This is a vehicle that has been in the works for quite some time. The first prototype, then known as the Alfa Romeo Kamal, was unveiled to the public in 2003. After years of refinement and rendering, the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is finally ready for the market.
Alfa Romeo recently did well with the release of the new and improved technological and aesthetic masterpiece, the Giulia Quadrifoglio, as well as the masterly automotive creation, the 4C Spider sports wagon. They can now add their first SUV to the lineup, one that is destined for glory.
The exterior and interior are both stunning, but the best feature of this SUV is its powerful engine. The Stelvio’s top trim, the Quadrifoglio, comes with an engine that produces more than 500 horsepower. We’re confident that the Alfa Romeo public will adore this one, especially since they gave their top trim the Quadrifoglio emblem and title, which stands for Alfa Romeo’s range-topping models and racing cars.
Alfa Romeo’s goal with the 2018 Stelvio was to provide all of the great racing car features and driving experience without sacrificing any of the comfort that an SUV provides. Check out the review to see if they were more successful than the Stelvio’s direct competitor, the Jaguar F-Pace.
Exterior design
This is a car that surprises you at first glance and then grows on you with each subsequent viewing. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2018 borrows many design cues from the Alfa Romeo Giulia Q. To begin with, it retained the same aggressive front end, which is ideal for such fast cars. The sleek headlights have an LED line that looks like scowling brows and fit perfectly into the hood.
Then there’s the Alfa Romeo triangular grille, complete with a V-shaped chrome line and the Alfa Romeo logo in the top middle. There is a large air vent running from side-to-side underneath. There are two smaller air intakes on the hood.
The side of the Stelvio borrows more styling cues from the Giulia, with muscular-looking body lines that extend all the way to the back of the vehicle. The large 18, 19, 20, or 21-inch wheels take up little space until the wheel arches but look great doing so. There are seven different wheel options available.
The Quadrifoglio will be adorned with four-leaf clover emblems and black round-spoke wheels. It will also have the same black window frames and lower side mirrors as the Giulia Q.
The Stelvio’s rear is distinguished by cutting-edge taillights that feature a red light LED strip similar to the headlights. The rest of the back end is one of the few things that looks significantly different from the Giulia. The dark rear window is extremely steep, resulting in cargo space worthy of an SUV.
The exterior of the 2018 Stelvio will be available in 13 different colors. The new SUV from another Italian luxury car manufacturer, Lamborghini, will be seen as a strong competitor to the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio.
Interior design
The interior of the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is heavily influenced by the Giulia. The Stelvio’s dashboard, like the Giulia’s, is covered in Alcantara synthetic, with a carbon fiber middle section and a leather lower segment. The center console, steering wheels, and air conditioning vents are also identical to those found in the Giulia.
The steering wheel is reminiscent of Formula One, with three thin spokes and solid handling. It also has a red button for starting the engine, which is inspired by the world’s fastest racing cars.
The instrument cluster has a seven-inch screen, and the center stack has a 6.5-inch (or 8.8-inch for the Ti and Quadrifoglio trims) infotainment screen.
The front seats are of the sports variety and are available in leather and Alcantara on all trim levels. Leather and Alcantara sports front seats with 12-way power and adjustable thigh support.
The Harman Kardon Premium Audio System is available as an option on the Stelvio and as standard on the Quadrifoglio. The Sound Theatre system includes a 900-watt amplifier and 14 speakers distributed throughout the cabin.
Engine specs
The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Stelvio Ti models will be equipped with a 2.0 liter engine made entirely of aluminum and designed specifically for Alfa Romeo. The turbocharged and intercooled engine produces 280 horsepower while maintaining high fuel efficiency levels.
The 505 horsepower 2.9 liter bi-turbo V6 engine seen in the 2017 Giulia Q will power the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. The V6 is also made entirely of aluminum (making it extremely light) and features direct injection.
The Stelvio Q has a cutting-edge Cylinder Efficient Management deactivation system. When all of the engine’s power isn’t required, it can run on three of its six cylinders. This has a significant impact on fuel efficiency and emissions.
The intelligent Q4 All Wheel Drive system is standard on all trims and engines. Torque vectoring is also used in this system to optimize torque delivery to each wheel separately. A really nice feature that comes in handy when driving in less-than-ideal conditions, such as muddy or icy roads. The first is unlikely to happen to Alfa Romeo drivers, but icy or slippery roads are more likely to appear at some point. Torque vectoring is ideal in these situations.
Tech specs
The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio’s tech department is overflowing. To begin, the infotainment system displays the vehicle’s performance data, telemetry data, and 3D graphic navigation. There’s also Apple Car Play and Android Auto connectivity.
The Alfa Romeo DNA Drive Mode system is also available on the 2018 Stelvio. On the Stelvio and Stelvio Ti, the settings are Dynamic, Natural, and Advanced Efficiency. The Quadrifoglio also gets the Race mode, which makes the most of the 505 horsepower V6 engine.
The Stelvio’s safety features contribute to the car’s ultimate luxury. If necessary, there is full-speed Forward Collision Warning with autonomous braking until the vehicle comes to a complete stop. Adaptive Cruise Control with full stop ensures that the vehicle maintains a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Under certain traffic conditions, it can also come to a complete stop without the driver interfering.
The Stelvio then comes with Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Monitoring, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Optional front and rear park assist sensors are available.
Price and sale date
The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio starts at $41,995, the Ti trim starts at $43,995, the range-topping Quadrifoglio will start at $79,795 in the USA or of €70,000 in Europe (Germany).