Used Alfa Romeo Stelvio for sale: everything you need to know

Alfa Romeo gave us a two-for-one back in 2016, launching both the Giulia saloon and the Stelvio SUV based on the same platform and with a similar range of engines - from humble petrol and diesels up to the mad Quadrifoglio with more than 500 horsepower.

While you might expect an SUV to be more lumbering than a saloon, the Stelvio really isn’t far behind its lower-slung counterpart on the road, and it’s this driving experience, plus the Stelvio’s distinctive looks, which might tempt you into it and away from the German models that usually dominate this section of the market.

For those, think Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC - though you might even consider the Porsche Macan a rival, particularly for the Quadrifoglio. You can probably guess where the Alfa isn’t quite as competitive as these alternatives, but not many other SUVs feel as lively to drive as the Alfa.

Should you buy an Alfa Romeo Stelvio?

In many respects the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is a car you can buy with the head as much as the heart. It isn’t the most spacious car in its class, nor the one with the biggest boot, it doesn’t have the most solid-feeling cabin and others are more refined. But it’s not far behind in any of these respects either, so if you buy one for more emotive reasons like the way it looks or drives, you’re not having to make a huge compromise on more pragmatic concerns.

The driving experience is definitely the highlight. The Stelvio’s modest range of engines all have enough punch to make light work of daily driving and Alfa has tuned them to feel lively - even the diesels feel quick to respond, and shifts from the standard 8-speed automatic gearbox are swift. Some versions get large, tactile gearshift paddles behind the steering wheel that really add to the experience of swapping gears yourself.

The handling is just as spirited as the engines. Alfa has long fitted quick steering to its cars and the Stelvio gets a very responsive steering rack too. It can feel a bit darty at first but you’ll soon get used to it, and combined with suspension that controls body movements well, and still allows for a comfortable ride, it’s among the more nimble SUVs you’ll drive. It’s just a shame the ‘fly-by-wire’ brakes feel a little grabby, making it difficult to use them smoothly.

The Alfa’s not as quiet as its German alternatives but there’s good space front and rear and a decent, if not class-leading boot, so the basics are all there. The dashboard is easy on the eye too, even if the quality, and the infotainment system aren’t up there with the best.

Alongside the Alfa, rivals like the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC feel a little dull, though they also feel more grown-up and can be a little more practical. If you’ve got an eye on style then the Range Rover Evoque might be worth a look, even if it’s not as fun to drive as the Alfa, while if the performance of the 510PS Stelvio Quadrifoglio has caught your attention, the Porsche Macan is another option. Buy a well looked-after Stelvio and you should minimise the risk of problems, too.

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What’s the best used Alfa Romeo Stelvio model to buy?

With our family SUV hats on the diesel naturally makes the most sense. It’s still entertaining to drive, like all Stelvios are, and balances performance and economy in a way that’ll suit most buyers in the market for a car like this. The choice then comes down to the rear or all-wheel drive options, which you’ll have to make depending on how much inclement weather you expect to face.

Of course, if you have the budget (and some extra stashed away for fuel), then the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is hugely tempting. Performance SUVs are all a bit daft to start with, so why not go for the daftest of the lot?

Used Alfa Romeo Stelvio economy and performance

• Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.0 Turbo 200HP: The first of two, 2-litre turbocharged petrol engines in the Stelvio makes a useful 200PS and is all-wheel drive only. It’s good for 0-62mph in 7.2 seconds, with combined economy up to 30.4mpg. This engine is not currently offered in new Stelvios.
• Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.0 Turbo 280HP: The more powerful four-cylinder 2-litre petrol makes 280PS, cutting the 0-62mph dash down to 5.7 seconds. Fuel efficiency doesn’t suffer though, with the same claimed 30.4mpg.
• Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.2 Turbo Diesel 190HP: The biggest benefit of the 2.2-litre diesel in the Stelvio is its economy over the petrol, with up to 46.3mpg combined in rear-wheel drive form and 44.1mpg in the AWD. With 190PS, both rear- and all-wheel drive versions get from 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds. Like the 200PS petrol, the 190PS diesel was recently dropped, leaving only the 210PS model on sale.
• Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.2 Turbo Diesel 210HP: With 20PS more than the entry-level diesel, the more powerful variant cuts a second from its 0-62mph time. Available in all-wheel drive form only, claimed economy is up to 43.5mpg.
• Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.9 V6 510HP: Available only in the Quadrifoglio and with standard all-wheel drive, the twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 is a real monster, making 510PS and getting from 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds. The penalty is in terms of fuel economy, at 24.6mpg combined.

What used Alfa Romeo Stelvio trim levels are available?

The Stelvio has been offered in a few different trim levels over the years, but we’ve skipped out on some of the limited-run models and special editions in favour of the main trim lines below. Super and Speciale were offered earlier on, while Sprint and Veloce are available in the current Stelvio range - and Alfa fans will know that all those trim levels are nods to different models from the company’s past. The same goes for the range-topping, high-performance Quadrifoglio.

• The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Super comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, a 7-inch TFT instrument display, an 8.8-inch infotainment screen (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, depending on the year), 8-speaker audio, auto headlights and wipers, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, and cloth and leather seat trim.
• The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Speciale adds several features to Super trim, including 20-inch wheels, aluminium interior details including both the pedals and a pair of gearshift paddles, heated six-way adjustable front seats, leather trim, and a heated steering wheel.
• The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Sprint is the current entry-level model, but still comes with 19-inch alloys, leather and cloth combination seat trim, aluminium gearshift paddles, and a rear-view camera. The 8.8-inch infotainment screen with CarPlay and Android Auto remains standard.
• The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Veloce is much like the Speciale offered before, with 20-inch alloys, full leather seats, and aluminium trim and shift paddles. It also gets a Quadrifoglio-style body kit, and a limited-slip differential to aid with sporty driving.
• The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is the only Stelvio to get the range-topping 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, and gets the option of either 20-inch or 21-inch alloy wheels, carbon fibre interior trim, sports seats (with the option of carbon-backed bucket seats), quad exhausts, and an exterior styling kit.

Used Alfa Romeo Stelvio dimensions and boot size

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4701mm 
• Width: 1955mm (without mirrors)
• Height: 1689mm

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio’s boot size is:

• 525 litres
• 1600 litres with the rear seats folded (to roof)

Used Alfa Romeo Stelvio road tax

Almost all Alfa Romeo Stelvios cost over £40,000 brand new, so most attract the government’s surcharge for VED or ‘road tax’. That means a bill of £570 per year from the second to the sixth years of registration, before dropping down to £180 per year thereafter. These figures are of course subject to change according to future government budgets.

How much is it to insure an Alfa Romeo Stelvio?

Low-spec versions of the Stelvio start from group 29 and rise to 37 with the better equipped and more powerful variants, though you’ll be unsurprised to learn there’s one exception to these ratings: the Quadrifoglio slots right in there at the top, rising as high as group 50.

Read our full Alfa Romeo Stelvio review