLC, but only by 1.3 inches. Standing 74.9 inches in width excluding mirrors, the Stelvio at least fixes its sedan brother's main problem, namely, a lack of space in the rear. Finally, the Stelvio's height works out to 66 inches. The Stelvio Sprint weighs in at 3,901 pounds thanks to its lighter rear-wheel-drive layout, while the four-wheel-drive Ti and Veloce weigh in at 4,007 pounds.

On the Sprint and Ti, Rosso (red) is no longer available as a no-cost option, only Alfa White, while Alfa Rosso can be had for $330. $660 opens up only four metallic colors to choose from, down from last year's nine. They are Vulcano Black, Vesuvio Gray, Anodized Blue and, new for 2022, Moonlight Gray. Six colors - a white, a green, two blues, and two grays - are no longer on the menu. Upgrade to the Veloce and Moonlight Gray falls away, but you can additionally choose between Rosso Etna (a red hue for $1,200) and Ocra GT Tri-Coat (an ochre hue for $2,200).

In the more traditional colors, the Stelvio looks quite handsome and elegant, while choosing a color from the more funky side of the spectrum will result in an SUV that stands out even more in a parking lot. Just play around on the configurator and choose either Ocra GT Tri-Coat or Misano Blue to see the effect a striking color can have on this SUV.

Every model in the Stelvio lineup is equipped with a turbocharged four-pot, except for the manic Quadrifoglio. We review that Alfa Romeo Stelvio model and its 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 separately. You might be thinking that a four-pot isn't enough, but this 2.0-liter unit develops a healthy 280 horsepower and 306 lb-ft of torque. This is quite a few horses more than we usually see from an engine with such a small capacity, but it works a charm. In rear-wheel-drive Sprint format, it can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds. The Ti and Veloce, which offer all-wheel drive as standard, can sprint to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, thanks to the added grip, although we don't recommend chasing the top speed of 144 mph.

This makes the Alfa Stelvio one of the faster competitors in this segment, even outperforming the likes of the BMW X3 30i. If you're looking for a car to tow with, the Stelvio isn't it. Its maximum towing capacity is rated at just 3,000 pounds, which is a significant 1,400 lbs less than the BMW X3 can manage.

The Alfa's 280-hp and 306 lb-ft turbocharged 2.0-liter four-pot, mated to a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission, is one of the best engine/gearbox combinations in the business. While the Stelvio weighs 300 to 400 lbs more than the Giulia sedan, you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference in performance. The gearbox is quick, smooth, and efficient, making the most of the available horses. As you've seen from the claimed figures, acceleration is quite brisk, and it feels that way right through the rev range. Passing slower cars is a joy, as is driving slowly in peak hour traffic. There simply isn't a scenario where the gearbox doesn't seem to feel at home. The available shift paddles on the steering column are a joy to use, but their sheer size means they do get in the way of the stalks mounted behind them.

It's an odd sensation to drive an SUV as responsive and fun as this one. And it isn't even the halo performance model in the range. As with the Giulia sedan, the first thing that strikes you is the steering. It's light but direct, quite unlike anything else in this segment, but in a good way. It feels odd and unnerving at first, but a day or two later you start wondering why all SUVs don't handle and respond this way. Mechanically speaking, it doesn't have more grip than the competition, but it's the way it's set up that makes a huge difference.

The rear-wheel-drive model sends all of the power to the rear axle, leaving the swift and responsive steering to do its job up front. In AWD guise, the usual default in most rivals is to understeer, and there's a good reason for that. When the system is based on a front-wheel-drive chassis, it sends power to the front wheels and only engages the rear wheels when needed. In the Alfa, it's the other way around. Its default setting is rear-wheel drive, only engaging the front wheels when additional grip is required.

The Stelvio is equipped with Alfa's DNA driving-mode selector with Dynamic, Natural, and Advanced Efficiency modes. In Dynamic mode, the throttle response is near immediate, and it has a fantastic four-pot soundtrack. Add in those engaging paddle shifters and you have yourself quite an entertaining car to drive. Since this is an SUV, a dynamic drive won't be needed that often. So it's a good thing that Natural mode offers a compliant, comfortable ride, even though there is still an underlying firmness to remind you that it can hustle when it wants to. The Stelvio is equipped with large Brembo brakes, and they do an admirable job of bringing this chunky SUV to a standstill, even from higher speeds.

The Stelvio's gas mileage is quite decent for the class. It returns an EPA-rated figure of 22/29/25 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles in rear-wheel-drive format, and 22/28/24 mpg in all-wheel-drive guise. The 16.9-gallon tank is good for a 422-mile range between refills for the RWD model. BMW's RWD X3 30i matches it with figures of 23/29/25 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles and the AWD X3 xDrive30i returns 21/28/24 mpg.

