Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2021 review | hotter than BMW X3 and Audi Q5? We think so | Chasing Cars

[@timquilty1496]

I sold my Giulietta QV a month ago and bought this exact same Stelvio. Even same colour and sunroof. It is absolute magic. I love it more than when I had my first test drive. As an owner I don’t support the comments about the DNA or sunroof. Where do you expect a full glass roof to go when folded back? In the boot? The only issue I have is really with Alfa Romeo. They don’t give it any exposure so it only sells by word of mouth. I looked at every possible SUV, more through COVID-boredom than anything else. Despite being an Alfa owner the Stelvio wasn’t top-of-mind. I was looking at a Discovery Sport when I wandered into the Alfa dealer next door. Trust me, this is a stunning car to own. Pass the word on, you won’t be disappointed.

[@GQV10]

I am actually considering doing the same - sell the Giulietta QV for a Stelvio.

[@avinkris7]

Is the handling similar to giulietta?(I'm a giulietta owner)

[@timquilty1496]

The Stelvio’s steering feels even more direct than the Giulietta. Whilst I had no complaints with my QV, I certainly prefer driving the Stelvio. I think a big reason is the fact the Stelvio has better ground clearance which makes it more functional day-to-day. It is definitely roomier and the seating is better. It is a better car all round with no loss of power with the Veloce version. In saying that, the Stelvio Veloce is more expensive, so you would expect more for your money. Alfa definitely delivered.

[@GQV10]

@@timquilty1496 Thanks for your input, roomier is mainly is the reason why I want to make the switch. Surprised to learn that the steering is quicker than the GQV, I can definitely see the Stelvio having the quicker gearbox as the TCT is a bit sloppy. The only downside I think would be engine/exhaust sound.

[@timquilty1496]

Hah, I take your point about the exhaust sound. My Alfa mechanic says he is continually being asked to tweek the exhaust on Giuliettas and Stelvios to produce a more throaty sound.

[@victordo9408]

Can attest to the Stelvio having one of the most direct and precise steering and chassis handling in the market!

[@miks564]

Ditto! More direct than a 911. ...great for both sporty driving and comfort ...precisely because we don't need to move the steering wheel that much for anything but parking. ...and the car has great weight transfer on corners. Of course not nearly the same as the Giulia, but better than most sedans! Sometimes we forget it's an SUV! 😎

[@christo123]

I have the Stelvio diesel with the Veloce pack, to be honest it was like you were doing a review on another make of car than I own. I previously owned a Jaguar and before that a BMW X5 and there really is no comparison , the Stelvio is sharper in the steering , the ride is by far and away more comfortable but way more sporty and it has a tone more torque , Coming on 18 months ownership i can say I have never been happier with a vehicle purchase in my 61 years.

[@mohamedomar2367]

Tell us about the general reliability of the Stelvio cars. Moreover is there any issue problem with the aircon system especially during summer or winter

[@christo123]

@@mohamedomar2367 Hi, The Stelvio has been very reliable. I have had one issue which was an sensor for a turbo cooler, it was replaced when it went in for a service and thats been it in 2 years of ownership . No issues with the climate control / aircon at all, works just as it should. the vehicle still drives and looks as new and couldn't be happier. I drove a friends brand new Mercedes GLC the other day and was surprised how noisy it was on the road and how much better the Stelvio is to drive. it really is night and day the difference between the two vehicles. Cheers

[@mohamedomar2367]

@@christo123 Thanks so much for the swift and honest response. Is the interior space big enough especially the front part if am 6.3'

[@christo123]

@@mohamedomar2367 Yes Mohamed, its very roomy , my son is 6'2' and has heaps of leg and head room, the back has enough room as well, but not as good as the front. The seats are very comfortable for long trips as well, the only thing I would say is the bolstering is very high which is great for holding you in place but is high to get over , my son has the car at the moment on holiday lol

[@garmah92]

@@christo123 Hi Chris, would you mind giving us an update about the current status/reliability of your stelvio so far? Thanks a lot in advance.

[@smithjohn2416]

Very stunning car in person. One of my favourite LED headlight designs.

[@CARacterReviews]

Great Review! One of the most beautiful SUVs on the Market. And well priced too. Well done Alfa.

[@Liban46227]

Looks amazing I have red 2020 Stelvio ti. I love her

[@franka1621]

Nice to see you again, Ponch. Great review, as always. Glad you’re part of Tom’s team.

[@Indogirl84]

Just bought mine! I can’t wait to drive my Romeo!

[@chasingcars]

Enjoy it!

