6:17 Like any other SUV from Porsche, the Macan is built over a VW multi-purpose (MLB) platform with a VW/Audi engine. That's not saying It's bad, Porsche did a good job setting up the Macan suspension, but it doesn't match the Giorgio platform designed from scratch from ex-Ferrari designers and engineers to be dynamically competent with RWD and perfect weight balance in mind. The few track time comparisons I've found, were favorable to the Stelvio as expected.
@@daweigo6851do you know why? Whenever I ask, people refer back to cars from 20+ years ago. These modern Alfas are fun and reliable. So don't add to the false myth by repeating outdated notions.
I’ve had 3 stelvio,s first one got smashed up,not my fault,but head on crash,other driver wrong side of the road,but as it’s got one of the best Ncap safety ratings, didn’t feel a thing, as the car crumpled,me and my daughter walked away unhurt! 2nd was a diesel speciali had that 4 years all good,now got the Estrema and it’s fantastic, build quality is great,I’ve owned and driven Porsche,s but the drive on the Alfa,wow,value for money,also from a selfish point of view,makes you more exclusive don’t see many others,unlike other makes!😂probably the most underrated brand,which it doesn’t deserve ! Once driven,cannot see me driving anything else!❤❤❤
4:00 Why it's still not there in terms of quality through out with the German Competitors? Unless you're talking about features like the infotainment, interior led lighting effects or ventilated seats. I still haven't found a GLC or X3 where I found / perceive better quality on the interior. It's usually the other way around. I find soft plastic or synthetic leather in places where I have real leather or aluminum finishes. I've a '21 Veloce with the full leather trim. ...And I can also add to the mix, ride comfort and interior noise isolation.
Tim, I feel your pain having suffered a similar injury pulling a briar out of a flower bed! Other than residuals It would be a hard decision to make the choice between the Stelvio and the Macan. Do you rent out rooms in your house to other motoring journalists?
Had my MY21 Stelvio Veloce for 2 years now and still love it. You chose a great road to test drive it (shame about the biker), between Richmond and Reeth in the North East. I live not to far away from there...
Is that a firing range in Yorkshire by any chance? Maybe there are many, but I remember some fine roads near camouflaged people firing gun up there. Time for a return visit I think.
Read around the forums. Most of the early electrical and coolant issues were worked out in the first couple of years. 2020 and newer are very reliable. I actually have a co-worker that purchased a 2018 new. She admits to ignoring oil changes and never washing it and she hasn't had a single issue. I wouldn't recommend what she does but it does prove a point
Probably the Stelvio being lighter. The Grecale has a longer distance between axles though ...but I still bet on the Stelvio. The Stelvio was built under the same mindset as the Giulia, to be dynamic competent. I'm not saying the Grecale isn't, it shares the same platform after all, but the Grecale has to fulfil the luxury everyone expects from a Maserati.
Nowhere near enough horsepower for the money and the cambelt WILL snap at some point like my last Alfa !! Great styling as always but no match at all for my Macan GTS.
I wasn’t so keen on the Toenail, thought it’d be a bit more engaging to drive, so it put me off trying this…..but it sounds like the Stelvio is much better?
Having owned a Stelvio Veloce and hired an admittedly low spec Tonale there is no comparison between them. The Stelvio is a quality car, the Tonale is a low spec car that feels cheap in every way compared to the Stelvio. Sadly it’s not cheap though. I was intending to buy one but went with a Giulia Estrema once I’d seen and sat in a Tonale. Having hired one I was completely underwhelmed. It did everything it should do but it just didn’t feel like an Alfa. Even had a clunky Jeep gear stick.
Yup, the Tonale really feels like a Jeep Renegade in a fancy dress really. Giulia and Stelvio feel like financially irresponsible platform engineering that really works! Love them.
The Tonale doesn't play in the same segment. It's a great product, but if you directly compare it with a Stelvio, it feels like a cheap drive. The Tonale competes with the likes of the Merc GLA, BMW X1, Audi Q3, Volvo XC40 just to name some of its main competitors. The Stelvio competes with the likes of the Merc GLC, BMW X3, Audi Q5, Volvo XC60. Different segment, different price, different ride quality.
To be honest i love those the price is just to high for the car you get, And with such tough competition i don't think they will sell well. Maybe I'll buy it in five years when the prices come down
XC60 drives like a "sUv". The Stelvio drives like a "Suv". ...and still offers more space for luggage. Better built is an opinion. It might be, it might not. At least the Stelvio is built over the Giorgio platform. A platform designed for rear wheel driving, 50/50 (light)weight distribution and to be dynamically very competent. That sets it apart from most competitors that use standard 'one size fits all' kind of platforms. Even the Porsche Macan is built over a VW MLB platform. The XC60 is a (good) car for those who need a SUV in this segment, but don't want to go for the usual German stuff and don't mind having a 180Km/h speed built-in limit. The Stelvio is a car for petrolheads or people that just love to enjoy the pleasure of driving. ...and it does that without sacrificing ride comfort or the utility we expect from such a vehicle.
