2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Exceptionally Sporty But Compromised
In the event you’re on the lookout for a premium SUV with sports activities automotive efficiency and angle, the 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio may very well be the proper automobile for you. It provides sporty Italian aptitude with the practicality of an SUV, and it is also out there with a spread of security applied sciences to assist hold you protected in your drive.
Powertrain
In the event you’re on the lookout for a sporty SUV, the 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is likely to be your finest guess. Whereas it is not fairly as distinctive because the BMW X3 or Porsche Macan, it has loads of energy and a energetic, driver-first really feel from behind the wheel.
The usual 2.0-liter turbo-4 engine places out 280 horsepower and will get you to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, however the extra highly effective Quadrifoglio’s Ferrari-sourced 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6 makes it even faster by just a few extra seconds. These two engines work in tandem via an 8-speed computerized transmission to ship glorious acceleration and gasoline economic system.
We just like the Stelvio’s inside, which is a mixture of supplies and craftsmanship. Leather-based upholstery is commonplace, and different cabin supplies match its worth level. The Quadrifoglio’s carbon-fiber trim provides a contact of sophistication.
There’s additionally loads of security tools to maintain you and your passengers protected. It comes with stop-and-go ahead collision warning, adaptive cruise management, blind spot warning and entrance and rear parking sensors.
Our favourite trim is the Ti, which has a extra refined and upscale cabin. Its leather-based seats, heated and cooled entrance seats and heated steering wheel are commonplace and there is a 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.
However the Stelvio’s inside would not stand out as a lot as we might like, particularly in comparison with its opponents on this phase. The 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen is not the biggest in its class, and its materials high quality and craftsmanship aren’t at their finest.
The Stelvio’s drive-mode selector will help you loosen or sharpen the reactions relying on the way you’re driving. It is a good selection, however it may be just a little distracting and will not swimsuit everybody’s tastes.
Design
Alfa Romeo has lengthy been identified for its racing heritage, so it is sensible that its Stelvio is a performance-minded SUV. Regardless of its dimension, the Stelvio’s styling is distinctive and aggressive. It is a sharp distinction to the extra typical compact luxurious crossovers that compete with it on the street.
Our check automotive was the Estrema trim, which provides lots of type and sportiness for its worth. It additionally provides options from the high-performance Quadrifoglio, together with an adaptive suspension and limited-slip rear differential.
We discovered the steering and brakes to be fast and responsive. Experience high quality is great, even with huge 21-inch wheels and tires.
The infotainment system is a little bit of a disappointment, although. We like the straightforward menu construction and rotary dial for redundant management, however the touchscreen may very well be just a little extra responsive. The navigation alerts will be delayed, so we normally missed turns.
In comparison with different autos in its class, the Stelvio’s inside is a bit cramped. Its cabin has a comparatively low roofline, however the pillars and door panels are fairly thick, which limits visibility and rear seat legroom.
However the Stelvio remains to be a fairly good selection for these on the lookout for an unique, sporty SUV with out sacrificing consolation and facilities. We additionally like its Italian pedigree.
For 2023, Alfa Romeo is including just a few new limited-edition trims. One is the Lusso, which builds on the Ti with premium leather-based upholstery in Crema (white) and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. One other is the Estrema, which slots in between the Ti and Quadrifoglio trims. It provides the Quadrifoglio’s adaptive suspension and limited-slip differential together with beauty upgrades.
Consolation
The 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Exceptionally sporty however compromised
The 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is the model’s first SUV and it is designed to draw a brand new crowd of consumers who might have been delay by extra typical fashions from rivals similar to BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche. That is why Alfa’s engineers have gone out of their strategy to make the SUV stand out from the pack by making it a singular mix of efficiency and design that would fulfill those that nonetheless miss a sports activities automotive however do not need to drive a high-end sedan anymore.
In contrast with the competitors, it is easy to get behind the wheel of this compact SUV and instantly really feel the distinction by way of dealing with and journey high quality. It is also fast to reply, and the steering is remarkably mild, making it really feel very related to the street – even with all that added weight and dimension of the SUV!
