2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio First Look

2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio First Look by Auto Critic Steve Hammes

Another storied sports car maker has acquiesced to the SUV obsession. Meet the all-new 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio – a premium, midsized sport utility vehicle priced from a rather modest $42,990 including destination.

Imported from Italy with its name derived from the legendary Stelvio Pass in the Italian Alps, Alfa Romeo’s latest shares its new, lightweight rear-drive architecture with the exceptional Giulia sedan; the best sports sedan I’ve ever driven.  They call it the SUV for the S-Curves; the Stelvio is crafted for driving enthusiasts, with near perfect 50/50 weight distribution, a low center of gravity and very direct steering.

All-wheel drive is standard on all Stelvio models with the ability to transfer up to 60% of the engine’s torque to the front axle.  It’s linked to the Drive Mode Selector which modifies the dynamic behavior of the vehicle with Dynamic, Natural, and Advanced Efficiency settings.  And if you opt for the halo model, the 505 horsepower Stelvio Quadrifoglio, the DNA selector adds a Race mode.  Its twin-turbo V6 enables this Stelvio to sprint from 0-to-60mph in only 3.9 seconds. The other 2 available trims, the Stelvio and Stelvio Ti, utilize a 2.0-liter turbo-4 generating 280 horsepower, 306 pound-feet of torque and a 0-to-60mph time of 5.4-seconds.

Paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission, gas mile on premium fuel is rated at 24mpg in combined driving.

Concerning capability and design, there’s a suitable 8.1” of ground clearance, modest towing capacity of 3,000 pounds, and a 40/20/40 split fold rear seat affording over 56 cubic feet of cargo volume, comparable to a Jeep Cherokee.

The infotainment system comes with available Apple CarPlay and Android Auto while modern safety tech includes Forward Collision Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Departure Warning.