[@daweigo6851]

How has the car been over the last year? 😮

[@OffroadTV2023]

*These are sweet!! So many good performance SUVs now it’s hard to choose just one. Thanks for the vid!*

[@rlsedition]

Those low sales figures don't "prove" anything, as sales success is about a lot more than just the product. Alfa doesn't have enough dealers in most countries, hasn't increased the warranty beyond its competition and was not sold at all in many countries for a long time (in the US for over 15 years). If they care about increasing sales they've got some work to do.

[@johnedds2327]

Good value for money, especially against the Germans. The exterior is a little plain and , in my view could do with a little sparkle. All round, this is an aspirational vehicle. Top review Nathan.

[@Sub-on6bz]

I love my Stelvio. I have the chocolate interior that the review disses slightly and it looks fantastic. I think the brown is a good middle ground between the dull Germanic black of the test vehicle here and the pimped up Alfa red that is just a little bit ... extra. Owning an Alfa is all about the drive and this vehicle almost defies the laws of physics. It's a high riding SUV but handles like a warm hatch on rails. I've taken mine off road and the Q4 AWD system is really impressively solid and responsive on rough terrain. I test drove the Audi Q3 the same day as the Stelvio and they are chalk and cheese. The Audi just felt so dreary in comparison. Zero regrets with my Stelvio and 100% reliability for 21k km so far.

[@miks564]

I've a Volcanic black Veloce with the Nero edizione (all dark details) ...and I've also chosen the Chocolate for the interior. It looks super! Despite being classic a Alfa Romeo color, the red interior would be too much and most probably a bit tiring over the years. I'm with you, the chocolate interior is spot on!

[@mohamedomar2367]

Wow, onwership review. So you can confidently confim the reliability of stelvio car is excellent

[@Sub-on6bz]

Over a year since my previous comment and I can confirm that my Stelvio just gets better and better. I haven't had a single mechanical or reliability issue and I think it drives even better now with 45,000 km on the clock than when it was new.

[@garmah92]

@@Sub-on6bz how about a year on? still going well?

[@Sub-on6bz]

@@garmah92 recently passed 60,000km and no mechanical issues whatsoever. The car runs and handles as well as it did fresh out of the showroom

[@oz_alfa]

That was a fair review although I found it agonising watching it trundle around those lovely winding roads at such a snail's pace! This car, as with all Alfas, is about the driving experience so it would have been nice to see you push it around a bit. I have a Giulia Veloce and would love it in a wagon version like they did with the 159.

[@susanrobinet9756]

LOVE my Stelvio. Had and X3 and an Audi before and I'm really happy with it. Only bad thing that happened was when it was parked outside when it was freezing temps it shut down the battery.

[@johnrogers191]

Was there a 30mph speed limit on the test drive route? That part was a painful watch to me! Interesting and honest review though. I’d like to have seen more enthusiasm and footage of how the car actually drives though. Alfas are driver’s cars not boulevard cruisers imo. I thought Miss Daisy might have been in the back during that test drive….shame that the way the car drives wasn’t demonstrated.

[@miks564]

A few comments. In Italy and Europe, the TI has been the Veloce all along. We can have also have a TI in Europe, but in this case, it would be a Stelvio with some Quadrifoglio inspired carbon fiber details. I don't agree that the Stelvio tries to feel any gap between the German rivals. Either you have the boxy approach like the BMW X3 or Audi Q5, or the sporty approach like the Stelvio, X4, Macan or GLC coupe. In terms of dimensions the Stelvio is up there with its rivals. I see no gap. I see a great exterior design hiding its true dimensions. Although I would like to be able to switch off traction and stability control just for fun once in a while, I found no other problem with the DNA. The most common approach is to have it in Dynamic mode to have a more sporty response from the engine and be able to dial back the suspension to comfort. ...and that's available. I don't see a point on having a stiffer suspension for better cornering handling, but with a 'normal' engine setting for 'normal' response. If you want stiff suspension for better handling, than you will want sporty engine for the same reason. Just my two cents. I can see you people downunder didn't yet caught the SUV fever and still prefer sedan wagon versions. ...I'm sure you wouldn't have to wait much longer. 😉

[@malcolmscott4150]

Great honest review Mr P - Giulia wagon please oh I despair as Alfa Romeo emerges from the Stelantis takeover. Coconut water bottle room aside I love anything Alfa as the quality is there - I’d recommend a Giulietta to anyone yet where’s its replacement - and don’t get me started on the lack of Fiat product here apart from dated 500 or Lancia or I’d better stop ✋ now :)

[@dwade3202]

I literally thought the thumbnail was some concept car lol alfa looks fucking goooood

[@miks564]

The Stelvio would sell hundreds of thousands if you change the badge to one with better recognition and status. Only Alfa Romeo owners know how good and trusty their cars are. But that means, not enough people to actually change the brand’s image.