The Stelvio's interior is a mixed bag. It's brilliant in some places and decidedly sub-par in certain areas. Given the price of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, you'd expect an interior to match the Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X3, and Audi Q5, but it just doesn't. There are certain things in the cabin that are stunning. The leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter look and feel magnificent, as do the aluminum shifters behind the wheel. Opt for red or brown leather on the seats and it looks even better. But investigate a bit further and you'll note some cheap plastic trim and the poor rearward visibility. The infotainment system is good, however. The 8.8-inch touchscreen works well, as you can set up your quick-access widgets for whatever function you use frequently.

While the Stelvio is bigger than its sedan brother, there remain some issues with regards to the seating and interior space. It's not that it's cramped, but the seats are quite firm. It can be quite a hassle to find the right seating position that won't result in back pain over a long stretch, and passengers can forget about sleeping. The firm ride and the equally firm headrests will keep them awake. Getting in and out of the Stelvio is easy enough, thanks to its elevated driving position. The floor is still quite low, and the roofline is a bit of a hassle, but that's about it.

The front legroom measures in at 36.6 inches, rear legroom at 31.9 inches, front headroom at 40.2 inches, and rear headroom at 38.9 inches. To put that in perspective, the Mercedes-Benz GLC has 40.8 inches of front legroom, 37.3 inches of rear legroom, and 41.9 inches and 38.5 inches of headroom respectively. The GLC is bigger, but in this segment none of these feel particularly small.

The Stelvio is the perfect SUV for extroverts. That much is clear from the aggressive styling and the funky color palette. Sadly, this trend loses some enthusiasm on the inside, where many of the Stelvio's multiple trim options have been dropped this year and are not even available as options anymore.

As standard, every Stelvio in the range is equipped with leather seats, with both these and the lower dashboard and door panels available in black. Last year's various shades for the seat upholstery that included Black, Ice, Black/Ice, Ice, Black/Red, and Black/Chocolate are no longer offered. In the Sprint, you have one extroverted choice left and that is to opt for red-leather sport seats for $600 and they do look spectacular. Moving up to the Ti, the Crema interior is no longer available, nor the Lusso Package, but at least you can still opt for gorgeous brown Chocolate leather on the seats for $600 extra. In the Veloce, it's all-black too, but with the same red-leather option as the Sprint. While some areas of the interior are below par, the Stelvio makes up for it by looking and feeling special in all the right places. Everything you interact with as the driver feels solid, especially the satin aluminum door handles, sports pedals, and paddle shifters. The steering wheel is a thing of beauty, featuring a Ferrari-style starter button on the lower-left portion of the wheel.

The Stelvio's 18.5 cubic feet of cargo space is average rather than class-leading. The more practical BMW X3 offers 28.7 cubic feet of cargo space, for instance. It won't be noticeable on the day-to-day grind, but when you have to load luggage for five passengers, it will be. The rear seats can be folded down in a 40/20/40 split, offering 56.5 cubic feet of cargo space. A power liftgate is standard across the range, and the low load-in height makes it easy to load heavier items.

The new center console, available since 2020, offers more storage spaces for wallets and phones, while a wireless charging pad is now standard and makes it much easier to charge a compatible smartphone without having to plug it in. You simply place it on the pad and forget about it.

All Stelvio models from the base Sprint model upwards are equipped with standard leather trim, keyless entry with remote start, bi-xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights, Alfa's DNA drive mode selector, a backup camera with parking sensors at the rear, and full-speed forward collision warning. The Ti and Veloce now boast a dual-pane sunroof as well.

In previous years we criticized Alfa for only offering advanced safety features as pricey optional extras. The situation has been remedied somewhat, thanks to Alfa repackaging these features to bring down the complexity of the build phase, resulting in a significant saving. Last year's Active Assist 1 package, which was only available on the Sprint model, has been dropped, because the most important advanced safety kit, over and above the usual airbags, crumple zones, and electronic nannies, is now standard on the Sprint. These include blind-spot assist, adaptive cruise control, front and rear park assist, and lane departure warning, to name just a few. The Active Assist package is only available on the Ti and Veloce, including everything you get as standard, but adding even more features. The basics include driver attention assist, highway assist, intelligent speed assist, and traffic jam assist, to name just a few.

The Stelvio is equipped with an 8.8-inch center console touchscreen interface that has Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto capabilities. When not using the latter features, the driver can customize the home page by adding quick-access widgets to features like the radio, smartphone, and climate control. All trims come standard with a navigation system front this year, though it's not strictly necessary given Apple CarPlay and Android Auto's navigation features. In addition to this screen, there's another seven-inch TFT screen in the instrument cluster. It provides a host of information, which means the driver can just take a glance down instead of a long gaze at the center console. The Stelvio is also equipped with three full-function USB ports in the front, and two charge-only ports for rear-seat passengers.

