2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Review
2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Review





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Alfa Romeo Stelvio types
- SUV
- Quadrifoglio
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Edmunds' Expert Review

byCarlos Lago
Carlos Lago has worked in the automotive industry since 2008. Along with an extensive background in performance testing and evaluation, he has produced hundreds of car-related articles and videos.
Pros
- Among the more fun-to-drive compact luxury crossovers available
- Powerful and exciting engine
- Distinctive styling and wheels help it stand out in the crowd
Cons
- Somewhat snug back seat
- Low tow capacity versus segment
- Odd brake pedal feel makes it hard to modulate easily
What’s new
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is a new vehicle for 2018.
Vehicle overview
The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is the latest entry into the compact luxury crossover SUV crowd. It differentiates itself through an appeal to emotion and driving enjoyment. To that end, it boasts distinctive styling, a powerful engine, and a name borrowed from a winding road in northern Italy.
Though the name might seem a better fit on a sports car, the Stelvio backs it up with sharp handling, accurate steering, and an engine that's eager to break speed limits. Indeed, Alfa Romeo has ensured that driving enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy about this SUV, from outfitting Sport trims with satisfying and enormous aluminum shift paddles to offering a rear locking mechanical differential.
The third vehicle Alfa Romeo has introduced during its return to the United States, the Stelvio is based largely on the Giulia sedan, sharing its powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine, chassis and trim levels. Also like the Giulia, the Stelvio will also be available in a high-performance, turbo V6-powered Quadrifoglio variant that will be available early next year.
Favoring sport means a few trade-offs when it comes to utility. The Stelvio is a little smaller than most of the SUVs it competes against, resulting in a more compact second row and tighter cargo volume. Its towing capability falls on the low side, and it is not intended to go off-road. The interior is also a little plain when compared to other options.
Still, the Stelvio's appeal rests on its special charm and character, and for that we think it's worth your consideration.
Edmunds' Expert Rating
7.3 / 10The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is the latest entry into the compact luxury crossover SUV crowd. It differentiates itself through distinctive styling, a powerful engine, and a name borrowed from a winding road in northern Italy. If other luxury crossovers are too boring, the Stelvio could be just for you.
Trim tested
Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our First Drive of the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio (turbo 2.0L inline-4 | 8-speed automatic | AWD).
Scorecard
Overall | 7.3 / 10 |
Driving | 8.0 |
Comfort | 8.0 |
Interior | 7.5 |
Utility | 6.0 |
Technology | 6.0 |
Driving
8.0From a powerful turbocharged engine to quick, precise steering, the Stelvio's focus on driving engagement is sure to make your commute more memorable. Still, a slight hesitation when accelerating from a stop and a vague brake pedal feel might be annoying for some drivers.
Comfort
8.0The Stelvio's sporty intentions doesn't come with the expected penalties to ride quality. Higher-spec Ti trims gain more comfortable and 12-way adjustable seats, though the second row may seem cramped to larger passengers.
Interior
7.5The flamboyance of the exterior doesn't continue inside. Available wood and aluminum trims add a sense of luxury, but the overall impression is somewhat plain. You'll find richer interiors inside most competitors.
Utility
6.0The Stelvio's compact dimensions mean it doesn't have as much cargo space as many of the SUVs in its segment. Its tow rating is at the lowest of the group, and it is not intended to go off-road.
Technology
6.0A rotary controller and straightforward graphics make the entertainment system easy to navigate, though it could use a back button. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality arrive in the fall; models sold before then will not be able to upgrade.
Which Stelvio does Edmunds recommend?
While the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio offers an enjoyable experience at all trim levels, the Ti outfitted with the Sport package represents the best of what this SUV has to offer. The Ti provides a more premium experience, adding more attractive interior materials and heating for the front seats and steering wheel. The Sport package completes the experience with supportive seats, great-looking 20-inch wheels, satisfying shift paddles, and your choice of red, black or yellow brake calipers.
2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio models
The 2018 Alfa Romeo is a compact, all-wheel-drive crossover luxury SUV that's available in three variants: a base Stelvio, luxury-oriented Ti and high-performance Quadrifoglio that will be available early next year. The solidly equipped base and Ti models come with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder (280 horsepower, 306 pound-feet of torque) and an eight-speed automatic with all-wheel drive. The Quadrifoglio is a different animal entirely, with its stiffer suspension tuning, stickier tires and Ferrari-derived twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 (505 horsepower, 443 pound-feet of torque).