[@sarahireland5140]

Well said

[@bukusuma]

Always enjoyed your reviews.

[@M.-.D]

Great review

[@theLEGOguy22]

Loves Alfas. Love my Giulia QV.

[@Chedda1701]

Had my stelvio Milano for almost 3 years. Been considering trading her in but the probl is that I still love her and can't bring myself to do it. Was considering Q3, cupra ateca and lexus UX. They all just leave me flat compared to the stelvio.

[@miks564]

All those options, Q3, Ateca and Lexus are a segment down on the Stelvio. They will probably leave you disappointed. You have to up your game to the same Stelvio segment with the Macan, Q5, X3, XC60, Jag F-Pace, Merc GLC and alike.

[@Chedda1701]

@@miks564 I ended up with the Volvo!

[@Chedda1701]

@Plan B 4WD it's not. Doesn't set the soul in fire at all. Funnily enough, I've litterally collected it in the last hour due to chip delays. Ill move back to Alfa in the next few years and give the xc40 to the Mrs. It's perfectly nice. Safe and solid.

[@rogergags]

They need to be selling in the $70k range to achieve the sales figures. You need to factor in the high depreciation too, as second hand they drop a lot.

[@AdventurousNomad007]

I'd also go for the red leather interior option.

[@miks564]

The thing with the breaks is that they’re fly-by-wire. The breaking is modulated by he position of the pedal, not by the pressure applied. They get some get use to it.

[@danantonini8305]

the drive blows the German competition away Alfa is all about the drive that's what sets it apart.

[@HA-hn7km]

Better than Bmw and Audi any day......great value for money. Have leased couple of them recently.

[@alyuksel348]

Which company did you lease through in Australia ? If you don’t mind me asking

[@WaterBums-rx4ok]

Wife with a Stelvio after some long term X3(s). Stelvio is a much better feeling, looking, and driving car. The weak spot would probably be the limited dealer network, but so far no problems. Best line I have read: "You buy Alfa's with your heart, not your head"! I think the Genesis will be a killer on par with the Telluride, but it is clearly soulless and not near as good looking....IMHO

[@miks564]

Usually, we all buy cars with our heart. We tend to look for more power than what we really need. Anyway, I can accept buying an Alfa as a wise decision. It all depends on what we're looking for in a car.

[@JoseTorres-vo3pv]

My family loves the our 2021 Stelvio. But we’ve been to the the dealer three times for check engine light that turned on with under 100 miles on the odometer. The dealer fixes the issue , but it turns on by the time we get home. Now it turns on and off depending on how she feels I guess..definitely won’t be getting another Alfa Romeo Stelvio. I will say that Alfa Romeo of Westbury Long Island has awesome customer service.

[@Panagiotis_Pap]

Did they manage to fix it for you?

[@JoseTorres-vo3pv]

@@Panagiotis_Pap yes westbury Alfa Romeo fixed the problem..everything has been ok since then..no problems this far..it was a bad seal causing misfire…

[@Panagiotis_Pap]

@@JoseTorres-vo3pv I am living in Greece, and I am thinking to buy this car. What about the brakes with break by wire system? Do they work well? Thanks a lot for replying…

[@JoseTorres-vo3pv]

@@Panagiotis_Pap The brakes take some getting used to they feel different. I feel you have to push a little more then then most cars I’ve driven..but they worked well anytime I have had to break hard

[@Panagiotis_Pap]

@@JoseTorres-vo3pv Thanks a lot!!

[@teggsy2165]

Had an Alfa 75 V6 twin spark years ago the engine was great the rest of the car began to rust in under 2 years,hydraulic lift on rear one pipe burst,and now today every Alfa has its number plate off set because of the Alfa front grill shape and that would mess with my OCD.

[@whiteshadowBH]

Really it's beautiful SUV, it will become more aggressive with the new 21" rims

[@SC-ou9gm]

The warranty is now 5 years

[@odonsaller5238]

Yes amazing car. I will wait for the Tonale :)

[@DLPTonyATL]

Punch the enthusiasm up just a bit buddy. Otherwise, nice thorough review!

[@seth1455]

It can't be an honest review if he has to pretend.

[@Liban46227]

What is your watch please is it Omeg or seiko looks really nice ?

