2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Review

Name: 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Review
Brand: Alfa Romeo
Price: 19700 USD

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio 4dr SUV Exterior

+225

The Stelvio is a lot of fun to drive and has personality galore (both good and bad). On the downside, it offers few technology features and comes up short on practicality.

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Alfa Romeo Stelvio model years

Alfa Romeo Stelvio for Sale

Alfa Romeo Stelvio types

SUV
Quadrifoglio

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2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Review

byReese Counts^{Vehicle Test Editor
Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at Edmunds in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.}

Pros

Sharp steering and precise handling
Powerful and exciting engines
Distinctive styling helps it stand out from the crowd

Cons

Snug cargo volume
Missing some of the latest tech features
Overly sensitive brake pedal

What's new

No major changes for the 2021 Stelvio
Part of the first Stelvio generation introduced in 2018

Overview

The 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is a small luxury SUV that aims to blend a premium feel with engaging driving characteristics all in a practical package. It certainly stands out in a crowd thanks to sharp looks that draw heavily from Alfa Romeo's other models, especially the Giulia sedan. It doesn't take long behind the wheel to see just where the engineers behind the Stelvio really put their resources. After a minor update in 2020 that included a new infotainment system and a revised interior, the Stelvio heads into 2021 without any significant changes.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Sprint 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$221/mo

$201/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

We don't think the Stelvio has quite the premium and luxurious feel of the class leaders, but there are few SUVs in any class that are as enjoyable to drive as this Alfa. That's especially true in the frankly bonkers Quadrifoglio trim that will give any SUV from Porsche, Mercedes-AMG or BMW's M division a run for its money. Want to know more? Check out the in-depth evaluation categories of our Expert Rating to learn more about this year's Stelvio.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Average

7.3

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

The Stelvio is a lot of fun to drive and has personality galore (both good and bad). On the downside, it offers few technology features and comes up short on practicality.

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

8.0/10

How does the Stelvio drive? The Stelvio is an SUV for people who love driving, with a strong and responsive engine, sporty transmission and engaging handling. Power delivery from the four-cylinder engine is urgent, and you'll be hard-pressed to feel the difference between the Stelvio and some vehicles with bigger engines. Our as-tested 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds puts the Stelvio within half a second of some heavy hitters.

While the brakes also perform well, they respond inconsistently to input at low speeds. As far as venturing off-road, the Stelvio is all-wheel-drive and comes with hill descent control, but it's meant to be driven on the road. For starters, there's not much clearance, and there are no all-terrain modes as some SUV competitors have.

Comfort

8.0/10

How comfortable is the Stelvio? Ride quality is impressive for a sporty crossover. The Stelvio absorbs sharper bumps and road imperfections yet still feels connected to the road. It can get bouncy, especially on uneven concrete-slab freeways. Around town, it's one of the more comfortable sport-oriented crossovers.

The Stelvio's seats are also sculpted for support, keeping us comfortable for long stints. But they aren't cushy. The leather is on the stiff side, the headrests are brick-hard, and the seat cushions are a bit short for long-legged drivers. Road and tire noise is nicely muted, especially for a sporty SUV.

Interior

7.5/10

How’s the interior? The Stelvio has pleasing ergonomics and a useful amount of passenger space for both front and rear passengers. The controls are clearly marked and easy to find, and basic infotainment functions are streamlined.

The biggest demerit is poor visibility due to the thick roof pillars. The rear-quarter view over the shoulder, in particular, is obstructed, and the view through the small rear window is limited. Fortunately, the large side mirrors make up for some of the obstruction.

Technology

6.0/10

How’s the tech? The Stelvio's technology is cleanly integrated, but there's no question it lags the competition. A good adaptive cruise system and high-quality stereo aside, it's clear that technology isn't the Stelvio's focus. In our testing, Bluetooth took a surprisingly long time to boot up. We also had issues accessing music on phones via USB.

Storage

6.0/10

How’s the storage? One of the Stelvio's biggest compromises is practicality. The cargo space is narrow, and it falls short of class leaders in total cargo volume. There are a number of interior cubbies, but most are small and of limited usefulness.

The Stelvio's rear seat is big enough for family duty. For child safety seats, the car seat anchor points are clearly marked and easy to access thanks to plastic covers, so you won't have to dig in between the seat cushions. But bulky rear-facing infant seats will infringe on the front seat's range of motion.

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The regular Stelvio AWD gets an EPA-estimated 24 mpg in combined city/highway driving, which is pretty good for a sporty SUV. On our 115-mile mixed-driving evaluation route, we averaged 23.5 mpg. That's a decent result, but we suspect the Stelvio might be a little thirstier in the real world than the lab.

Value

6.5/10

Is the Stelvio a good value? The Alfa Romeo is a mixed value proposition. On the one hand, you can get a great driver's SUV for less than many competitors. But even fully loaded, it lacks a lot of features found on other SUVs. There's also the question of reliability and longevity, which already seems somewhat questionable. We noticed some creaks and rattles in the cabin and had issues with several electronic systems.

Wildcard

9.0/10

The Stelvio feels lively and eager on the road, and it encourages you to keep driving and push just a little harder. If you want a fun and sporty SUV and don't mind giving up some practicality and technology, it's a great pick. The Stelvio's distinctive styling helps it stand out too.

Which Stelvio does Edmunds recommend?

