Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2018 pricing and specs confirmed

Alfa Romeo has confirmed its first-ever SUV, the Stelvio, will arrive in Australian dealerships from March 20 with a starting price of $65,990 before on-road costs.

Initially, two full-time variants will be available; petrol and diesel, with the latter commanding a $2000 premium at $67,990. 

Under the bonnet of the entry-level Stelvio is a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine delivering 148kW of power and 330Nm of torque, pushing the mid-size SUV from 0-100km/h in a claimed 7.2 seconds.

The diesel Stelvio makes use of a 154kW/470Nm 2.2-litre turbocharged engine, and runs the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.6sec.

The Stelvio will be available with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine or a 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine.

Both powertrains are mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission that relays drive to the ground through Alfa's rear-biased all-wheel drive system.

Standard kit includes 19-inch alloy wheels, a 7.0-inch driver display, an 8.8-inch multimedia system with satellite navigation, an eight-speaker sound system, dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery and bi-xenon headlights.

Standard kit includes an 8.8-inch multimedia system with satellite navigation.

Safety wise, the Stelvio gets auto emergency braking with pedestrian detection, front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot detection, and lane-departure warning.

For an extra $5000, Stelvio buyers can option the 'Veloce Pack', which includes 'sport' alloy wheels, Koni frequency-selective dampers, heated 'sports' seats and steering wheel, black roof rails, red brake calipers, and a handful of interior touches.

Limited-run Stelvio First Edition models will also be available at launch, with just 100 petrol and 200 diesel units allocated for Australia, priced at $71,900 and $73,900 respectively.

Alfa Romeo says the First Edition adds $8000 worth of value thanks to the Veloce Pack as standard and extra features including a panoramic sunroof, 14-speaker harman/kardon sound system, and tinted rear windows.

Alfa Romeo says the First Edition adds $8000 worth of value thanks to the Veloce Pack.

A hotter Quadrifoglio performance model will join the Stelvio range later this year, with local pricing and specs yet to be confirmed.

Alfa Romeo Australia CEO Steve Zanlunghi suggests Stelvio pricing is aimed to disrupt the premium mid-size SUV market, giving consumers a more affordable way into the segment.

“Stelvio opens doors to customers that may not have considered our brand in the past due to the family’s lifestyle – the Stelvio has the opportunity to meet this brief while still providing a dynamic driving experience,” Mr Zanlunghi said.

In comparison, the equivalent BMW sDrive20i and xDrive20d variants come in at $66,900 and $69,900 respectively, while the Italian SUV also undercuts rival Mercedes-Benz models, the GLC250 4Matic and GLC250d 4Matic, which are priced at $70,611 and $73,200.

2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio list pricing

Petrol – automatic – $65,900
Diesel – automatic –  $67,900
First Edition Petrol – automatic – $71,900
First Edition Diesel – automatic – $73,900

Would you take the Italian Alfa Romeo Stelvio over its German mid-size SUV rivals? Let us know what you think in the comment section below.