[@robertceroli3512]

I have the same watch a omega knock off

[@luisrocha8779]

Waiting for mine (production delays) 280hp in Visconti green , carbon pack , alcantara seats, HK stereo, 21 inch rims (5 “O”) and performance pack (adaptive suspensions). Did not go for QV because of petrol consumption

[@5shifts]

amazing 🤩

[@miks564]

Nice setup! The Q consumption is similar if not better on conservative driving styles. The Q can disable 3 cylinders and perform like a 3 cyl 1.5.

[@darrenbugelly9695]

Great review and presenter. Just needs to slow his speech down, talks too fast. Keep up the good work

[@hilmanfirgiansyah9728]

Amazing

[@bearmegmoo]

It’s the same horsepower and torque as my 2006 STI

[@mixalis6168]

No one looking at an Alfa, is ever going to consider the Hyundai Genesis !!!!

[@BaggySu]

Unfortunately Alfa has been taken over by Chrysler Group and in contrast, Hyundai Group appoint Albert Biermann from BMW M Division for Chasis and Peter Schreyer from Audi, who designed Audi TT, as their designer

[@miks564]

@@BaggySu It's like the other way around. Alfa was taken by the Fiat group in the 90's, and the Fiat group acquired the Chrysler group in 2013 becoming FCA. There's more Fiat Powertrain technology in the Chrysler group than the other way around. For instance, this Alfa Romeo Stelvio was built over the Giorgio platform developed by a small team of Ferrari engineers with a near perfect 50/50 wheight distribution, aluminum body, aluminum engine, aluminum suspension, carbon fiber drive shaft, etc. to make it lighter and that's why it handles better than every other SUV on the market for the same engine capacity. In fact, it handles better than most sedans on the market despite being an SUV. However, now that Stellantis took over, we're going to see more commercially viable hybrid solutions. I suspect we're going to lose the typical Alfa Romeo driver's car handling in future cars that anyone that likes driving cars can appreciate. The Stelvio is a gem because it would be probably one of the last pure Alfa Romeo cars, it has the same size and praticality of a BMW X3 or an Audi Q5, a Merc GLC, a Volvo XC60 ...but with much better looks and dynamics! Although the Stelvio could be better on the Infotainment, rear camera, etc, it has very strong qualities above the usual German offerings. Sales do not reflect quality, sales reflect general people beliefs.

[@TankEngine15]

Great summary. As I watched this all I could think of was the GV70 as a better package and you nailed that point.

[@TheMostHighDaughter180]

I love my beautiful Stelvio 💕💃🏿. The dash looks expensive in my opinion!

[@GlowingTube]

The styling is ok, but I’m not enamoured by it. The rubbish warranty and high pricing are all turn offs. I’m sure that it’s reliability is decent these days.

[@Krmelj]

One does not pick an Alfa based on value or logic, you pick an Alfa because you love cars. Their marketing for the 159 said it the best: mediocrity is a sin

[@miks564]

Value apart, I've picked a Stelvio based on logic. It has the looks and dynamic behavior I want ...and despite being an SUV, it's not just another boring car.

[@dg7438]

I test drove one and loved it. I'm hoping the redo will be more aggressive in front like the Jaguar or Volvo SUV's though

[@Liam-yr4uf]

Pretty sleek looking exterior- a standout in the segment- but the interior seems to me quite uninspiring and the infotainment looks clunky and old-fashioned (see the sluggish movement, not fast and smooth) which is the opposite to the interior. Apart from the drivers seats which look quite good. At least with the Germans you are getting boring but well-refined. But, I suppose it just depends on what buyers in this segment value: a slightly sharper drive with (at least to my mind) middle-of-the-road luxury feel, or, comfort and better luxury feel?

[@sarahireland5140]

Wow could he Dive any slower😂 for real ! Drive it LIKE YOU STOLE IT!

[@rocfella]

i like alfaa but 80 grand is too much, will be worth 60k after a week. no temperature setting in the back for real?

[@kevinwall795]

So, buy it after a week and save 20 grand.

[@daweigo6851]

Buy second hand

[@bernardconn5747]

This is a mediocre review of a car which is way better than he portrays. It handles and drives up to Porsche Macan standard at a much lower price. What does this guy know? Not a lot.

[@chasingcars]

So how’s your Stelvio Bernard?

[@robertceroli3512]

WTF 3 year warranty industry standard is 5 to me it suggests that not overly confident with there product .Fuel consumption it requires 95ron

[@PaNativ]

Indeed. I agree it is the hottest!

[@WORMGERM]

4:08 and that's why men have self confidence issues.

[@seth1455]

I'd take it

[@jeremyjohnston759]

Nobody, I repeat nobody considering an Alfa would look at a Korean made piece of crap sideways!

[@wynnstefani4267]

Sexy car and sexy man!

