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The Alfa-Romeo Stelvio Q4: Art Edges Science – Forbes


The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Q4 is a smooth and quick compact SUV with high performance Brembo brakes and compelling Italian design cues.

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Last week, I drove the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Q4 during a visit to Detroit. It was my first ride in the Italian sports car since I was a college student hitchhiking Europe and Francesca drove me from Florence to Siena in a gorgeous red Alfa Romeo Spider.

The 2019 Stelvio is a very good-looking vehicle, too.

The Stelvio start button is embedded into the steering wheel.

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First impression:  This car is different, the interior and exterior designs are both distinctive. One small example:  The start-stop button sits on the steering wheel and is positioned for an easy left thumb press.  Second example: The instrument panel is clean and attractive, featuring a blend of black and red and silver colors that say: “This is Italian design, this is the way things ought to look.”

On the other hand, the Stelvio’s functions sometimes come second to design. Consider, for example, the center stack – the modern heart of the vehicle.

Think of center stacks as the car’s command center. Or maybe we should call it the major distraction center? Okay, both.

We rely on the center stack for so much: heating, cooling, navigation, music, podcasts, streaming – you name it. So, it is important that our interactions  be as simple and intuitive as possible.

Turning the main menu knob to make changes to the screen takes some getting used to.

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The Stevio’s center stack is visually appealing.  My nephew JP and I liked the look and feel of the central control dial and the minimal number of knobs and buttons. But the “getting things done” part is not intuitive.  “I like the layout”, says JP,  “but how to use the dial is not clear and there are no directions how to use it.”

An iPhone it is not.

Alfa owners would, no doubt, eventually learn how to navigate and select from among the options. But that takes time.

Enough tech talk. How does the car drive? In one word: Smooth. I experienced an effortless but powerful engine, a silky smooth transmission and an even ride – especially for a high performance SUV.

The aggressive bucket seats wrap you into position and do not let go. Here again, design triumphs over convention: Some of my front seat passengers found it difficult to get into and out of the car without doing and an up and over movement on the seat lifts at each side.

Stelvio’s bucket seats are firm and require a little bit of “up and over” when getting into the car.

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As with many Italian creations, the Stelvio will no doubt lure in owners with its good looks and keep them attached with its design charms —  despite the  functional quirks.

 



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