Sometimes car manufacturers get it right the first time. For enthusiasts looking for one of the best driving small luxury SUVs is the Alfa Romeo Stelvio did it right from the start.
Alfa Romeo has given the Stelvio minor updates since its debut six years ago, but this crossover SUV has the same basic, beautiful design, it remains comfortable up front and, most importantly, it retains its sharp driving dynamics.
However, it is not for everyone. Even with the latest infotainment system, technology isn’t the Stelvio’s strong suit, it still has a problem with brake feedback and its packaging results in limited interior space behind the driver.
After using it for a week to get my kids around town, here are the pros and cons 2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio.
2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Pro: The Alfa Romeo Stelvio proves that simple can be beautiful
The Stelvio is one of the most beautiful small crossover SUVs. Instead of bells and whistles and flair, it impresses with simple, beautiful curves, the typical Alfa Romeo Scudetto grille and large exhaust outlets. The LED headlights have been modernized, but the simple design has aged like a fine wine. Thanks to the long dash-to-axle ratio, which places a lot of sheet metal between the front wheels and the front doors, it looks more like a large station wagon than an SUV with great proportions.
2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Disadvantage: The technology of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is complicated and flawed
The Stelvio now features an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which still runs the automaker’s old Alfa Connect infotainment system rather than the latest from Stellantis UConnect 5. It’s the most laggy system I’ve used in a long time. The seemingly simple, tile-based interface has small, fussy icons on the left side. When you tap the screen, it doesn’t respond immediately and the Apple CarPlay connection is not wireless. The up and down buttons on the steering wheel usually change the radio station and/or song depending on the entertainment source. However, if you tap a window pane icon on the steering wheel, they control what is displayed in the instrument cluster. I’m not sure how anyone would be able to figure out the instrument cluster controls.
2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Pro: Alfa Romeo gives bear hugs
Anyone sitting in the front will be very comfortable. The heavily padded sports seats hug you comfortably and keep your body comfortably in place. These seats provide hours of support and are one of my favorites in any small crossover SUV. They are also mounted high, which, combined with the low dashboard, provides excellent forward visibility.
2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Disadvantage: With Alfa Romeo, driving comes first, rear seat passengers come second
Whoever sits in the back won’t be so happy. The rear legroom is quite tight. There’s just 31.9 inches of rear legroom, about the same as a Spirit Airlines seat. Rear cargo space is also limited, as the Stelvio has 18.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 56.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. All but one of these numbers are significantly lower than that smaller tonalThe model has 38.0 inches of rear legroom, 22.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 50.5 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded. The Stelvio’s longer overall length gives it more maximum cargo space, but its long dash-to-axle ratio and accommodation of its sophisticated rear suspension compromise rear legroom and space behind the back seat. However, the Tonale’s simpler suspension system has a disadvantage, as it makes driving less fun.
2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Advantages: The Alfa Romeo Stelvio impresses in curves and on motorways
Thanks to the well-tuned double wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension, the Stelvio is a true cornering delight. The super-fast steering ratio of 12.0:1 makes even small corners fun, and the tight suspension tuning is on the right side of comfort. Despite the firm suspension, the Stelvio didn’t buck and sway on Midwestern pavement in the dead of winter.
2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Disadvantage: The brakes of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio provide little feedback
The Alfa Romeo Steilvo’s brakes are quite strong and offer good bite, but lack feedback. The pedal feels almost wooden. The reason for this is that the feedback is simulated as the brake-by-wire system uses a rubber block mounted behind the brake pedal, allowing the driver to sense how much pressure is being applied. This is a tuning issue, not a hardware issue. Porsche and others do a good job tuning their brake-by-wire systems.
The Alfa Romeo remains an enthusiast’s choice. It’s not the most technical crossover SUV or the most spacious, but it’s one of the most fun to drive. For those who value how a vehicle drives, it is one of the best options in this segment. However, it would not cost Alfa Romeo its life to resort to other Stellantis weapons to make its technology more user-friendly.
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2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Basic price: $47,545 including $1,595 destination
Price as tested: $59,870
Drivetrain: 280 hp turbo-4 engine, 8-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive
EPA fuel consumption: 22/28/24 mpg
The professionals: Beautiful, comfortable front seats, good forward visibility, lots of driving fun
The disadvantages: Faulty and overly complicated controls, compromised second row seating and cargo space, poor brake feedback