An eight-speaker sound system is standard on the Sprint and Ti models. The Sprint can no longer be upgraded to a 10-speaker premium system with a subwoofer; only the Ti and Veloce models' sound system can be upgraded - to a Harman Kardon system with 14 speakers, including two surround sound speakers, one subwoofer, and a 900-watt amplifier by speccing the $1,800 Premium Interior and Sound Package.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV was last rated by the J.D. Power survey in 2019, when it scored an overall 73 out of 100. It scored average in the quality and reliability, driving experience, and resale categories, but the dealer experience was rated as fair. Overall, it couldn't match the scores of SUVs like the Mercedes-Benz GLC and BMW X3.

The NHTSA website reveals that there was one recall during 2020, for a rotor and shaft that may separate and cause the loss of ABS braking. This recall carried over to the 2021 model and was joined by an additional one for impaired curtain-airbag deployment. The Stelvio had it tougher in 2018 with eight recalls and in 2019 with four.

The standard warranty on the Stelvio is valid for four years or 50,000 miles and includes powertrain coverage.

The NHTSA has no safety rating for the Stelvio in the US or the Giulia for that matter. The IIHS also has no rating for the Stelvio, but it does give the Giulia a Good rating based on its crash tests. The Stelvio shares the same platform, but the body styles are a bit different, so the crash results may differ. We reckon the Stelvio should do well, but we'd feel a lot better if we knew for sure.

All models in the Stelvio lineup get dual-front and side airbags for the front passengers, as well as curtain airbags for the front and rear. The front passengers also get knee airbags. Also included are traction control, brake assist, stability control, hill-descent control, hill start assist, and a rearview camera. A full-speed forward-collision warning system is also standard across the range. New for 2022 are auto-dimming interior and exterior rear-view mirrors, blind-spot and cross-path detection, front and rear parking sensors (previously in the rear only), lane-departure warning, active cruise control, and automatic high beams on all trims.

Due to this improvement in the standard safety spec, all additional safety options have been dropped for the base Sprint trim. However, you can add more driver-assistance items to the Ti and Veloce trims via the Active Assist Plus Package, which adds $1,000 to the price and adds active blind-spot assist, highway assist, lane-keep assist, driver attention alert, intelligent speed assist, traffic jam assist, and traffic sign recognition.

It's so easy to find a flaw in the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. It's just not as polished as its German rivals, but, to be fair, most of them are on their second, or even third-generation SUVs at the moment. They already have years of experience, and the opportunity to fix the flaws their previous models might have had. This is Alfa's first SUV, and while it can't tow more than 3,000 lbs, it does have a massive weight to carry on its shoulders. After the introduction of the 4C and Giulia, the Stelvio was meant to be the volume model. So far it has been responsible for Alfa increasing its sales figures year on year, so it must be a good car.

The reason is simply that it's an easy car to forgive. Yes, the seats are hard, the interior trim is a bit iffy in places, and the cargo space is average, but it's easy to forget and forgive all of these things. The Stelvio is just such a good car to drive. Drive any of its main rivals, and you'll soon realize they are comfortable, efficient, brisk, and dependable, and probably all a better, more logical proposition than the Alfa. What they can't do, however, is create a bond between man and machine. Only gearheads will know what I'm on about here. The Alfa is extremely good in all the places that count the most to those of us who love to drive. It's quick and it sounds good. The steering sets the standard in the segment and makes everything else feel as responsive as a drunken sloth. It also doesn't look like anything else in the segment.

If you like driving and you're in the market for a bigger car, you wouldn't feel cheated upgrading to a Stelvio. All of the things you love about your hot hatch will still be present, just in a more practical, elevated package. So, is it a good car? No, it's a superb car, but only to a select few who understand, and will enjoy all of the above.

So you want to get your hands on a new Alfa Romeo Stelvio? The base model Sprint retails for a base price of $45,150, and it's the only model in the line-up that comes with rear-wheel drive as standard. Equipping this model with an all-wheel-drive system will cost an additional $2,000. The Ti and Veloce are only available in AWD format. The Ti retails for $50,200, while the Veloce costs $52,000. These prices do not include the $1,495 destination charge.

The 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio lineup comprises three trims, namely Sprint, Ti, and Veloce, the latter replacing last year's Ti Sport. All three trims use the same 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine with 280 hp and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Sprint is rear-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive optional, while the other two trims are AWD only. A twin-turbo V6 Quadrifoglio tops the range, but we review that model separately.

