The Stelvio belongs to the D-SUV segment and has a certainly sporty approach, within this segment will have to fight with models like the BMW X3 and X4, the Mercedes-Benz GLC, the Range Rover Evoque, the Jaguar F-Pace or the Porsche Macan, so it will not have a smooth road. It has a good sales argument: it claims to be the lightest in its category, something very important in a type of car so weighed down by the consequences of its design.
This subject is very subjective and depends more on the eye than on the object itself, but there is no denying that the design of this car is really attractive. Its exterior image is imposing and sporty and it is clear that it will turn a lot of heads. The Stelvio measures 4.68 m in length, 1.67 m in height and 2.16 m in width. The width figure may cause some problems when driving in very narrow streets, so it is not very advisable to maneuver in tight places, although it does not stand out much from the measures of its rivals.
We can choose between 13 body colours -pastels, metallic and three-layer- and 11 different alloy wheels. Both the exterior and interior design have a certainly sporty air, as usual in the brand. Inside, the driver has a special importance in the cabin, a concept highlighted by the diagonal tunnel, the slightly undulating dashboard and the small steering wheel.
The Stelvio range has two trim levels available since its launch: Super and First Edition, although in the future it will have three trim levels: Stelvio, Super and Speciale. The first finish is associated with the 210 hp diesel engine, with Q4 all-wheel drive.
The Super version has exclusive interior and exterior features: 18″ alloy wheels, leather and fabric seats in three colors (black and two-tone black/brown and black/red), three dashboard and door panel colors (black, black/brown or black/red) and steel corner protectors. The Super can be complemented with equipment packs: Sport Pack, Luxury Pack (Grey Wood/Walnut Wood), Bi-Xenon Pack, Mid-level audio-High Fidelity Audio Pack, Driver Assistance PLUS Pack, Driver Assistance Pack; Power seats Pack, Cold weather Pack, Convenience Pack and Business Pack.
The First Edition variant has an even richer range of equipment, including 20" alloy wheels, Bi-Xenon headlights, chrome window surrounds, tinted rear windows, eight-way adjustable electric leather seats with memory function and heating, heated leather steering wheel and heated leather steering wheel, heated leather steering wheel, wooden dashboard inserts, emergency braking assistant, lane keeping assistant, 7" instrument panel display, AlfaConnect 8.8" navigator, electric tailgate and rear view camera.
The 210 hp diesel engine, associated with the Super trim, and the 280 hp petrol engine, associated with the special "First Edition", have starting prices of 48,300 and 62,000 euros, respectively.
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio offers a 3.5 or 7-inch TFT colour information display, while the driver/vehicle interface consists of two rotary controls for easy and immediate use of the Alfa DNA selector and Alfa Connect system. Depending on the version, Alfa Connect has a 6.5″ or 8.8″ high-resolution screen with integral 3D navigator function - also with 2D function - the new frontier in infotainment developed in collaboration with Magneti Marelli with which we can use the navigator even without GPS signal thanks to the Dead Reckoning function. Another of its features is the "optical bonding", which achieves an excellent level of visualization and readability on the screen, according to the manufacturer.
The main pillar in the development of this model has been the sportiness and driving dynamics. It is the lightest model in the segment, as well as featuring a very balanced weight distribution between axles and a suspension with Alfa's patented Alfalink™ technology, which consists of a quadrilateral suspension system with a semi-virtual steering axle.
In the chassis we can find ultra-light materials, which contribute greatly to reducing the weight of the vehicle, we can find carbon fiber in the drive shaft and aluminum in the engines, suspension systems, hood, fins, doors and tailgate, all complemented by the Q4 all-wheel drive with an active transfer case that in normal conditions sends all the torque to the rear axle and in low grip conditions can send up to 50% of the force to the front wheels.
Also available is the DNA driving mode selection system and self-locking rear differential, the latter part of the optional equipment.
From launch there is a choice of two engines, one petrol and one diesel, apart from the Quadrifoglio Verde. Both engines are turbocharged, the petrol engine is a 2.0 litre with an output of 280 bhp and the diesel is a 2.2 with 210 bhp, both are linked to an 8-speed automatic gearbox.
New engines will be added to the range in the coming weeks, including the 200bhp 2.0-litre petrol and 180bhp 2.2-litre diesel, the latter of which will also be available with rear-wheel drive. The 2.2-litre diesel engine is the first in Alfa Romeo's history to be built entirely in aluminium and is manufactured in Italy at the Termoli (petrol) and Pratola Serra (diesel) plants, in areas allocated solely to Alfa Romeo engines.
As usual, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is equipped with the latest driving assistance systems, including the IBS integrated braking system, which is the first time it has been fitted on a vehicle in this segment and is made up of an electromechanical system that combines stability control with a traditional brake servo, achieving a shorter braking distance. It also has Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, which is capable of stopping the vehicle from 65 km / h in the event of detecting a pedestrian and the driver does not act on the brake.
We can also equip the LDW lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, the blind spot detector or the crossing detector in the rear, able to warn us of vehicles approaching at a speed of less than 35 km / h when we are leaving a battery parking.
