7

One of the few SUVs that is genuinely likeable

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Is the Alfa Romeo Stelvio reliable?

Historically, Alfas have had a somewhat mixed reputation for reliability, and according to owners who responded to the WhatCar? Reliability Survey things might not have changed enough. The Stelvio performed poorly in the 2024 survey – finishing in 31st place out of 33 family SUVs – and Alfa Romeo did badly as a brand too, coming 30th out of 31 makes.

Owners told us that 33% of their Alfa Romeo cars suffered a glitch, and some issues were slow and costly to put right. A third of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio models reported on went wrong, and a third of faulty cars were in the workshop for more than a week.

There are some key things to look out for:

Engine: Damaged hoses or a broken radiator can cause coolant leaks and overheating. A new radiator will cost around £350 to replace. Power control module problems can manifest as a sudden loss of power, sluggish acceleration or the engine stalling. Watch for a warning light on the dashboard, too. Misfires or reduced performance can be caused by a faulty coil pack; replacements are expensive, but you can get the leads revarnished (see above).

Electrics: Battery failures aren't uncommon. A laggy or unresponsive infotainment screen is often caused by electrical glitches, but a system reset should cure it. Other electrical gremlins include headlights randomly shutting off, malfunctioning windscreen wipers and warning lights on the dashboard.

Brakes: Brake fluid leaks can limit stopping power, so make sure the brakes have plenty of bite on a test drive.

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Wheels: Check diamond-cut alloys for milky patches of corrosion known as 'white worm'.

Body: Unlikely to have been off-roaded regularly, but it's a 4x4 SUV so check the underside, bumpers and trims for any damage.

An owner's view

Andrew Burford: "I purchased a 2020 Stelvio 2.0 petrol that was 18 months old and had 8000 miles on it, and I found it to be a comfortable and capable SUV. The ride felt like a sports car and it had plenty of power in D mode and it returned around 30mpg. As time and miles were added, one day the battery failed, and while it didn't stop me from using it, it did throw up some errors. I also had an issue with the coil pack. Alfa Romeo wanted a fortune for new parts so I went old-school and had the leads varnished, which cured it."

Also worth knowing

All versions use an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and all but the entry-level diesel come with four-wheel drive as standard.

Milano Edizione, the launch specification for the Stelvio, came with bigger alloy wheels and a 10-speaker stereo. Nero Edizione trim ('black edition' to you and me) arrived later, with a black grille, black trim and black wheels.

The Stelvio received a light nip and tuck for 2024, with new headlights and daytime-running lights, plus upgrades to the interior technology. Trims were changed to match the Giulia and included Sprint, Veloce and Competizione.

Sam Phillips

Sam Phillips
Title: Staff Writer

Sam joined the Autocar team in summer 2024 and has been a contributor since 2021. He is tasked with writing used reviews and first drives as well as updating top 10s and evergreen content on the Autocar website. 

He previously led sister-title Move Electric, which covers the entire spectrum of electric vehicles, from cars to boats – and even trucks. He is an expert in new car news, used cars, electric cars, microbility, classic cars and motorsport. 

Sam graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2021 with a BA in Journalism. In his final year he produced an in-depth feature on the automotive industry’s transition to electric cars and interviewed a number of leading experts to assess our readiness for the impending ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars.