A Week With: 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Estrema This fall

Mention the phrases Alfa Romeo to most American motorists, and their minds get lost to a obscure romantic notion of cars.

The identify conjures up an exoticness that makes girls wistful and males passionate. Certainly, it’s a marque with fashions that also stir the soul many years after their manufacturing, such because the 8C 2900, the Tipo 33 Stradale, the Disco Volante, the Montreal and the 1600 Spider Duetto, memorably pushed by Dustin Hoffman in “The Graduate.”

The query is, does the 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Estrema This fall belong alongside such monumental forbearers?

Overview

Named for considered one of Italy’s best driving roads, the Stelvio Pass, Alfa Romeo’s luxurious compact SUV returns for 2023 in Sprint, Ti, Lusso, Veloce, Estrema and Quadrifoglio trim. We examined the Estrema, which advantages from having the adaptive suspension and the torque-vectoring limited-slip rear differential from the Quadrifoglio, together with particular trim.

Exterior

Black 21-inch alloy wheels, black brake calipers, carbon fiber and gloss black trim accents distinguish the Estrema from its stablemates. It’s not your standard field, with a sloping roof, and taut, but gentle surfaces that concurrently render it sumptuously sensuous and quick. And its compact dimensions make it a breeze to drive in a world accustomed to bloated XXL full-size pickups. Our car’s vivid electrical blue made it straightforward to identify in a colorless sea of with black, white, grey and beige containers. It’s too emotional of a design to be boring. 

Interior

Compared to some interiors, the Stelvio’s cabin feels a bit cozier, a sense strengthened by the outstanding, if slender, front-seat bolsters. Leg room within the entrance is okay and acceptable within the rear. Cargo house is OK, however some opponents have extra. Pack flippantly; for you’re going to benefit from the experience.

And while you do, you’ll discover the controls straightforward to make use of and function. Leather trim is normal, and our Estrema characteristic purple distinction stitching throughout the instrument panel. It had a distinctively premium Italian really feel, being luxurious with out being overindulgent. Bravo. 

And when it comes time to haul you’ll discover its baggage capability is eighteen.5 cubic toes, increasing to 56.5 cubic toes with the rear seat folded. That’s greater than sufficient for many chores.

Powertrain

Most Stelvio fashions get their juice from a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine rated at 280 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque. An 8-speed computerized transmission and Alfa Romeo’s DNA Drive Mode selector are normal.

So too is This fall all-wheel drive aside from the bottom Sprint mannequin, which comes with rear-wheel drive, though all-wheel drive is optionally available. Quadrifoglio fashions get way more energy, due to a Ferrari-derived double-overhead-cam twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V-6 that delivers 505 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque.

Opting for the 4-cylinder mill dials up 60 mph in 5.4 seconds on its solution to a 144-mph high pace. The six accomplishes the identical job in 3.6 seconds on its solution to 176 mph. 

But if you wish to tow, you’ll should accept the smaller powerplant, which might yank as much as 3,000 kilos.

And no matter which engine you select, you need to use premium unleaded gasoline. The EPA charges the 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio at 22 mpg metropolis, 28 mpg freeway. We received 22 mpg in largely freeway driving. Then once more, we are likely to have lead toes.

Safety and Technology

Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has crash-tested the 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio. Driver help programs embody Highway Assist System, Traffic Jam Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane-Keep Assist, Blind-Spot Assist, Driver Attention Alert, Intelligent Speed Assist, Automatic Emergency Braking and Collision Warning.

The tech package deal is up-to-date, that includes a wi-fi hotspot, Wi-Fi hotspot, cell app with distant operation, over-the-air updates, a 7-inch thin-film transistor driver instrument cluster and an 8.8-inch middle infotainment touchscreen with an easy-to-use interface. While the display appears noticeably smaller than most opponents, its performance is each bit pretty much as good, with out the distraction of a big display always obvious at you.

Driving Impressions

Some autos simply get higher with age, and the Alfa-Romeo Stelvio proves the purpose. The turbo 4 supplies numerous muscle, greater than sufficient to maintain you entertained, notably in Dynamic driving mode. There’s little if any turbo lag, with energy at all times on faucet while you want it, with a linear energy supply that belies its turbocharged origins. That stated, Normal mode appears a stingier than Dynamic, however not sufficient to place a damper on issues. 

The car’s paddle shifters had been welcome, though not wanted more often than not because the transmission appeared to learn our thoughts when it was time to upshift or downshift. Its logic and timing had been impeccable. Steering is pretty mild, however fast and correct. Ride high quality was excellent, the adaptive suspension delivering the combo of sports activities automotive like dealing with and premium experience consolation that’s at all times appreciated. But there was a good bit of street and tire noise, an excessive amount of contemplating its worth.

Interior meeting high quality was wonderful, with gadgets that beforehand proved problematic, akin to a unfastened, flimsy starter button, now not obvious.

2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Estrema This fall Specifications

Wrap Up

In a world of sameness, the 2023 Alfa Rome Stelvio Estrema is a unique taste, one distilled from the essence of Alfa Romeo, an organization that’s been constructing automobiles for 113 years with a ardour as solely the Italians may muster. It makes drive one thing as plebian as an SUV a real every day driving delight.

2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio ­– Frequently Asked Questions