The 2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio stands out in a crowd for its Italian flair and enthusiastic performance. This small SUV is a driver’s car that begs to carve twisty back roads and soar down the highway, and comes standard with all-wheel drive. But the cabin isn’t as posh and it has less cargo space than other luxury rivals.
Base Price: $48,995
As Tested: $57,635
Horsepower: 280
Mileage: 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway/24 mpg combined
The 2025 Stelvio comes in three trims: Stelvio, Stelvio Veloce, and Stelvio Tributo Italiano. Starting prices are $48,995, $56,090 and $56,690, respectively. All-wheel drive is standard on all trims.
The 2025 Stelvio is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 280 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain is more robust than many other luxury compact SUVs. The transmission is an eight-speed automatic.
The start/stop button is in an unusual spot, located on the lower left side of the steering wheel. Anyone driving the Stelvio may look around for it before spotting it there.
Veloce means fast in Italian, and the Stelvio Veloce lives up to its name. It accelerates with gusto, scooting from zero to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, according to Alfa Romeo, with plenty of low-end torque, and the Stelvio enthusiastically speeds up for merging and passing on the highway. The eight-speed shifts quickly and smoothly and ginormous paddle shifters on the steering wheel let you shift manually if desired. The Stelvio stays planted when cornering with little body roll. The brakes and steering are responsive, and the steering has a nice, weighted feel. Even with the sport-tuned suspension, the Stelvio has a smooth ride, even over rough roads. If you’re looking for a fun and responsive luxury compact SUV, the Stelvio gets the job done!
Fuel economy is decent for a luxury compact SUV. EPA ratings are 22 mpg city and 28 mpg highway with a combined rating of 24. I got 24 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. Premium fuel is required.
The cabin isn’t as upscale as what you’ll find in many rivals but it’s still attractive. There are some nice touches but also some cheap-looking components. The front seats are nicely bolstered to help keep you snug in your seat during enthusiastic driving moves, but they’re not as comfy and supportive as some competitors. Front row passengers have decent leg- and headroom. While the backseat technically has room for three, it’s tight and best suited for kids or two smaller adults. The infotainment system is housed in the center of the dash and has an 8.8-inch touchscreen which is smaller than many rivals.
Standard features include remote start, proximity keyless entry, push-button start, rearview camera,
dual-zone automatic climate control, leather seating, 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with 4-way power lumbar adjustment, driver seat memory function, 6-way power adjustable front passenger seat with 4-way power lumbar adjustment, heated front seats, heated rear seats, leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, infotainment system with 8.8-inch touchscreen, navigation, eight-speaker audio system, HD Radio, satellite radio, wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, voice recognition, wireless device charging, front USB ports, second-row dual charge-only USB ports, 12-volt center console power outlet, universal garage door opener, automatic high-beam headlights, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.
Available features include leather-trimmed dashboard and door panels, 14-way power-adjustable front seats with side bolsters, 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and a dual-pane sunroof.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with full stop, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear park-assist sensors, and.
Available driver assistance technologies include lane-keep assist, traffic-jam assist, which controls acceleration, braking and steering at slow speeds, active blind-spot assist, intelligent speed assist, traffic sign recognition, and driver attention monitoring.
The infotainment system is user-friendly but, as noted above, has a smaller touchscreen than many rivals which makes it look dated. Graphics have an old-school look and the system can be leisurely responding to inputs. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto both require a cord. There are handy physical controls for audio and climate settings.
Cargo space is below average for the class. The Stelvio has 18.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 56.5 cubes with the second row folded. A hands-free power liftgate is standard.
The good:
Stylish looks that stand out from the crowd
Rapido acceleration
Dynamic handling
Many standard and available features and tech
User-friendly infotainment system
The not-so-good:
Interior not as nice as some other luxury rivals
Below average cargo space
Infotainment system could use updating
Wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $48,995. Alfa Rosso red paint is $695. The Active Driver Assistance Package is $700 and includes lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, traffic jam assist, driver attention alert, active blind-spot assist, hands-free power liftgate, cargo compartment cover, advanced vehicle anti-theft system and intelligent speed assist. The dual-pane sunroof is $1,500. The Veloce Package is $2,000 and includes limited tailgate appliques, the Vulcano Gloss black body kit, sport leather seats, power adjustable seat bolsters, limited-slip differential, eight-way power adjustable front passenger seat, sport rear diffuser, gloss-red calipers with white script, gloss-black roof rails, and a trial of Alfa Connect services. 20-inch x 8.5-inch sport 5-hole aluminum wheels with all-season tires and a tire service kit are $1,750. The Destination Charge is $1,995, bringing the grand total to $57,635.
Bottom line:
If performance is important to you, the 2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio stands out in a crowded field of compact luxury SUVs. It delivers athletic handling and rapido acceleration and is also pleasant to drive around town. The cabin isn’t as upscale and other rivals may be more practical with more second-row room and cargo space, but the Stelvio is a blast to drive, has head-turning looks, and is offered at a reasonable price for the segment.
