Alfa Romeo Stelvio review

Once upon a time, the ‘S’ in SUV really did stand for ‘sport’, and there are few SUVs that better embody that than the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. Based on the lively Giulia saloon, it’s certainly big, despite its svelte looks, but it packs a lineup of punchy petrol and diesel engines and the promise of agile handling.

Of course, the ‘U’ for ‘utility’ needs to be addressed, too, and the Stelvio can’t afford to forget about practicality, especially since the premium end of the large SUV class where the Stelvio sits is also home to some extremely well-rounded rivals – Alfa’s first ever SUV is up against the Audi Q5 and BMW X3.  

It’s perhaps closer in spirit to the sportier Jaguar F-Pace, though, and also faces a strong challenge from the Porsche Macan as a ‘driver’s SUV’. Fortunately, the mouth-watering prospect of the range-topping Stelvio Quadrifoglio helps its case here; it’s powered by a Ferrari-sourced V6 petrol engine and you can read that model in its own review.

Since arriving in 2017 the Stelvio has had some tweaks here and there to keep it fresh, most notably a facelift in 2019 that greatly improved the interior quality. So now, aside from having a pretty face and a prettier interior, is the Stelvio a more complete package than those illustrious rivals? Read on to find out how it drives, how spacious it is and which trim level we reckon gives you the best value for money. 

If you’ve made your choice by the end of this review, make sure to head on over to our New Car Buying section for a great deal with no need to haggle.