Alfa Romeo Stelvio review (2021): Is style enough to surmount stiff competition?
Alfa Romeo rarely introduced updated or new products to the local market, so when it recently launched an updated version of both the Stelvio and Giulia locally, we were keen to get behind the wheel. The former arrived for a week-long stay recently.
When we think of seminal products for a particular brand, the Hilux would be considered one for Toyota, the Polo Vivo one for Volkswagen, but for Alfa Romeo, the product in its current portfolio that carries the most weight is certainly its Stelvio SUV.
The brand’s only SUV was updated last year and has now reached local shores along with the enhanced Giulia, with which it shares its platform and many other components. The Stelvio was the first of the duo to be delivered to AutoTrader for review purposes, and we were excited to again experience a product from the Italian brand.
Styling
There is no getting past the dramatic exterior of the Stelvio, and despite styling being an inherently subjective matter, we are certain that there are very few who would argue that this is an achingly pretty SUV, which garnered attention wherever we travelled.
Interior and space
The interior of the Stelvio has not changed very much, but there have been additions in the form of on-board tech, with the Drive Assistance Pack that includes Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Assist and high-beam assist, while there are also electrically adjustable front seats, the addition of rear USB ports, a wireless charging pad and a rear cargo net. The same 8.8-inch infotainment system does duty in the centre console, and features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is reasonably good, but lagging behind some key rivals now.
From a practicality perspective, the Stelvio offers a healthy 525-litres of boot space, which extends to 1 600-litres with the rear seats folded flat, while the rear occupant space is good for the segment. For those looking to tow, there’s a 2 300kg limit, but we shudder to think of what the fuel returns would be like.
Performance and driving impression
Powering the Stelvio is a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces 206kW and 400Nm of torque. The engine is paired with an 8-speed ZF-sourced torque converter automatic gearbox that sends power to all four wheels. Performance is more than adequate, with the 0-100km/h sprint time being dispatched in 5.7 seconds and the top speed pegged at 230km/h. Weighing in at 1 660kg, the Stelvio is lighter than key rivals, which may explain why it feels as sprightly as it does when changing direction.
The driving experience on offer from the Stelvio is surprisingly sporty when “D’ is selected on the DNA driving mode selector. It has an incredibly direct steering response and handling characteristics that make it genuinely fun to drive, which some may see as entirely pointless in an SUV, while others consider it an endearing characteristic. Leave the vehicle in its default “N” driving mode and it goes about its business in a rather fuss-free manner, offering the expected refinement, comfort and occupant satisfaction one anticipates from a car at this price point.
Safety
The Stelvio range was crash-tested by the ANCAP assessment programme in 2017, where it achieved the maximum 5-Star rating. The rating includes 97% for adult occupant safety, 84% for child occupant safety, 71% for pedestrian safety and 60% for its safety assistance systems.
Fuel economy
The Stelvio’s real Achilles’ heel is its fuel consumption, which Alfa Romeo claim a fuel consumption figure of 7.0 L/100km, however, our time with the product resulted in a combined figure of 12.2 L/100km, which is less than ideal.
Pricing
The Stelvio retails for R1 159 900, which is around R100 000 more than the likes of the updated Porsche Macan, the New Audi Q5 Sportback and Mercedes-Benz GLC, but comes pretty much fully specified. The model comes with a 5-year/100 000km warranty and a 5-year/100 000km maintenance plan.
Verdict
There was an important realisation during our time with the Stelvio, and that was that we genuinely looked forward to driving it each time we hopped on board, which is important when shopping for a premium SUV with a dynamic slant. The problem that the product faces is its competition, which are incredibly competent and well-priced, making it difficult to recommend the Stelvio outright, but it is certainly worth a drive, should you have an Alfa Romeo dealership in your area, of course.