We recommend going with the midlevel Stelvio Ti. It's relatively affordable for the class and includes standard all-wheel drive and heated seats among its features. We also suggest adding the Active Driver Assistance package for its included driver safety aids.

2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio models

The 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV is available in four trim levels: Sprint, Ti, Ti Sport and Quadrifoglio. The Sprint, Ti and Ti Sport are all powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (280 horsepower, 306 lb-ft of torque) and use an eight-speed automatic transmission. The high-performance Quadrifoglio gets a significant bump in power thanks to a turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 engine (505 hp, 443 lb-ft of torque).

Sprint
The Sprint is the base trim for the Stelvio. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available as an option. Standard features include:

18-inch wheels
Xenon headlights
LED taillights
Leather upholstery
Power-adjustable front seats
Dual-zone automatic climate control
8.8-inch touchscreen display
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
Keyless entry and push-button start
Power liftgate
Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Front parking sensors

Options include:

Active Assist 1 package

Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the Stelvio and the car in front)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
Automatic high-beam headlights
Front and rear parking sensors

Ti
The Stelvio Ti builds off the Sprint trim. It comes with standard all-wheel drive, plus:

19-inch wheels
Heated front seats
Integration navigation system
Dual-pane sunroof
Heated steering wheel

The Ti is also available with more options than the Sprint. These include:

Active Assist 2 package. It's similar to the Active Assist 1 but also has:

Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)
Lane keeping assist (steers the Stelvio back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Traffic sign recognition

Premium package

Household-style power outlet
Adjustable cargo rail tie-down system
Harman Kardon sound system
Heated second-row seats
Wireless device charging pad

Ti Sport
The Ti Sport isn't much different from the standard Ti, adding a few sporty visual touches and some performance upgrades. Those include:

Limited-slip rear differential (can enhance traction when accelerating)
20-inch wheels
Sport-tuned suspension
Sport steering wheel with column-mounted paddle shifters
Sport front seats
Aluminum interior trim
Gloss black exterior trim

Quadrifoglio
This is the hottest version of the Stelvio you can buy. It's one of the fastest and most powerful SUVs on the road today, but performance upgrades aren't limited to the Quadrifoglio's turbocharged V6. Other changes includes:

Upgraded all-wheel-drive system
Adaptive suspension
Torque-vectoring rear differential (can enhance traction and handling balance when exiting corners)
Leather and simulated suede sport front seats
20-inch wheels
Brembo brakes
Restyled hood, bumpers and grille
Dual-mode exhaust
Carbon-fiber interior trim

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio.

5 (70%)

4 (19%)

3 (3%)

2 (3%)

1 (5%)

4.5

62 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Liked our 2018 So Much We Flipped to a 2020!

Scalewoodman, 12/15/2020

2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Sport 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

A funny thing happened when we took our 2018 Stelvio in for 50K mile service: We came home with a new one! These are truly special cars to drive and own-- the Swiss Army knife (Italian Army?) of vehicles: Space for 5, haul capability (my bike fits in the back) but a great drive train that purrs when it needs to (30 mpg on a trip, no problem) and roars when you want to have some fun …

Performance and style over storage . . .

Replay8885, 02/05/2019

2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

I wanted to transition from a turbo sedan to an SUV for the additional height but did not want the sluggish performance or soccer mom feel of a typical bulky SUV ---- and the Stelvio fits the bill for me. It's a beautiful SUV (Italian styling) that prioritizes handling and power over storage space and gadgets. There is a learning curve --- the brakes did feel grabby to me at the start …

After 25 months still amazing to drive!!

Vince, 04/01/2019

2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio 4dr SUV AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo 8A)

I have been enjoying the ride ever since I bought it, so glad that I have made this choice as I have never felt this way about any vehicle that i have owned. Simply the best, If You are a Driver and enjoy driving You cannot find anything in the price range that compares as I have test drove MB, BMW, Range Rover and others before making my decision and I kept going back to the Alfa as …

A drivers SUV

CB, 10/02/2020

2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti Sport 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

Just purchased a Stelvio Ti sport after cross shopping Audi Q3 and Q5, Porsche Macan, Volvo XC60, Mercedes GLC, and BMW X3. The Stelvio and Macan had the best handling characteristics of the group, however, the Stelvio delivered the more engaging driving experience overall. We also preferred the styling of the Stelvio....ours is Rosso Competizione with the Nero Edizione package....it is …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, so we've included reviews for other years of the Stelvio since its last redesign.

See all 62 reviews of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio

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2021 Stelvio Highlights

Type:

SUV

Trim:

Sprint

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$42,350
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$221/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	18.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Stelvio models:

Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning Plus: Applies the brakes automatically if it senses a front collision is imminent in an effort to mitigate the damage.
Highway and Traffic Jam Assist Systems: Keeps pace with the speed of the car in front of you, even if that means slowing to a stop.
Lane Departure Warning: Alerts you if you unintentionally drift out of your lane.

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2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Review

2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Sprint 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Stelvio does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio models

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Liked our 2018 So Much We Flipped to a 2020!

Performance and style over storage . . .

After 25 months still amazing to drive!!

A drivers SUV

2021 Stelvio Highlights

Safety

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2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Review

2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Sprint 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Stelvio does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio models

Most helpful consumer reviews

Liked our 2018 So Much We Flipped to a 2020!

Performance and style over storage . . .

After 25 months still amazing to drive!!

A drivers SUV

2021 Stelvio Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Alfa Romeo

Research similar vehicles

Other models

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Sprint 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}