Motoring: 2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Veloce showcases Italian opulence

First things first. Stelvio is a pre-Roman word meaning field. In automotive context, Stelvio is a famous Italian mountain pass road renowned for crazy hairpin turns that quicken the pulse of performance car drivers. Appropriately, the namesake of Alfa Romeo’s premium midsize SUV is built for motoring enthusiasts who appreciate the handling and fun-to-drive factor of a sports car plus SUV practicality.

Another Rosetta Stone moment: I recently test-drove the Stelvio Veloce. Veloce as in rapido, pronto, fast. You have already figured Veloce runs like the wind, accelerating from zero to 62 miles per hour in just 5.7 seconds and sprinting to a top speed of 143 mph. Under the hood resides a lively 2.0 Liter Turbo I-4 flowing 280 horsepower to an 8-speed automatic. With a raspy throttle note, the hard-charging engine feels more muscular than its power rating suggests. Shift paddles? Of course! Mounted on the steering column and not on the steering wheel, they don’t revolve with the wheel — such fun.

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As one might reasonably expect from a mountain pass pavement burner, Veloce is a nimble handler with a compliant ride. Similarly, it should come as no big surprise to learn that the Italian-styled Stelvio offers a lovely interior and a comfortable driving position. Seating five in goodly comfort, the front seats, upholstered in leather and accented with red stitching, are eight-way power-adjustable. Seats are heated but not cooled. Moreover, the driver seat features memory. Prominent power-adjustable bolsters provide hip support for better negotiating the likes of Old Bloody 218. I drove a fleet-of-foot Veloce during the recent New Year cold snap. Predictably, the heated, sport leather-wrapped steering wheel was a welcome amenity during the first frigid moments of the morning. Translation: I didn't need gloves to keep my otherwise frosty fingers warm as toast. Fuel economy, EPA-rated in the high teens, is appropriate for a car of this class.

Backseat room is good, and passengers will appreciate the air conditioning vents, a sprinkling of USB ports, and the fold-down center armrest. At the dealer showroom, get behind the wheel and peruse the cabin, where interior niceties include a 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system replete with a subwoofer ($1,650), leather cladding on the dashboard, upper doors and sport seats. Look overhead. See the large, dual-pane, panoramic sunroof ($3,300).

The small (8.8 inches) infotainment touchscreen responds to inputs, as does the redundant rotary controller knob located on the center console. D stands for dynamic, and N for everyday driving. The third position, A (Advanced Efficiency), maximizes fuel economy and subdues throttle response. Built-in navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are standard items. Notice the center console’s removable tray nestled at the bottom. I especially liked how a smartphone conveniently tucks into the slot between cupholders.

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The Optional Convenience Package includes a hands-free power liftgate, a cargo compartment cover and adaptive speed control. The Veloce tow rating is modest, at 3,000 pounds, with AWD helping with traction on a slippery launch ramp. The limited warranty runs for four years or 50,000 miles. Finally, Alfa Romeo’s build sheet includes parts from Italy, Germany and France. It is finally assembled in Cassino, Italy.

Automotive journalist, Tim Banse, wrote The Gazette’s Motoring car review column from 1989 to 2013 and has published stories in Popular Mechanics and Yachting magazine. He’s toured carmaker factory floors in the U.S. and Japan and raced cars at Riverside, Watkins Glen, and Michigan International Raceway press events. He’s stood close enough to a crash test to feel the shock wave reverberate off his chest. His first car was a vintage ‘56 Chevy Belair.