Used 2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Sport SUV Review

Most crossover SUVs trade heavily on their ability to move things and ferry people. The 2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, however, prioritizes the driving experience over such plebeian concerns. It strives to be the driver's pick among premium compact crossover SUVs — vehicles that generally aren't known for their dynamic attributes.

The Stelvio enters its second model year in 2019. It shares its fundamental platform, engines and trim levels with the Giulia sedan. It seats five like the Giulia, but unlike its sedan stablemate, the Stelvio is available with all-wheel drive. It's a ball to drive, with sharp steering and precise handling. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is eager to run. The Stelvio offers a pleasant ride quality, too.

The Stelvio doesn't pretend to offer off-road capability, which is actually somewhat refreshing — instead, it doubles down on its ability to handle pavement. For example, it has an optional mechanical differential, huge and gorgeous shift paddles, and a range-topping Quadrifoglio variant that's one of the quickest crossovers you can buy.

There are compromises, of course. The Stelvio gives up some cargo volume and towing capacity to its competitors, while the interior is a mixed bag of material choices. But if you're searching for a sport-oriented premium crossover, this is one of the best.

The 2019 Alfa Romeo is a compact all-wheel-drive small crossover luxury SUV that's available in three variants: a base Stelvio, a luxury-oriented Ti and a high-performance Quadrifoglio. 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. The Quadrifoglio is a different animal entirely, with its stiffer suspension tuning, stickier tires and Ferrari-derived twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 (505 hp, 443 lb-ft of torque).

The base Stelvio comes with rear- or all-wheel drive, and it's well-equipped with standard features such as 18-inch wheels, Brembo brakes, xenon headlights, roof rails, a power liftgate, keyless ignition and entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient interior lighting, leather upholstery, 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 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.

To maximize safety, get the Driver Assist Dynamic Plus package. It adds adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, lane departure warning, and forward collision warning with emergency automatic braking.

Finally, the Quadrifoglio comes with much of the above as standard — the Driver Assist Dynamic Plus package being a notable exception. On top of that, it adds its high-performance engine, 20-inch wheels, Brembo brakes, a navigation system, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and a Harman Kardon sound system.