Notable SUVs Suited for the Road, Part 1 | Alfa Romeo Stelvio

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Q4 Sport

An Italian SUV Suited for Mountain Roads

This is a first-drive report from the test drive event held annually in February for the press by the Japan Automobile Importers Association (JAIA). As the first installment of our SUV series, we deliver a short impression of the "Stelvio," introduced to Japan in 2018 as Alfa Romeo's first SUV.

Text & Photographs by HARA Akira

Boasts a Swift 0-100km/h Acceleration of 5.7 Seconds

The "Stelvio," Alfa Romeo's first SUV, made its debut in Japan on June 25, 2018, the day after Alfa Romeo celebrated its 108th anniversary.

The first model born from the architecture with the project name "GEORGIO" was the FR sports sedan "Giulia," and the Stelvio is the second model to follow. The Giulia forms the basis of its structure, and it's quick to understand that the Stelvio is its taller counterpart.

Sales in Japan began with the "First Edition," a limited run of 400 units equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo engine. Subsequently, the catalog models included the 2.0 Turbo Q4 series with the same engine, and the top model "Quadrifoglio" powered by a 2.9-liter V6 twin-turbo. The model tested this time was the "Stelvio Q4 Sport," a 4WD sports model with the 2.0-liter engine.

The body measures 4,690mm in length, 1,905mm in width, and 1,680mm in height, placing its size close to coupe-style SUVs like the Mercedes-Benz "GLC," BMW "X4," and Audi "Q5." On the other hand, its short front and rear overhangs, compact cabin, and aggressive front fascia, shared with the Giulia, exude a more sports car-like image.

The 2.0-liter aluminum inline 4-cylinder engine with an intercooler and twin-scroll turbocharger produces a maximum output of 280ps (206kW) at 5,250rpm and a maximum torque of 400Nm at 2,250rpm. Combined with an 8-speed automatic transmission and the on-demand "Alfa Romeo Q4" all-wheel-drive system, it achieves a swift 0-100km/h acceleration of 5.7 seconds.

Page02.Corners on Asphalt, Not Off-Road, Are Its Specialty

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Q4 Sport

An Italian SUV Suited for Mountain Roads (2)

Corners on Asphalt, Not Off-Road, Are Its Specialty

Once settled into the captivating interior, with its dashboard composed of circles and curves and striking red leather seats, you quickly understand the origin of the Stelvio's name. The steering is incredibly quick, with virtually no play.

The Stelvio Pass, located in the Italian Alps at an altitude of 2,757 meters, features 48 hairpin turns and is a revered pilgrimage site for European motorists. This car is perfectly suited for tackling it.

The front end reacts with remarkable agility at the slightest turn of the steering wheel, akin to a sports car, with almost no perceptible body roll. Clearing corners on asphalt is Stelvio's forte, more so than tackling off-road terrain. The key lies in its 50:50 front-rear weight distribution. Another factor is likely the tread, which, while sharing the same wheelbase as the Giulia, is widened by 55mm at the front and 25mm at the rear. This inverted triangular dimension, wider at the front, enables its exceptional performance.

The trade-off is a somewhat firm ride, but considering its appeal as an Alfa Romeo SUV with a sharp performance edge amidst the burgeoning boom of sporty mid-size SUVs like the three mentioned earlier, its evaluation is high.

As you become more accustomed to the drive, you might wish for a bit more power. For those seeking that, the "Stelvio Quadrifoglio" is available, which set a production SUV record with a Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time of 7 minutes 51.7 seconds in September 2017.

The only point of concern was the lack of an integrated navigation system on the central LCD panel of the instrument cluster, relying solely on smartphone map apps. However, with a price tag of 6.91 million yen for this 4WD sports SUV, produced on a dedicated Alfa Romeo line in Cassino, Italy, it undoubtedly poses a significant threat to its rivals.