I drove the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Veolce – on the road it’s a dream and handles like a sports car but there are downsides
IN a world where it feels like things are changing too fast to keep up, there are still a few things which stay the same.
And we can take some form of comfort from that.
The lives of the Beckhams will never stop being fascinating.
Train drivers have been striking since, well, the train was invented.
And Alfa Romeo continues to make cars that look sensational and drive even better after 113 years.
Even in 2023, as it follows the rest of the industry into the SUV market, it’s still putting design and performance over sensible things like comfort and infotainment.
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This Stelvio is the only mainstream SUV I can think of that might make it on to a teenager’s bedroom wall.
I’m obviously excluding millionaire/ billionaire toys like the Aston Martin DBX and Ferrari Purosangue.
Out on the road, it’s a dream.
Even the 2.2-litre diesel model is set up with a tight chassis which makes it handle more like a sports car than an SUV.
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Pay a couple of grand more for the 280hp petrol version, you’ve also got a solid dollop of power to frighten the kids in the back with.
There’s even a 510hp Ferrari-engined Quadrifoglio version which is another level of performance altogether, and not far off £100k cheaper than the DBX.
But, inevitably, Stelvio has its downsides.
The car cliche when it comes to Alfas is that they look and drive great, but they’re unreliable. That’s no longer the case.
But it isn’t doing enough to compete with premium German rivals when it comes to the interior tech, namely the infotainment system.
Five years ago it would have not drawn criticism, but today customers at this end of the market expect the crisp graphics, high customisation options and speedy response times of systems like BMW’s iDrive.
Luckily, the rest of the interior looks great.
The cockpit is driver-focused, with lower-slung sports seats which complement the Stelvio’s aggressive driving manners.
Space in the back is noticeably tighter than something like the Audi Q5 or Jaguar F-Pace, and the boot space is bang-average for the class. But hey, this is an Alfa Romeo.
So what’s the verdict? Well, it comes down to what’s more important to you – having the best tech and practicality or driving an SUV that makes you feel alive and turns heads.
Arguably, the Porsche Macan offers all of the above in one package, but it’s more expensive and not as rapid over 0-62mph in the comparable specs.
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The best thing for me about Stelvio is you just don’t see many of them on the road, and there’s a lot to be said for originality.
It’s good that some things don’t change.
Key facts: ALFA ROMEO STELVIO VELOCE
- Price: £52,240
- Engine: 2-litre turbo petrol
- Power: 280hp 0-62mph: 5.7 secs Top speed: 143mph Economy: 33mpg
- CO2: 192g/km
- Out: Now