A shoddy dealer network, getting smaller by the day, indifferent interior quality combined with premium pricing, condemns the Stelvio to the 2nd rank. The looks are ok but not to everyone's taste (the rear window looks "sad"). Nearest dealer is now 40 miles away. Not an obvious choice. (I have owned 3 Alfas from new so I am not anti-Alfa)
The interior quality is top. It does miss a better infotainment and few nice to have things, like 360º camera, HUD, interior led lighting (for those who want to have this stuff). But it still looks great (not the usual box offerings in the segment) and it rides much better than its competitors. A joy to drive every single day.
I've been driving a Tonale for half a year, the quality of the interior side is very poor there - a lot of hard plastic, and a lot of squeaks (((I want to buy a Stelvio, is the quality of the interior better in terms of assembly?
@@rinatbigfish Yes, of course. It’s a different kind of animal. Different car segment, different rivals, different quality, and more important: different ride quality. But don’t take my words for it Test drive one and see for yourself, it’s easily perceptible, especially if you test an upper interiors trim like the Veloce or the Estrema. I have to remind you about the infotainment, though. It’s one or two steps back from the Tonale.
No, *you* edited this video back in April and entirely forgot to post it... d'oh... enjoy!
Alfa Romeo are producing some great capable cars these days and more people should be buying them.
6:17 Like any other SUV from Porsche, the Macan is built over a VW multi-purpose (MLB) platform with a VW/Audi engine. That's not saying It's bad, Porsche did a good job setting up the Macan suspension, but it doesn't match the Giorgio platform designed from scratch from ex-Ferrari designers and engineers to be dynamically competent with RWD and perfect weight balance in mind.
The few track time comparisons I've found, were favorable to the Stelvio as expected.
Alfa, just can't understand why they are overlooked. Love this suv.
Same.
They do have bad name in Australia for reliability etc
@@daweigo6851 They kind of have that bad name everywhere. It's completely false of course, but it's convenient for certain other manufacturers.
@@daweigo6851do you know why? Whenever I ask, people refer back to cars from 20+ years ago. These modern Alfas are fun and reliable. So don't add to the false myth by repeating outdated notions.
@@daweigo6851Ironically, Australians have a bad name in the rest of the world !!
I’ve had 3 stelvio,s first one got smashed up,not my fault,but head on crash,other driver wrong side of the road,but as it’s got one of the best Ncap safety ratings, didn’t feel a thing, as the car crumpled,me and my daughter walked away unhurt!
2nd was a diesel speciali had that 4 years all good,now got the Estrema and it’s fantastic, build quality is great,I’ve owned and driven Porsche,s but the drive on the Alfa,wow,value for money,also from a selfish point of view,makes you more exclusive don’t see many others,unlike other makes!😂probably the most underrated brand,which it doesn’t deserve ! Once driven,cannot see me driving anything else!❤❤❤
I love these cars. They are gorgeous and a great way that alfa is coming back into the mainstream consciousness
4:00 Why it's still not there in terms of quality through out with the German Competitors?
Unless you're talking about features like the infotainment, interior led lighting effects or ventilated seats.
I still haven't found a GLC or X3 where I found / perceive better quality on the interior. It's usually the other way around. I find soft plastic or synthetic leather in places where I have real leather or aluminum finishes.
I've a '21 Veloce with the full leather trim. ...And I can also add to the mix, ride comfort and interior noise isolation.
Great review Tim - what a stunner !
Would have been great if they adapted the infotainment of the Tonale. The infotainment system looks outdated. Great car though.
Haven’t we seen you using your house as a backdrop in another video?
Glad your back is better at last 👍🏻
great review, thank you from Ukraine!
great video. thanks! I'm hesitating between this and a Macan T. Still don't know what to do
Ooo. Tricky one! I'd be brave and get the Alfa...
National Trust car park, brilliant, made me laugh out loud.
Alfaromeo Stelvio ❤️❤️👍🏻
Tim, I feel your pain having suffered a similar injury pulling a briar out of a flower bed! Other than residuals It would be a hard decision to make the choice between the Stelvio and the Macan. Do you rent out rooms in your house to other motoring journalists?
Ah sorry to hear that! Gardening is dangerous! If you ask RUclips I get paid by Skoda to stay in my house...
Had my MY21 Stelvio Veloce for 2 years now and still love it. You chose a great road to test drive it (shame about the biker), between Richmond and Reeth in the North East. I live not to far away from there...
Great video. You're saying "it drives better than most competitors", so, which one drives better?
Ferrari Purosangue does
Not really a competitor though...
@@665Thunder true. the only one that does though
Is that a firing range in Yorkshire by any chance? Maybe there are many, but I remember some fine roads near camouflaged people firing gun up there. Time for a return visit I think.
I think this was in Yorkshire, yep...
