Let’s get this clear, it looks every bit an Alfa – it has a beefed up Guilietta aesthetic about it. The svelte Italian is sleek in appearance with swept back headlamps, a large grille and curves and creases that run up the bonnet and along the sides. The inside is classy and modern and keeping in line with the Alfa brand. It all feels very upmarket and posh with leather seats, an integrated multimedia system, steering wheel-mounted controls and finishing touches that add an element of luxury to the cabin.
How does it go?
Under the lid is a 206 kW 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol unit with 400 Nm of torque. It’s paired with a ZF sourced eight-speed auto ‘box. With those numbers this is clearly the car you use when you’re late for the school run and need to get the kids to class on time! Gear changes are smooth and subtle while the overall drive has proven to be sporty. I managed to find a twisty gravel road to really test the prowess of this agile beast along with the Q4 all-wheel drive system and I can happily report that it was fantastic. The bendy roads allowed for ample testing of the steering while the uneven surface put the suspension to work – top marks for chassis dynamics. With a name like Stelvio, we expected nothing less (the Stelvio Pass is after all the name of an iconic piece of road in the Alps).
What about the performance numbers?
Alfa claims a zero 0-100 km/h time of 5,7 seconds and a top speed of 230 kph. Another number worth noting is the fuel consumption of 7,0 litres/100km as claimed by Alfa, but honestly in the real world, we struggled to get it under 9 litres/100km.
What does it come with?
In terms of safety, there’s plenty on offer in the form of Integrated Brake System (IBS), Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Brake with pedestrian detection, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) with Rear Cross-Path Detection and Active Cruise Control. In short, safety-wise it comes full to the brim.
The Super Edition comes fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, a reverse camera, stop/start technology, heated side mirrors, full leather seats, dual exhaust pipes and more. Splurging out for the First Edition will add items such as keyless go, a 10-speaker audio system (the Super has eight), bi-xenon headlights, sports pedals and a sports steering wheel to name a few.
Impressive… How much does it cost?
The Super will set you back R810 000 while the First Edition costs R946 000, so not exactly cheap. Included in the sticker price is a 3 year/100 000 km warranty and a 6 year/100 000km maintenance plan.
Okay, let’s wrap this up
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is a superb sports SUV that, when it comes to dynamics and handling, can take on even its toughest competitors. If you’re in the market for this type of vehicle, and are keen on something left-field with Italian flavour, be sure not to leave this one off your list of vehicles to check out.
Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.0 Super Specs:
| Price | R810,000.00 (Available now) |
| Engine | 2.0-litre turbo petrol inline 4-cylinder |
| Power | 206kW |
| 0 - 100 kph | 400Nm |
| Torque | 5.7 seconds |
| Top speed | 230kph |