A zesty 280-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder with eight-speed computerized transmission is commonplace on the bottom Dash trim and out there on all different trim ranges, whereas the 505-hp Quadrifoglio, reviewed individually, will get a twin-turbo V6 that is sourced from Ferrari. Whatever the engine you choose, you will have an exhilarating driving expertise.
Inside, the inside of the 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio seems like a high-end household automobile with its top-notch supplies and positive design. You will discover premium seats made from positive leather-based, aluminum or carbon fiber trim and quite a few tech options to maintain you entertained whilst you’re out on the street.
The infotainment system is not as spectacular because it is likely to be in rivals, however you should use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to navigate the touchscreen or rotary dial, or go for an out there dual-screen setup that gives a widescreen and a smaller show. The audio system is respectable, although not so good as the one within the father or mother firm’s Uconnect system, which additionally is out there in different Alfa autos.
Expertise
In the event you’re on the lookout for an SUV that seems like a sports activities automotive, the 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio may very well be simply what you want. This Italian-made SUV prioritizes driving dynamics over luxurious options.
The Stelvio provides a spread of trim ranges and options. Our check mannequin was the Quadrifoglio, which packs 505 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque right into a 2.9-liter V6 derived from a modular Ferrari engine household. It is fast, aggressive and really pleasing to drive, particularly in Quadrifoglio type.
Except for the roaring engine, the Quadrifoglio additionally boasts a set of expertise that ensures its efficiency is unmatched by every other SUV in the marketplace. Its Chassis Area Management coordinates all the assorted interventions of its totally different techniques, from DNA driving system to energetic suspension to This fall all-wheel drive and torque vectoring – and assigns every of those duties to particular areas to optimise efficiency and driving pleasure.
Our tester was geared up with the Quadrifoglio’s non-compulsory rear-wheel drive and all-wheel steering, which helps make it just a little extra nimble on the street. Its traction and stability management are each spectacular, and the brakes work exceptionally properly to maintain you in your lane.
One other distinctive function is the Torque Vectoring management system, which maximises tyre grip and reduces understeering by as much as 17%. It is a main enchancment over conventional techniques, and it really works with all fashions within the Stelvio lineup, together with Dash, Ti, Lusso, Veloce and Estrema.
The infotainment system is an enchancment over the 2020 mannequin, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and commonplace smartphone integration. However its 8.8-inch display is just a little small, and navigation alerts generally happen too late for us to hit our locations. That is a small criticism, and we might nonetheless advocate the useful rotary controller on the middle console as a substitute of utilizing contact inputs.
Worth
In the event you’re on the lookout for a compact SUV that is extra fascinating than a sedan however much less sensible than an SUV, the 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is a superb alternative. Its Italian pedigree and sharp styling make it unique in a parking lot full of normal household vehicles and its sporty efficiency is a welcome change from the same old choices from opponents just like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Porsche Macan, and Mercedes-Benz GLC.
Its driving dynamics are fantastically composed, and the Stelvio’s steering is well-tuned that can assist you management traction and hold the entrance finish on the street when accelerating. The turbocharged V6 within the Quadrifoglio makes 505 horsepower and accelerates from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds, however you will should pay additional for that mannequin.
The Quadrifoglio has an energetic suspension system and a limited-slip differential that can assist you get higher management of the automotive’s dealing with and a Race drive mode that shifts torque distribution to the entrance wheels. Its Brembo brakes are spectacular, too.
Inside, the cabin is spacious and comfy, although it would not have lots of luxurious tools to make up for its low-end price ticket. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity can be found, however I discovered them a bit gradual to attach.
There’s just a little head- and legroom for adults within the rear seats, which is respectable for the scale of the SUV. The cargo space can be ample, though you will should fold the rear seat backs down for max capability.
The Quadrifoglio’s commonplace This fall all-wheel drive is an actual thrill from behind the wheel. It permits you to drive with two rear wheels till traction loss is detected, then it shifts torque to the entrance axles in lower than a second.
