COVER Alfa Stelvio driven
We drive striking new Porsche Macan rival that’s set to lead sales charge
Italians have created a winner with stylish new SUV
THE Stelvio SUV is very possibly the most important car in Alfa Romeo’s 105-year history, according to company boss Reid Bigland.
But if that sounds like hyperbole given Alfa’s illustrious past, then consider this: the Stelvio will account for more than half of all Alfa sales globally once it hits the road later this year – and in the process, it will transform the brand into a major world player in the premium segment. The Stelvio will spearhead a new marketing push, not just into the US, but China and Asia as well.
In the UK it could even account for as much as two-thirds of Alfa sales over the next five years, so it’s a fundamental car for the famous old Italian brand.
Based heavily on the underpinnings of the well received Giulia saloon, the Stelvio will initially come with two engine choices in the UK; a 2.0-litre turbo petrol unit with 276bhp and 400Nm, or a 2.2-litre diesel with 207bhp and 470Nm. Both versions will be linked to an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard – a manual isn’t even available as an option. Both will be allwheel drive, featuring the same clever Q4 system pioneered on the Giulia.
Eventually, a more potent 503bhp flagship will join the mainstays, using the same Ferrari-derived twin-turbo V6 as the Giulia Quadrifoglio. The 0-62mph time for this £60,000-plus mega Stelvio will be under four seconds, says Alfa, but it won’t go on sale here until 2018.
For the time being, then, Stelvio customers will have to make do with the two versions we’ve driven here. So what are they like?
We tried the petrol model to begin with and the first thing that struck us, long before setting off, was how well made it felt from behind the wheel. The dash architecture is almost identical to the Giulia’s, with a central infotainment screen to the side of the two main instruments.
There’s more than a whiff of junior Maserati to the interior design, and the sense of quality is in a different league from Alfas of old. The driving position is 190mm higher than in the Giulia, but you don’t feel perched up too high in the Stelvio. The balance between increased SUV visibility and snug sportiness is about right, in fact, much like it is in the Porsche Macan.
Space in the back is good, with room for a six-foot passenger behind a tall driver, but there’s no real abundance of space. The boot, however, is as big and usable as it gets at this level, offering impressive height and width and boosted by split seats.
On the move, the Stelvio displays a lightness of touch that is initially quite surprising for an SUV – even a small, sporting one such as this. The electric power steering is ultra-light but also very direct, while the ride is excellent. Body roll is extremely well controlled; it’s virtually non-existent in most corners.
Performance from the 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine is strong, although not mindboggling, despite Alfa’s claim of 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds. But even if it never feels that quick, there is little lag and a healthy shove of acceleration in the mid-range.
The sound from the engine is a touch disappointing, despite the car’s dreaded noise amplification system, while the way it refuses to rev much beyond 6,000rpm before the limiter intrudes is frustrating, too. Both aspects are the result
of having to adhere to increasingly strict emissions regulations, say the engineers.
What does work very well indeed, though, is the eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox. In automatic mode it’s as smooth and seamless as you could want, and as a manual, it provides an extra hit of driver control, with smooth but fast changes occurring at the flick of a paddle.
The diesel Stelvio is the one to go for. Although it has less power than the petrol, there’s a chunk more torque on tap, which lends the Stelvio a deeper level of performance where it counts. And because there’s little or no trade-off against the petrol car in terms of engine and exhaust noise, the diesel’s extra torque and superior economy mean that it has the edge overall.
Talking of fuel, on paper, the Stelvio diesel actually surpasses its German rivals for emissions, too; Alfa says the 2.2 diesel will emit just 127g/km of CO2. A less powerful Audi Q5 claims 132g/km and the ageing BMW X3 xdrive20d 142g/km. Even the petrol-powered Alfa will return 40mpg with 161g/km of CO2 emissions. Prices are yet to be confirmed, but Alfa tells us all Uk-spec Stelvios will come with the infotainment system and 8.8-inch screen in our test car. The screen also
displays info about the DNA dynamic drive programme that alters the parameters for the steering, suspension, throttle map and so on. Parking sensors, cruise control and an electric tailgate will be included on all cars.
Mid-spec Super models will gain 18-inch alloy wheels, but only top Tecnica versions will come with leather seats as standard. Flagship cars are aimed at fleet customers and feature nav and xenon lights. Strangely, Tecnica trim is only available as a diesel.
All Stelvios will come with Lane Departure Warning, as well as Forward Collision Warning with Autonomous Emergency Brake and pedestrian detection.