By Ian Strachan
The sports utility vehicle sector is the quickest growing sector in the UK car market at the moment, taking sales away from more traditional saloons and hatchbacks. So it’s no surprise that Alfa Romeo wants to get in on the act.
Better known for stylish sports cars, the designers at Alfa have brought a bit of Italian brio to the SUV sector.
The result is the Stelvio – a solid SUV with nice design touches and great performance.
Despite its proportions – and this is a big car – the Stelvio is still unmistakably an Alfa Romeo. It oozes Italian style, with the distinctive Alfa grille. Despits its size the Stelvio’s profile is elegant and sleek.
This no staid family SUV. Even with four wheel drive this car can propel you from 0-60 mph in around 6.5 seconds, with a top speed of 134 mph. Most people buy Alfa Romeos for their handling and their excellent engines. This won’t disappoint.
I drove the diesel variant (there are petrol engine options) with a 2.2 four-cylinder engine. This unit has sparkling 210 bhp performance, but is quiet and efficient, with very respectable fuel consumption of 58.9 mpg in mixed driving.
It’s a real pleasure to drive. Linked to a smooth eight-speed automatic gearbox, the engine is quiet and unruffled throughout. It never sounds or feels under pressure and delivers power exactly when you want it.
Ride and handling are exceptional, with crisp and positive steering response and nicely damped suspension to give a smooth ride.
This is a very big car. You’ll get a good idea of its width on a car park, with the wheels almost touching the white lines on either side. The bonus is there’s lots of interior space, with more than adequate room for five adults and plenty of luggage space.
The starter button – in typical Alfa style – is mounted on the three-spoke steering wheel which also features shift paddles for manual gear changes.
Equipment levels are good on the version I tested, with heated, electrically adjustable leather-clad seats, heated steering wheel, lane assist, blind spot warning, satellite navigation, front and rear parking sensors, rear camera and powered tailgate .
This is an easy car to like and I was sorry to see it go. The whole thing comes at £38,490 on the road.