The base Stelvio comes standard with features such as 18-inch wheels, adaptive suspension dampers, Brembo brakes, xenon headlights, roof rails, a power liftgate, keyless ignition and entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient interior lighting, leather upholstery, 10-way power-adjustable front seats and adjustable drive settings. Technology features include a large driver information display, a 6.5-inch central touchscreen, a rearview camera, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, four USB ports (two in front and two charge-only ports for rear passengers) and an eight-speaker stereo system.
The Ti comes with more standard equipment, including 19-inch wheels, front parking sensors, an 8.8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.
A Sport package, available for both trims, adds larger diameter wheels (19 inches for base, 20 inches for the Ti), different exterior and interior trim, paddle shifters and stiffer suspension tuning. On top of that, the Ti gains sport front seats with power-adjustable bolsters.
A Ti-specific Performance package (late availability) adds a driver-adjustable adaptive suspension and a rear mechanical locking limited-slip differential, while a Ti Lusso package adds upgraded front seats, additional leather upholstery and upgraded interior trim.
Additional safety features are available through separate Static and Dynamic driver assistance packages. The former adds blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and auto-dimming mirrors. The latter includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and mitigation, lane departure warning and auto high beams.
A Convenience package adds an adjustable rail cargo system, 115-volt auxiliary power and cargo net, and is available with or without a hands-free liftgate. Both the base and Ti offer a similar pool of stand-alone options that include navigation, Harman Kardon audio, a dual-pane sunroof, and a variety of wheel types and exterior colors.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio.
5 star(65%)
4 star(18%)
3 star(6%)
2 star(7%)
1 star(4%)
72 reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
It is a driver's car, plain and simple
K Cope, 10/16/2018
2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti Sport 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
There are more comfortable cars, ones with fancier interiors, and some with tons of high tech gadgets, but nothing under $75,000 drives like my Stelvio Ti Sport. I have owned sports cars as well as high end luxury sedans, and this is a perfect meld of the two. There has never been a car I owned which put a smile on my face and made me want to come up with excuses for which to drive. … (Well, perhaps my Shelby Mustang GT350 . . . ) Whipping up and down through the gears with the paddle shifters on a twisty road while the car gurgles and pops is an absolute blast. I also considered the Jaguar E Pace and Porsche Macan, but to get the sports car experience you need to upgrade to larger engine sizes and much more expensive trim levels. (For the record, like both the Jag and Porsche very much) To date, I have had the car for two years, put 25,000 smile-filled miles on it, and have only minor problems which were quickly addressed by the dealership. I got a 10 year/125k mile warranty at a reasonable price when I bought it, so should not have too much to worry about for the next decade, other than replacing tires and paying off speeding tickets.
5 out of 5 stars
Alfa is here to stay-a blast to drive
Lloyd, 04/28/2018
2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
Alfa Romeo has hit a home run with both the Stelvio and Giulia. I was going to lease another BMW 3 series x drive but the salesman was so pushy and annoying I decided to give Alfa Romeo a look. I was impressed with the looks of the Stelvio. A few days before I had test driven the Lexus NX 300 and while it drove OK I did not like the looks of the front grill-big mistake on Lexus' part. I … leased a Stelvio, with Navigation--The vehicle comes with a lot of standard features and is priced well. Simply put, it handles great. It is fast and has no body lean on the turns. The breaking is a tad too responsive so it takes a bit of getting used to but this is a minor quibble. The steering is sharp, precise and smooth. I am glad I got out of the BMW as the Stelvio seats are way more comfortable. Also, the front cabin is roomy and has great headroom. My only complaint with the vehicle so far is that the radio has only 7 presets and the Satellite radio does not maintain the group of channels when one station is selected. I will give a nod to the BMW radio setup in that if I was listening to the comedy channels on the Satellite radio, the screen would maintain those channels so I could switch back and forth easily--the Stelvio only has one station listed and defaults back to the beginning if you want to browse through the stations. Otherwise, it is better in every respect and is a joy to drive. I took the car in for a service check and got the Giulia as a loaner. It too handles unbelievably well. It accelerates with no effort. It is makes driving fun again and I would have been happy if I had leased this car--I highly recommend either car and they price out very well compared to the competition. Bravo ALFA
2 out of 5 stars
It's got some things to work out.
