Yahoo Autos 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Overall Rating:
Forged from the fires of Italy and sent overseas to satiate the appetites of crossover-crazed Americans, the Stelvio manages to be both fascinating to behold and entertaining to drive. Its exotic styling and ethereal handling separate it from most competitors. While Alfa Romeo seeks to erase its reputation for poor reliability, the Stelvio’s unproven powertrain and questionable build quality remain red flags. Still, the Italian crossover has impressive standard features and outstanding performance that put revered rivals in its crosshairs. Svelte and swift, the Stelvio is exceptionally pleasing to look at and-more important to us-to drive.
What’s New for 2018?
One year after Alfa Romeo successfully introduced the Giulia sedan to Americans, the company enters the competitive crossover market with the beautiful Stelvio. Named after one of the most famous driving roads in the world (Italy’s Stelvio Pass), it shares a platform and powertrain with the 10Best Cars–winning Giulia. The crossover is also built with an extensive use of aluminum to keep weight down. Along with standard all-wheel drive and desirable features, the Stelvio lineup includes sporty and luxury models. The high-powered Quadrifoglio is classified separately, thanks to its 505-hp twin-turbocharged V-6 and premium price.
Trims and Options We’d Choose
The Stelvio’s $43,240 starting price is the highest among the rivals listed below, but only by about $1000. The base model has a variety of options and standard features such as leather seats, passive entry, a power liftgate, and a 6.5-inch infotainment display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Still, to unlock our favorite features we need to choose the Ti trim with the $1500 Performance package. While this requires adding the optional navigation system for another $950, it includes:
• Steering-column-mounted paddle shifters
• Limited-slip differential
• Sport-tuned adaptive suspension
These upgrades optimize the Stelvio’s spirited driving experience and save us from spending more on active-safety features and other superfluous items that are bundled on some rivals. The other option we’d add is the $200 Convenience package, which adds a 115-volt power outlet and an adjustable rail system in the cargo area that helps make the best of its below-average storage space. The final price of our Stelvio of choice is $47,890.
Base Price Comparison
('You Might Also Like',)