The Sprint comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, HID headlights, LED daytime running lights, a power liftgate, gloss-black roof rails, a black grille, and power-folding exterior mirrors. Inside, it gets leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, 10-way power front seats, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, a seven-inch driver-information display, Alfa's DNA drive-mode selector, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and aluminum shift paddles. There is an 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen and the system includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, wireless charging, and navigation. Standard safety and driver-assistance features include eight airbags, a backup camera, full-speed forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, front and rear parking sensors, automatic high beams, and active blind-spot assist.

The Ti adds 19-inch alloy wheels, a black grille with a metal-look surround, a Vesuvio Gray body kit, and a dual-pane glass sunroof. It also gets aluminum sport pedals, gray interior wood trim, and access to safety, extended-leather, and audio-upgrade packages. Being a luxury-focused trim, it does not get the other trims' aluminum paddle shifters.

The Veloce has 20-inch alloy wheels with red brake calipers, a black grille, a body-color body kit, dark exhaust tips, and a sport diffuser. It's also the only model with a mechanical limited-slip differential at the rear for even sportier handling. Inside, it gains 14-way power front seats, and aluminum paddle shifters.

By cutting down the available models and including a lot of the popular optional extras as standard, Alfa also cut down on the number of additional packages. The Sprint model's standard equipment has been improved and it now becomes a take-it-or-leave-it trim with no additional packages available, only a few standalone options such as a sunroof ($1,350), 19-inch alloy wheels ($1,000), and sport seats with red leather upholstery ($600).

On the Ti, two packages become available. The Active Assist Plus Package ($1,000) includes the advanced safety features that aren't already standard, like active blind-spot assist, driver-attention alert, highway assist, lane-keep assist, traffic-jam assist, and traffic-sign recognition. The Premium Interior and Sound Package upgrades the dashboard and upper door trims with leather and adds a 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The alloys can be upgraded to 20 inches for $1,000 and Chocolate leather upholstery costs $600.

The Veloce gets access to exactly the same packages. It's 20-inch wheels can be upgraded to 21-inch items for $1,000 and it gets access to the $600 red leather upholstery that is also optional on the Sprint. Other than that, none of the long list of last year's option packages are offered this year anymore.

The entry-level Sprint in rear-wheel-drive format offers the best value for money, and it has quite a lot of toys to play with. You don't get access to packages this year, but with the good standard of driver-assistance features it comes with this year, this is less of an issue. Unfortunately, you cannot upgrade the audio system anymore.

Last year we would have said go for the Ti, for one very good reason. The Stelvio is an SUV aimed at drivers, and the Driver Package with the mechanical limited-slip differential, and the stunning aluminum paddles behind the wheels was an option on the Ti and well worth having. Sadly, this package is no longer offered and while the pedals are still standard on the Ti, the diff is no longer available and standard on the Veloce only. All the performance goodies are standard on the Veloce and you'll actually be happy with it in terms of luxury, safety, and sportiness without having to add any extras. The result is a Stelvio that costs $52,000 which, considering that the Sprint now costs over $45,000 and the gap between the Ti and Veloce is less than $1,800 this year, makes it the best model for the discerning driver. If you're happy with the handling of the Ti and you don't need the trick diff, that model is the perfect luxury-orientated choice. If you add the Active Assist Plus and Premium Interior and Sound packages, you end up with a very well-equipped sporty SUV that loses out nothing of importance to the Veloce except the LS diff and bigger wheels.

Judge it by as many reviews as you want, these two SUVs are so similar in the way they do things. Instead of building an elevated sensory deprivation tank, these manufacturers followed a recipe that would result in an engaging drive, making for an interesting comparison. The Jag has the same all-wheel-drive setup as the Alfa. It's rear-wheel drive by default and only sends power to the front wheels when things start to go sideways. The F-Pace also has an engaging front end, based around the same architecture as the F-Type sports car. The Jag is also bigger, and more comfortable, but the Alfa has a better infotainment system.

The Jag's biggest problem is its underwhelming four-pot engine. It's also a turbocharged unit, but it only packs a 246 hp and 269 lb-ft punch. Not to mention the fact that it costs around $5,000 more than the equivalent Alfa. To get near the charm the Alfa provides, you'd have to go the supercharged V6 route, and then you're looking at $60,000. For that reason, we'd have the Alfa.

The current X3 is a magnificent car. It does everything you could want from an SUV. Every single model in the line-up is superb, and it scores top marks in every category that matters. You can certainly see and feel that BMW has been at this for a while now. The X3 also has a sporty side to it, though it's trapped underneath a veneer of electronics, sound dampening, and luxury. There's no doubt that the X3 could keep up with the Alfa. Heck, it may even be faster, but it's the way it does it that matters. The X3, though brisk, falls more on the comfort side of the spectrum. It rides with more composure and aims to remove as much noise and harshness as possible. In many ways, it's the perfect blend between sportiness and luxury. If that's what you're after, look no further than the X3.