John Doe, 06/28/2019
2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti Sport 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
My wife and I got this car just over a year ago now, and we are looking to get out of it as soon as possible. With anything, there are pros and cons. In our case, the cons have outweighed the pros.
Cons: 1. In the year that we've owned the vehicle, we have received three recall notices. 2. The dashboard check engine light comes on frequently with warning signs that scroll through … practically every electrical feature of the car (collision warning, blinkers, brake lights, and everything else) and say there not working. 3. The dash display frequently glitches out. 4. The car can be very jumpy and randomly, suddenly propel you forward from a stop (like a sudden unintended explosion of acceleration). And 5. The biggest concern I have had with this car has happened twice now. While getting on the highway, where I live we have the traffic lights entering the highway to slow traffic coming in. The auto start/stop feature turns the car's engine off at the traffic, and twice it hasn't come back on immediately. I put my foot on the gas and the car simply started rolling backwards nearly hitting the car behind me (after stopping again and trying again it usually works).
Pros: 1. Insanely good precision steering - point the car where you want it to go and it reacts better than anything I've experienced. 2. Great performance. 3. Really smooth transmission. 4. Styling is quite nice, especially with the bigger wheels. 5. Cool points at parties.
I think that Alfa has potential for a really great product, but has some kinks to work out. As of now, I have no faith in the longevity of the vehicle. Other reviews don't indicate such an experience, so maybe we just got one of the few bad ones. As stated above though, we are now looking to get out of this car as soon as possible. I look forward to seeing the quality of Alfa improve as it gains experience in the commercial automotive market.
5 out of 5 stars
Fast if you are into that type of thing
Morgan, 02/07/2018
2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
This is a great driving SUV. It feels like driving a sports sedan but has more trunk space and sits up higher. It is fast and fun to drive. It doesn't take bumps as kindly as typical SUV, but then again if you wanted a typical SUV then you wouldn't buy this car. I wanted a sports car and my wife wanted an SUV. This has been a great compromise, especially because it handles the … potholes here in the northeast WAY better than our Mercedes sedan did. General drawbacks - Some features feel a bit cheap in a way Mercedes would never have skimped. Specific drawbacks 1. some nobs feel cheap 2. heat seats are more like seat warmers, not hot or fast. 3 back up camera feels pretty 2012 not 2017 4. parking sensors are a bit sluggish and not as accurate as I would like. Overall this car is a beast and I love it.
2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio video
CARLOS LAGO: Welcome to Nashville. I've flown out to test drive the new Alfa Romeo Stelvio. The Stelvio is a compact, luxury-oriented SUV that competes against the BMW X3, Audi Q5, Mercedes Benz GLC, Porsche Macan, Jaguar F pace, and on and on. The list is so long because this is a very hot and very competitive segment. So you've got to stand out. Now, the way Alfa Romeo does this is they've named the Stelvio after a very curvy road in the Italian Alps. It's kind of a strange thing. You would typically think a name like that would be reserved for a sports car, but not for Alfa Romeo. The Stelvio name indicates what Alfa Romeo is trying to do with this car, what they want to convey with this car. And that's a sense of driving passion and driving enjoyment. Inside and out, this is a very unique and parts of it very attractive look that sets it aside from the typical luxury compact SUV. There's a purposefulness to the design that says, this is something that has sporty intentions. I mean, just look at the wheels, for example. The latest Alfa Romeo wheels look amazing. Some parts of it might be hit or miss but that's for you to decide. I still go back and forth on the front end of this car, though the rear, the rear 3/4, especially this thing, looks nice. The same is true inside. It's an interior that almost might seem plain, but it's a careful use of materials in it. Its simplicity gives it an attraction that will make it seem at home on the day-to-day usage. Now, every Stelvio except for the high performance version comes with a turbocharged two-liter four cylinder that makes 280 horsepower and 306 pound/feet of torque. Attached to that two-liter turbocharged four cylinder is an 8-speed automatic and all Stelvios come with all-wheel-drive. It's a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system. And most of the time it's directing 100% of the available torque to the rear wheels. But in rare instances, it can set as much as 60% up to the front end. Now, this is supposed to help give it a more natural-feeling sensation when it comes to handling. Although you probably have to be pushing it to notice the effects or be a very astute super sensitive driver. So those kinds of things. The ride is on the firmer side and it's controlled nicely. You don't get a sense that this thing weighs the 4,000 pounds or plus that it does weight. And that's really nice. Driving a sport version of the Stelvio, which comes with these enormous aluminum shift paddles, they kind of look like they're novelty size. And there's a couple of things about these shift pedals that are actually pretty nice. When you put this thing in manual mode and start relying on them, they