Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

18 | AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE

R

emember when there was
no such thing as a beautiful
SUV? SUVs were spacious,
sure. And capable. Even
occasionally sporty. But they
were never, ever beautiful.
But clearly something has
changed, because we defy anyone
to gaze upon Alfa Romeo’s
new Stelvio and describe it as
anything but stunning.
The Italian brand’s fi rst-ever
SUV can be had with a choice of
a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol-
producing 149kW and 330Nm,
or a 2.2-litre turbodiesel that
generates 154kW and 470Nm,
both with an eight-speed auto
and all-wheel drive.
The petrol model kicks off at
$65,900 and the turbodiesel at
$67,900.
Standard equipment includes
leather, 19-inch alloys and a
power tailgate.
A 2.0-litre petrol Ti model,
with a 206kW/400Nm engine, is
$78,900.
The headline-stealing act here
is the thumping 2.9-litre bi-turbo

petrol V6 that lives exclusively

in the performance-focused

Quadrifoglio (or Q for short)

model. It’s priced at $149,900.

The same engine that powers

the brand’s fi re-breathing Giulia

QV, the V6 churns out 375kW and

a whopping 600Nm — enough to

see 100km/h whip by the windows

in just 3.8 seconds.

Sure, the cabin materials

aren’t quite up to the soaring

standards of its mostly German

competition (including the BMW

X3, Audi Q5 and Porsche Macan)

and the on-board infotainment

system can feel a generation

behind its premium challengers

at times, too.

But point the Stelvio Q’s

shapely nose at anything

resembling a twisting road and

these drawbacks suddenly feel

like little more than tiny foibles.

That big bi-turbo engine is

the star attraction, sending a

constant fl ow of power to the

rear wheels. The Stelvio’s all-

wheel-drive system only directs

power to the front axle when

maximum grip is required.

That power is channeled

through an eight-speed ZF

automatic gearbox, while active

torque vectoring (using dual-

clutch packs), adaptive dampers

and the ability to customise

the gearbox, acceleration and

steering at the turn of a dial

all add up to an engaging and

smile-inducing drive.

Stelvio sits on the same all-

new Giorgio platform as the

Giulia sedan and benefi ts from

extensive use of aluminium and

lightweight materials.

And that means, no matter

the engine, the Stelvio feels

light and lithe when driven

enthusiastically and offers what

might be the sharpest and most

direct steering ever seen in any

SUV to date.

Stelvio is on the small side

for a premium mid-size SUV,

though, measuring shorter nose-

to-tail than both the BMW X

and Mercedes-Benz GLC. You’re

unlikely to notice if you sit up

front, but the back seat can feel a

little tight, especially should you

attempt to squeeze three adults

into it. There’s a maximum 1600

litres of storage space on offer

with the rear seats folded fl at,

but there are better alternatives

if moving people or cargo is your

main priority.

Sporty SUV buyers are spoiled

for choice by BMW, Audi and

Mercedes, as well as the Jaguar

F-Pace, Range Rover Velar and

Porsche Macan.

While the Stelvio might not be

quite so polished or complete in

places as its more established

competition, if you judge a car

by the amount of fun you have

behind the wheel, then the Alfa

Romeo deserves a spot on your

test-drive calendar.

By Andrew Chesterton

ALFA ROMEO STELVIO FROM $65,900 S 

THINGS WE LIKE

 An undeniably sexy SUV

 A super-dynamic drive

 The best steering in any SUV

 Light, agile and well balanced

 That fantastic 2.9-litre V6 in the

Stelvio Q

 The 2.0-litre turbopetrol is pretty

good, too

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

 Interior quality not up to the best of

the Germans

 Alfa’s poor reliability record

doesn’t inspire confi dence

 Multimedia technology a little off

the pace

 Not as spacious or practical as

bigger rivals

SPEX (Stelvio Q)

Made in Italy

2.9-litre V6 turbopetrol/eight-speed

automatic/all-wheel drive

375kW of power at

6500rpm/600Nm of torque from

2500-5500rpm

0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds (claimed)

7.5L/100km highway; 11.7L/100km

city; 98 octane premium; CO

emissions are 210g/km

Warranty: Three years/150,000km

Standard: Eight airbags, stability

control, automatic emergency

braking, blind spot monitoring,

rear cross traffi c alert, adaptive

cruise control, leather upholstery,

sports seats, 20-inch alloy wheels,

8.8-inch infotainment screen, navi-

gation, Bluetooth, voice control,

adaptive dampers, Brembo brakes.

Redbook future values: New

model, not yet established.

compare with ...

Audi Q5, BMW X3, Jaguar F Pace,

Mercedes GLC, Porsche Macan

Safety

ANCAP

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money

Overall

STARS