2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Road Test and Review

2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Grey Front Three Quarter ・ Photo by Alfa Romeo

Predictably, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz dominate the compact luxury SUV market, leaving the 2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio to serve Italianistas, the Alfisti, and independent thinkers who prefer to roam the roads less traveled in the SUV less driven.

For 2020, the Stelvio is updated with a new infotainment system with a standard 8.8-inch display boasting improved graphics and functionality. Upgraded advanced driving assistance systems also debut, including what Alfa Romeo calls “Level II autonomy.” Other changes include a revised driver information system, a redesigned center console, a new steering wheel, and exterior packages that add extra attitude. Otherwise, the 2020 Stelvio is the same small SUV with serious sporting potential. After all, it is named after the Stelvio Pass in the Italian Alps, is based on a rear-wheel-drive platform shared with the brand’s Giulia sport sedan, and boasts a near-perfect weight distribution. So, it’s gotta be fun to drive. And it is.

Prices and Configurations

Three versions of the 2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio are available: base, TI, and Quadrifoglio. Prices range from $41,345 to $80,445, not including a destination charge of $1,295. Additionally, Sport, TI Sport, TI Sport Carbon, TI Lusso, and Nero Edizione packages help buyers to customize the Stelvio to specific preferences.

My test vehicle had the TI Lusso package. Literally translated, that means TI Luxury. It comes with unique wheels, satin aluminum exterior trim, premium leather upholstery, eight-way power adjustment for both front seats, a luxury steering wheel design, stitched leather on the dashboard, and aluminum sport pedals. To this, the tested Stelvio included extra-cost paint, larger 20-inch wheels, and upgraded brake calipers. Inside, it had heated rear seats, a navigation system, a Harman Kardon premium audio, a dual-panel sunroof, and a wireless phone charger. An optional hands-free liftgate provided access to the cargo area. Additionally, it had every option package: Performance, Active Driver Assist, and Security and Convenience. The end result? A price tag of $59,540.

Photo by Alfa Romeo

Unmistakably Alfa… From the Front

Viewed from the front, the 2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is unmistakable for anything else. Its V-shaped grille, narrow and determined-looking headlamps, and broad lower air intakes have been visual signatures of the brand for decades. Around back, though, the voluptuously rounded SUV is less distinctive.

Inside, the Stelvio TI Lusso is clearly luxurious. It looks, feels, and smells that way. The test vehicle’s Crema-color cabin went overboard, though, applied to the carpets and mats, which soil easily. Quality is a mixed bag of premium materials and a few flimsy-feeling components. The layout is improved for 2020 with a new center console offering more storage space, and once you’ve acclimated to the infotainment controls on the center console and the steering wheel, using the stereo becomes second nature. The test vehicle included lovely aluminum paddle shifters that qualify as a work of art to driving enthusiasts. But they crowd the control stalks behind them, causing the driver to occasionally fumble when using the turn signals or wipers.

Photo by Alfa Romeo

Underscoring the Compact Part of Compact SUV

Given the test vehicle’s near-$60,000 price tag, its lack of seat ventilation was a notable omission, especially on sunny days spent beneath the open dual-pane glass sunroof. Otherwise, the Stelvio was reasonably comfortable. With eight-way power adjustment, finding a proper driving position proved easy. But the lack of seat bolstering when tossing the SUV down a twisty road meant I had to anchor myself in place using the steering wheel — never ideal.

Rear seat space is snug, but not uncomfortable. This is, after all, a compact SUV. Air conditioning vents, heated cushions, and USB ports improved matters. Cargo space is cramped, too, at 18.5 cubic feet. Narrow between the wheel wells, the load floor accommodates full-size suitcases beneath the cargo cover if you place them on their sides, but then they’re tight against the hatch. Make sure to place duffel bags or backpacks inside first. Folding the rear seats creates a much larger 56.5-cubic-foot cargo hold.

New Infotainment System

Though it looks similar to what Alfa offered in the Stelvio in 2019, the infotainment system is thoroughly upgraded for 2020. First, the 8.8-inch touchscreen display is standard rather than optional, and it boasts improved graphics and better functionality. However, I found the radio station pre-sets on the bottom of the screen to be occasionally unresponsive to my fingertips. Like last year, the system includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a one-year free trial subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio.

The touchscreen remains smaller than what you’ll find in some competitors, but aside from the responsiveness problem mentioned above, it works well. The optional 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system is rewarding, too. Also new for 2020, the Stelvio now has a free one-year trial subscription to Alta Connect connected services. Highlights include SOS emergency calling, roadside assistance access, a vehicle finder, a stolen vehicle locator, and remote vehicle functions performed via a smartphone app. A Wi-Fi hotspot is also available, as is a wireless smartphone charger. 