hold gears even if you run into red line. They want to make this experience like driving a manual vehicle. One of the things we have noticed, though, is that this car employs a brake-by-wire system. There's no mechanical connection between the brake pedal and the brakes themselves. It's all done electronically. And this can-- most of the time it feels OK, but occasionally you do get this sense of uncanny valley, where the response isn't as linear as you would like from a brake pedal. You press on the pedal sometimes and it can take a fraction of a second longer to ramp up the brake response that you're looking for. General driving, it's fine. It just takes some getting used to. The acceleration is impressive. When you come to a stop there's a bit of a delay. Part of it's because of turbo lag. There's only so much you can do running a ton of boost through a small displacement engine. But once this motor gets going, it has no problem developing speed. The goal of this vehicle to make driving more engaging, more satisfying, more fun than your typical luxury SUV, I think they've done a very good job at that. At least in this initial impression. Such that I've got to make sure I'm watching my speed, and it's Parkway here. I can't wait to get this car back to our office to do more extended testing on it. But for the time being, this looks like a very promising first drive.
2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Review
Jump in the passenger seat of the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio as Senior Writer Carlos Lago test-drives Alfa Romeo's new luxury compact SUV in Nashville. Watch the video to find out if this unique-looking all-wheel-drive compact SUV, equipped with a 280-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter… four-cylinder, lives up to its sporty name.
2018 Stelvio Highlights
SUV
Base
- Combined MPG
- 24 MPG
- Cost to Drive
- $200/month
- Seating
- 5 seats
- Drivetrain
- all wheel drive
- Engine Type
- Gas
- Warranty
- 4 years / 50,000 miles
Safety
Our experts like the Stelvio models:
- Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning-Plus
- Applies the brakes automatically if it senses a front collision is imminent in an effort to mitigate the damage.
- Adaptive Cruise Control-Plus with Full Stop
- Keeps pace with the speed of the car in front of you, even if that means slowing to a stop.
- Departure Warning
- Alerts you if it senses the vehicle unintentionally leaving its lane.
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More about the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Used 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Overview
The Used 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is offered in the following submodels: Stelvio Quadrifoglio, Stelvio SUV. Available styles include Ti Sport 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A), Sport 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A), 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A), Ti 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A), Quadrifoglio 4dr SUV AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo 8A), and Ti Lusso 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A). Pre-owned Alfa Romeo Stelvio models are available with a 2.0 L-liter gas engine, with output up to 280 hp, depending on engine type. The Used 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio comes with all wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 8-speed shiftable automatic.
What's a good price on a Used 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio?
Price comparisons for Used 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio trim styles:
- The Used 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti is priced between $25,990 and$29,990 with odometer readings between 24793 and66467 miles.
- The Used 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Base is priced between $23,500 and$27,590 with odometer readings between 15258 and57429 miles.
- The Used 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Sport is priced between $25,589 and$32,990 with odometer readings between 8673 and51857 miles.
- The Used 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti Sport is priced between $27,590 and$30,590 with odometer readings between 29043 and60287 miles.
- The Used 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti Lusso is priced between $28,999 and$31,990 with odometer readings between 32110 and41760 miles.
Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on used cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, VA. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them.
Which used 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvios are available in my area?
Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio for sale near. There are currently 43 used and CPO 2018 Stelvios listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as $23,500 and mileage as low as 8673 miles. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a used car from our massive database to find cheap prew-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the AutoCheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the Used 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio.
Can't find a used 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvios you want in your area? Consider a broader search.
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Should I lease or buy a 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio?
Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.
Check out Alfa Romeo lease specials
Check out Alfa Romeo Stelvio lease specials
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