The 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio's curvaceous shell and sublime handling help separate it from more familiar nameplates. While Alfa Romeo's compact luxury crossover isn't as refined or practical as rivals like the BMW X3 and Volvo XC60, its Italian heritage and visual flair give it unique characteristics that stand out on the road. Its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine isn't unusual in this class, but its gutsy acceleration and raspy exhaust note appeals to the right side of our brain.
The Stelvio shares a platform with the engaging Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan, and we love how nimble and responsive it feels despite having a higher center of gravity and extra weight. The excitement factor only increases on the 505-hp Quadrifoglio model, which we review separately. Apart from some uninspired interior pieces as well as a small back seat and cargo, the 2021 Stelvio is a treat to the senses.
Engine Performance
The Stelvio's turbocharged four-cylinder sends a hearty 280 horsepower through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard on the base model, but all-wheel drive is optional and standard on the rest of the lineup. While the engine was effortlessly quick in our testing and sounded great, the Stelvio's sole setup aside from the high-performance Quadrifoglio eliminates choices for the buyer and limits towing to a maximum of 3000 pounds. During daily driving, we were particularly fond of its responsive throttle and smooth power delivery.
Its raspy exhaust note sounded enthusiastic and appropriate for this application. In addition to its beautiful design, the Stelvio boasts athletic handling and a compliant ride. Even with its 20-inch wheels, the 2018 Ti Sport trim we tested provided sufficient isolation from all but the harshest bumps. While its maximum cornering grip was similar to rivals, the Alfa is the alpha dog when it comes to driving engagement. The chassis, which is shared with the Giulia sedan, had damping that was composed and comfortable. Although the Stelvio's steering isn't as sharp as the Giulia's, its light effort and quick reflexes were still exceptional—especially for a crossover.
Fuel Economy
Although the Stelvio's real-world fuel economy and highway range are unremarkable, they align with four-cylinder competitors. The EPA estimates the rear-drive version will earn 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. Adding all-wheel drive drops that highway rating by 1 mpg. The Stelvio we ran on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, returned 26 mpg on our test route. The Alfa's unrivaled performance and unique persona make this a nonissue in our minds, but alternatives such as the X3 and the Lexus RX are thriftier at the pump.
Interior Design
Like the Giulia sedan, the Stelvio offers a stylish interior and a comfortable driving position. Sportier models can be had with carbon-fiber trim, but those seeking a more upscale appearance can choose wood inlays. In addition to a wonderful driving position, leather upholstery covers its supportive front seats, and handsome aluminum accents adorn the dash, doors, and center console.
The Stelvio has some useful storage tricks up its Italian sleeve, but with a small cargo area behind the back seat, it's not the most capacious crossover among this set. Although the Alfa's other cubbies only held average amounts, we appreciated the useful smartphone slot between its cupholders and the tray near the driver's left knee. The center console also has a nifty removable tray at the bottom.
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