It's a people hauler with a hidden agenda.
The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti Sport is roomy and looks like it would work well for heading out on day trip with the family. You can load up all of your picnic baskets, grandma and grandma in the back, and the family dog. But stop right there. For anyone who commutes to work, needs to impress clients, or who has some spare cash laying around, the Stelvio is a powerful, sporty crossover meant for people who love to drive.
At $43,995, the Stelvio is not for the budget-minded of course. A quick survey of crossovers reveals that this market is all over the board. The 2018 Nissan Rogue, which I also tested recently, costs just $24,800 and is remarkably similar in terms of what you can load in the back, the overall feel on the road at least in terms of wind noise (a crossover is literally a cross between a full-size SUV and a car, but tends to drive more like an SUV), and even the fuel economy (around 33 highway for the Rogue, 28 highway for the Stelvio).
That's where the comparisons end, though. The Stelvio has a powerful 280-horsepower engine and a top speed of 144 MPH. It has high torque, which is what pushes you in the back of the seat at take-off (also known as hitting the gas when the light turns green). It's a total blast to drive, engineered to hug the road, leaning into curves in a way that only Alfa Romeo could muster at a price point like this. (Some BMW and Audi crossovers also feel like sports-cars.) There's a rawness to the Stelvio, as though it was meant for the track but someone misplaced the design docs and released it for everyday drivers,
On a sunny day, I took one all the way up to Duluth, Minnesota on a day trip, finding roads that are normally used to transport cows and hay-bales. Yes, the farmers looked at me funny. The car has a nice mix of carbon fiber and aluminum, so it feels agile and responsive. My favorite car of 2017 was the Alfa Romeo Giulia, and this crossover is a close cousin. In both cars, you feel the road beneath you, almost as though you're in a kit car meant for hairpin turns. A new electro-mechanical braking system gives you the assurance that the car will glide easily to a stop and handle any curve.
As a bonus, it's also big enough for people and gear. I managed to pack in four grown adults and gear for a picnic and we all felt comfortable. I've tested similar crossovers but never with this much punch and ease of handling, although I won't sugarcoat the fact that many entry-level crossovers cost as much as $10,000 to $15,000 less.
In the end, you pick this car because you love to drive, and you want everyone else to experience the rush of excitement. It's not perfect. Some of the Alfa Romeo controls can be a little confusing, and even things like adjusting the suspension settings can be an odd experience if you are not used to this brand. I adjusted quickly because of previously driving the Giulia, but new drivers might need a quick tutorial.
And, the Stelvio is an unknown. I'm partial to the style and handling, but it's hard to know if this brand has as much longevity in the U.S. as, say, an Audi Q7. I'm excited to see how it all pans out, and I can recommend this crossover as an exciting, sporty ride.