Photo by Alfa Romeo

New Safety Technology

In addition to a reworked infotainment system, the 2020 Stelvio gains an updated package of driver-assistance technology. Contained in the Active Driver Assist option package, they include new Traffic Jam Assist and Highway Assist driving aids. Traffic Jam Assist is a low-speed semi-autonomous system that makes the commute less stressful, while Highway Assist is a lane-centering assistance system.

I did not test the former (thank you, home office), but the latter works with smoothness and accuracy. It is not a hands-free system, however, shutting down soon after you let go of the steering wheel. Also, perhaps due to the Stelvio’s exceptionally quick steering, the driver is constantly aware of the automated corrections to the SUV’s course. I preferred driving without it. Additional elements of the Active Driver Assist package include adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, active blind-spot assistance, a driver monitoring system, and traffic sign recognition capability. Alfa Romeo includes a forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking as standard equipment for every Stelvio. 

Photo by Alfa Romeo

Turbocharging, Carbon Fiber, Paddle Shifters, and DNA

All Stelvios except for the Quadrifoglio have a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 280 horsepower and 306 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission and a carbon-fiber driveshaft power the SUV’s rear wheels, or all four if you choose the available all-wheel drive.

Alfa Romeo quotes a 0-to-60-mph acceleration time of 5.4 seconds, which feels accurate by the seat of my pants. Peak torque is available from 2,000 rpm to 4,800 rpm, yet aside from a momentary delay as the automatic engine stop/start system restarts the engine, the Stelvio feels spirited from the get-go. The vehicle's Dynamic, Natural, and Advanced Efficiency (DNA) driving modes adjust vehicle behavior. According to the EPA, my test vehicle should’ve returned 24 mpg. I got 19.8 mpg. However, I spent lots of time with the DNA selector in Dynamic mode and made good use of the paddle shifters. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio is another beast entirely, equipped with a Ferrari-derived twin-turbo V6 cranking out 505 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. 

Photo by Alfa Romeo

Supple in Cities, Sporty in S-Curves

Depending on the trim package, a sport-tuned front suspension is available. My test vehicle’s Performance package included an adaptive damping suspension, a limited-slip rear differential, and transmission paddle shifters. With more than 4,000 pounds of curb weight to manage, plus a taller center of gravity than the Giulia sedan with which this SUV shares its platform, the Stelvio’s suspension allows some body wobble and head toss. The ride also feels too soft, even in Dynamic mode. At the same time, though, a Stelvio with adaptive damping glides over road imperfections, maintaining relatively supple ride quality.

On a twisty mountain road, the Stelvio comes alive in your hands. Fast, sharp steering and the long, slender paddle shifters help a driver to make quick work of twists and turns, and both the 20-inch wheels and tires and the SUV’s relatively flat cornering stance engender confidence. On the highway, the steering is too fast. Slight inputs produce greater response than expected, and it takes some getting used to.

Photo by Alfa Romeo

Undeserving of Wallflower Status

With the 2020 Stelvio, Alfa Romeo launches an Italian rocket into the thick of the compact luxury suv segment. There is no shortage of competition here, making the Stelvio’s expressive design, engaging driving character, and marque history critical differentiators — if buyers even take notice.

Heavyweights in the segment include the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC. The Jaguar F-PACE, Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, Porsche Macan, and Volvo XC60 also play in this European sandbox. Asian competitors include the Acura RDX, Infiniti QX50, and Lexus NX, none of which possess the same degree of savior faire as the Alfa or its Old Country brethren. Cadillac sends the XT4 to this battlefield while Lincoln fields the Corsair, neither up to the Alfa’s capabilities. Can Alfa Romeo compete against such a wide range of alternatives? Yes. But consumers must give the Stelvio a chance.

Photo by Alfa Romeo

Special in a Sea of Sameness

Though certainly more dependable than Alfa Romeos of the past, the Stelvio hasn’t established a strong record for reliability since it went on sale for the 2018 model year. But since you’re probably going to lease it, and the warranty lasts for four years or 50,000 miles and includes 24-hour towing assistance, maybe that doesn’t matter.

Maybe what matters most is that you’ll never see yourself coming and going in this SUV. What do I mean by that? In my Los Angeles suburb, Audi Q5s, BMW X3s, and Mercedes-Benz GLCs are common. But you rarely see a Stelvio. And that makes this Alfa Romeo even more special.

Photo by Alfa Romeo