New Alfa Romeo SUV teased: Kia Sportage rival to arrive in 2027
When you think of the humble family SUV, the phrase ‘fun to drive’ probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But Alfa Romeo will be hoping to change that with the introduction of an all-new mid-size model arriving next year.
Indeed, the Italian brand’s next model will take on the likes of the huge-selling Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson, building on the work of the Tonale, which it is expected to replace. If it wants to compete against those popular rivals, it’ll need to be comfortable to drive and spacious inside, while taking on the additional challenge of injecting some dynamism into the way it drives, as you’d expect from an brand with such sporting heritage.
The new model will be based on parent company Stellantis’s STLA Medium underpinnings, which has the capability of facilitating a variety of power options, including mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric set-ups. It’s the same technology that underpins the likes of the Citroën C5 Aircross and Jeep Compass.
No technical details of Alfa Romeo’s new SUV have been revealed yet, but for reference, the C5 Aircross and Compass use a 1.2-litre engine in mild hybrid form, pumping out 143bhp, while plug-in hybrid versions of the C5 Aircross and closely-related Peugeot 3008 use a 1.6-litre engine and 18kWh battery for 192bhp.
Meanwhile, fully-electric versions of those cars produce up to 320bhp and can manage up to 434 miles of range.
Based on the teaser image Alfa Romeo unveiled today, it looks like its new SUV gets some swooping lines, in keeping with the brand’s other models. Unlike the boxy shape of its C5 Aircross and Compass siblings, it could get a ‘fastback’ silhouette similar to that of the 3008 to build on the Italian brand’s sporting heritage.
The new SUV will be followed by a Giulietta-sized family hatchback, plus an exclusive new sports car. Both the SUV and the hatchback are expected to share a similar footprint and the same technological underpinnings.
Alfa Romeo’s family SUV will be fully unveiled at the end of 2027. No name has yet been confirmed, but considering the Tonale and larger Stelvio are both named after Italian mountain passes, the new model could bear a similar geographical badge.
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