[@johnbarbieri4728]

This guy does not understand what Alfa Romeo stands for.

[@vsboy2577]

Looks aggressive

[@water2299]

I’m still a big fan of Audi’s exterior and Benz’s interior.

[@Mexxx65]

I see a helluva lotta Audi and Merc SUV's out on my roads.

[@jackma4789]

Then go somewhere else Audi review

[@jackma4789]

What do you actually mean Mr Bin?

[@jackma4789]

Remember you are not bin la den

[@Mexxx65]

Don't say I didn't warn anybody, yes you my lovely Alfa Romeo's! Shifting the companies diretion away from what it does best (queue Porsche!), and jumping onto the the sinking ship named, the SUV Gas Guzzling Titanic....will be Alfa Romeo's death knell, a company direction decision Alfa will rue in its extremely long history :( What I hear you say.. do Afla Romeo do best? Historically they have manufactured the sexiest sports coupes ever in Automotive history!! Ah I hear you all saying now, no-one buys sports coupes anymore, direction your social media posts to Toyota (Supra) and Nissan (400Z), 2 coupes you will see quite regularly on Australian roads I'm positive. The Alfa Stelvio SUV? I have not even seen 1 on the roads to date. P.S. Oh ans a 2-dr Coupe Giulia Quadrifoglio GTA would never ever sell in Australia would it???? No market for it....

[@miks564]

2/3 of Porsche sales are from VW/Audis SUV chassis and engines with Porsche bodies and badge. SUVs were the best thing that happened to Porsche (sales wise, of course!). It's pretty normal that every brand want a piece of this growing market.

[@jakelogan3602]

…. What lol

[@murraysampson2501]

Looks like a Mazda 3, especially side and rear.

[@SANDYFRECKLE]

Did somebody say KFC?

[@gtiguy9629]

Dilf !!

[@sjb2471]

Haha, yup

[@vincentkc6033]

Equally unreliable 🇩🇪 🇮🇹

[@robertceroli3512]

Not at all just as long as you sell it at the 4year mark with some factory warranty in place( easier to sell ) Buy a new one repeat the experience all over again you'll never have reliability issues

[@johnrogers191]

And you have owned how many Alfas? Let me guess, none?

[@aaronc1500]

I was in love with my Giulia and Alfa Romeo as a brand, however, I will never again buy/recommend another Alfa Romeo in my life. I had the brake by wire system fail on me and it caused me to crash and total the car. They sent someone from Bosch to diagnose the vehicle and in the charts it clearly showed that something malfunctioned (brakes were slammed 2 seconds before the impact at 40 MPH and it took more than 1.5 seconds for the speed to start going down.) Stellantis told me that they were not going to take responsibility for it and that I needed to have my insurance pay for the vehicle. Absolute garbage. I will never recommend this car brand to anyone again! Buy an AUDI, BMW or Mercedes instead.

[@42cuba]

That will break down before its next service

[@reventonrowe6111]

That will never be hotter than Audi. Looks like a Mazda.

[@chasingcars]

I dunno if “it looks like (other attractive design)” is really a slam dunk

[@jimparsons9961]

😂 🤣 Yeah you look great at the light amongst the other Audis that are just vanilla. I'll be next to you in the Alfa Romeo.... 😊

[@miks564]

Looks are very personal indeed. 😊 The Q5 is boxy and doesn't look as good as this and more important, it doesn't ride as good as this. Same with the BMW X3 or XC60 from Volvo. In terms of design, the Stelvio is more like a BMW X4, Merc GLC Coupe or Porsche Macan

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

Considering I live in developed country and needn't cross forest streams to get home the lift kit isn't a requirement. When the silly SUV fad is over we'll start seeing some fabulous estates like the 159 Sportwagon again.

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

The Italians do know style. I love my Alfas but an SUV one is like seeing a supermodel get fat. That aside, as far as SUVs go this is a pretty girl in a room full of bland fuglies. Totally agree on the red interior but average John and Jenny hate it thus black it shall be. Great review Ponch. Thanks for showing it. 👍

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

What is it with European cars and the lack of cupholders in most?

[@philamato9583]

Technically it’s illegal to drink whilst driving in many European countries!

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

@@philamato9583Same here in Au but still pretty lame. Also illegal to go 200kph in most countries but the car will do that tho...

[@endzmeetmusic9053]

Coz they drink they're coffees at a cafe

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

@@endzmeetmusic9053 So do I but dehydrating in a tin can in the sun between cafes sucks. Then having the water bottles rolling around on the floor gets fucking annoying real fast. Ask me how I know.

[@philamato9583]

@@endzmeetmusic9053 that’s what the tables and chairs are for.