The 2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio returns as the Italian brand's attempt to secure mainstream success in the American market. The Stelvio, named for an iconic ribbon of tarmac that drapes through an Italian mountain pass of the same name that' considered to be one of the greatest driving roads in the world, should help the brand meet that goal. It's a sporty, attractive, and luxurious SUV that manages to stand apart from the usual offerings in a very Italian way.
What's New for 2019
This year, the Stelvio gets standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, optional heated rear seats on all models (later in the year), and some new appearance packages. Additionally, the base Stelvio and Stelvio Sport are now available with in rear-wheel drive.
Choosing Your Alfa Romeo Stelvio
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission and two engine choices, neither of which should leave you wanting. The base Stelvio and the Stelvio Ti are equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 280 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque, which is more than any of its competitors. It's potent enough to get the compact crossover moving with a sensation of speed but it won't leave you breathless.
If you do want that sensation in crossover form, Alfa Romeo has you covered. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio is an absolute monster with a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that puts out a massive 505 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. That's enough power to rocket this crossover to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds, putting it nearly in the same league as dedicated sports cars and supercars. The Quadrifoglio is capable of hitting triple digits on the speedometer very quickly, which can make you unable to legally drive it very quickly as well.
Unlike many SUVs and crossovers, the Stelvio features a perfect 50:50 weight distribution, a feature that's most often pursued in the development of sports cars. This gives it an unparalleled talent in changing direction, meaning that it handles better than any other SUV. Additionally, all-wheel drive is standard on all trim levels except for the base trim and the Stelvio Sport, where rear-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is a $2,000 option.
Furthermore, despite its styled exterior, the Stelvio offers up similar interior space as other compact SUVs, with 56.5 total cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. However, if the seats are up, a significant amount of space is lost to the aerodynamically-shaped rear hatch which cuts into the cargo space significantly.
The Stelvio comes in six total trim levels:
The 2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is like no SUV we've ever driven, but there's much fun to be had with the Ti Sport with the Performance Package. While you won't get the crazy V6 or the DNA Drive Mode Selector, you still get the rest of the goodies in a much more palatably priced package.