The most stylish person in the National Trust car park is me. In my Polestar 2.... 😮😂😂😂
With a Chinese car? 😂
C'mon ma be serious
I'm a big fan of 4x4, but alfa is really attracting me. The reliability is the only issue,the rest is fine.
Read around the forums. Most of the early electrical and coolant issues were worked out in the first couple of years. 2020 and newer are very reliable. I actually have a co-worker that purchased a 2018 new. She admits to ignoring oil changes and never washing it and she hasn't had a single issue. I wouldn't recommend what she does but it does prove a point
which is better driving, this stelvio or the grecale gt
Probably the Stelvio being lighter. The Grecale has a longer distance between axles though ...but I still bet on the Stelvio.
The Stelvio was built under the same mindset as the Giulia, to be dynamic competent. I'm not saying the Grecale isn't, it shares the same platform after all, but the Grecale has to fulfil the luxury everyone expects from a Maserati.
Nowhere near enough horsepower for the money and the cambelt WILL snap at some point like my last Alfa !!
Great styling as always but no match at all for my Macan GTS.
I see.. I own a Quadrifoglio that ridiculize any Porsche at their own game. The Nurburgring 😂
I wasn’t so keen on the Toenail, thought it’d be a bit more engaging to drive, so it put me off trying this…..but it sounds like the Stelvio is much better?
Having owned a Stelvio Veloce and hired an admittedly low spec Tonale there is no comparison between them. The Stelvio is a quality car, the Tonale is a low spec car that feels cheap in every way compared to the Stelvio. Sadly it’s not cheap though. I was intending to buy one but went with a Giulia Estrema once I’d seen and sat in a Tonale. Having hired one I was completely underwhelmed. It did everything it should do but it just didn’t feel like an Alfa. Even had a clunky Jeep gear stick.
@@murrayrogers I’m glad it wasn’t just my imagination…… thanks for the sanity check 😃👍
Yup, the Tonale really feels like a Jeep Renegade in a fancy dress really. Giulia and Stelvio feel like financially irresponsible platform engineering that really works! Love them.
The Tonale doesn't play in the same segment. It's a great product, but if you directly compare it with a Stelvio, it feels like a cheap drive.
The Tonale competes with the likes of the Merc GLA, BMW X1, Audi Q3, Volvo XC40 just to name some of its main competitors.
The Stelvio competes with the likes of the Merc GLC, BMW X3, Audi Q5, Volvo XC60.
Different segment, different price, different ride quality.
Slow tailgates? I see your Stelvio and I raise you, the Nissan Armada, our current rental here in the US. The tailgate takes For Ever to open 😡
Haha *googles Nissan Armada*. Ah.
Yes❤
Not a car for OCD drivers, sort that number plate position!
To be honest i love those the price is just to high for the car you get,
And with such tough competition i don't think they will sell well.
Maybe I'll buy it in five years when the prices come down
If you take the competitors and add the same kind of stuff, the Stelvio comes out cheaper than its German rivals.
γιατί φωνάζεις;;;
Nice, but reckon XC60 is same age but fresher looking,and better built.
Volvo is Chinese-owned.
XC60 drives like a "sUv". The Stelvio drives like a "Suv". ...and still offers more space for luggage.
Better built is an opinion. It might be, it might not. At least the Stelvio is built over the Giorgio platform. A platform designed for rear wheel driving, 50/50 (light)weight distribution and to be dynamically very competent. That sets it apart from most competitors that use standard 'one size fits all' kind of platforms. Even the Porsche Macan is built over a VW MLB platform.
The XC60 is a (good) car for those who need a SUV in this segment, but don't want to go for the usual German stuff and don't mind having a 180Km/h speed built-in limit.
The Stelvio is a car for petrolheads or people that just love to enjoy the pleasure of driving. ...and it does that without sacrificing ride comfort or the utility we expect from such a vehicle.
A shoddy dealer network, getting smaller by the day, indifferent interior quality combined with premium pricing, condemns the Stelvio to the 2nd rank. The looks are ok but not to everyone's taste (the rear window looks "sad"). Nearest dealer is now 40 miles away. Not an obvious choice. (I have owned 3 Alfas from new so I am not anti-Alfa)
The interior quality is top. It does miss a better infotainment and few nice to have things, like 360º camera, HUD, interior led lighting (for those who want to have this stuff).
But it still looks great (not the usual box offerings in the segment) and it rides much better than its competitors. A joy to drive every single day.
I've been driving a Tonale for half a year, the quality of the interior side is very poor there - a lot of hard plastic, and a lot of squeaks (((I want to buy a Stelvio, is the quality of the interior better in terms of assembly?
@@rinatbigfish Yes, of course. It’s a different kind of animal. Different car segment, different rivals, different quality, and more important: different ride quality.
But don’t take my words for it
Test drive one and see for yourself, it’s easily perceptible, especially if you test an upper interiors trim like the Veloce or the Estrema.
I have to remind you about the infotainment, though. It’s one or two steps back from the Tonale.