There are no significant changes to this improved Stelvio beneath the bonnet, but the range does now feature a limited amount of 'Level 2' semi-autonomous driving tech - things like 'Lane keeping assist', 'Active blind spot' assistance, 'Active cruise control', a 'Traffic jam assistant' and 'Driver attention assist'. Otherwise, it's as you were. The Stelvio continues to serve up plenty of Alfa character, thanks to an unchanged engine range, with petrol variants featuring a soundtrack that Chief Engineer Roberto Fedeli says was created working in concert with musicians, who helped perfect this SUV's addictive engine note. As before, there's a choice of rear wheel drive or all-wheel drive. And four engines. A 2.0-litre petrol unit is offered with either 200hp or 280hp. Or you can have a 2.2-litre diesel, offering either 190hp or 210hp. An eight-speed ZF automatic transmission is standard. And only the base petrol variant does without Alfa's Q4 AWD system - and even then, it's optional.
The potent 280hp petrol model offers best in class acceleration, going from zero to 62mph in just 5.7 seconds and onto a top speed of 143mph. The 2.2-litre 210hp diesel Q4 AWD meanwhile, registers a top speed of 134mph and accelerates from zero to 62mph in 6.6 seconds. In addition, at the top of the range, there's a 2.9-litre V6 petrolengined Bi-Turbo Quadrifoglio performance model boasting 510hp and 600Nm of torque. It's 4WD of course and gets to 62mph in just 3.8s.
Even on humbler variants, thanks to perfect 50/50 weight distribution, Q4 all-wheel drive architecture, a best in class power-to-weight ratio and innovative engine and driver technologies, the Stelvio embodies everything a true Alfa Romeo should. Not only that, but this Italian contender is one of the lightest mid-size SUVs in the sector thanks to lightweight body structure and a carbon fibre driveshaft.