2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio: Fast, But Frustrating Inside

The 2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio delivers thrilling performance and style, but its frustrating infotainment system may test your patience.

Why does this car matter right now?

Because Alfa nearly nailed it. The 2025 Stelvio is faster, leaner, and arguably prettier than anything else in its weight class. It comes packed with standard power, proper hardware, and gorgeous tailoring. On paper, the vehicle lures buyers out of their German habits and into something with soul. And yet, a single screen might ruin it all.

I spent a day flogging the new Stelvio through the arteries of Detroit, a city whose roads serve as a stress test for any suspension, seat, or moral compass. And for most of the trip, the Stelvio was glorious. The 2.0-liter turbo-four, now tuned to a best-in-class 280 horsepower, pulls like a boxer on a short leash. Zero to 60 in 5.4 seconds. All-wheel drive. A perfectly tuned eight-speed that responds like a scalpel. I was laughing out loud.

Then I tried to pair my phone.

How does it compare to rivals?

The Stelvio remains one of the most athletic midsize SUVs in the world. Forget floaty Lexus or soft-touch RAV4s. The Alfa is a corner-hungry machine with a carbon-fiber driveshaft, rear-biased weight distribution, and paddle shifters you’ll want to use. It doesn’t waft. It bites. It flirts. It dares you to floor it off the next freeway on-ramp.

Compared to the BMW X3 or Audi Q5, the Stelvio still turns more heads. The Tributo Italiano edition even more so, with its blacked-out body kit, 21-inch wheels, and red calipers that scream “get out of my way” in fluent Italian.

And inside? The leather is rich. The accents are elegant. The seats hug without bruising. A proper driving position and proper switchgear. Everything that convinces you this is a driver’s SUV, not just a lifestyle hauler with chrome.

But it fumbles where rivals flourish. The infotainment screen, now housed in a glossy 12.3-inch cluster, looks fine until you touch it. The interface is maddening, laggy, and clunky. Settings are buried in submenus that feel like they were coded by a summer intern. Apple CarPlay never connected, not once. I watched multiple YouTube tutorials, reset things, pleaded, and nothing. Android Auto? I didn’t even try. After the first fifteen minutes, I wanted to eject the whole system with a crowbar physically.

BMW’s iDrive is leagues ahead. So is Audi’s MMI. Even Hyundai’s system wipes the floor with this one. This is shocking, given that the parent company, Stellantis, usually gets tech right in brands like Jeep and Ram. Somehow, Alfa missed the memo.

Who is this for—and who should skip it?

Buy this if you still believe cars should feel alive. Suppose your morning commute needs a bit of theater if you want to step out of the cookie-cutter crossover crowd and into something with heritage and attitude. It’s for people who’d rather drive than scroll.

Skip it if you need a vehicle that works without fuss. If seamless tech integration and voice commands matter more than road feel. If your family relies on the touchscreen for navigation, media, or toddler-entertainment duty, you’ll regret this choice before the first Costco run.

You’re deep into Mercedes and Genesis territory at $50,000 and change, more with the Tributo Italiano trim and Premium Interior Package. And those brands will give you massage seats and a UI that won’t make you want to punch the dashboard.

What’s the long-term significance?

This version of the Stelvio marks a crossroads for Alfa Romeo. The brand has condensed the trim structure into a single base model with optional packages, a simplification move that likely foreshadows more Stellantis streamlining in the future. There’s also the added pressure of preparing for an electric future, which Alfa says will maintain its passion and design language, but hasn’t proven it yet.

The Stelvio’s chassis and powertrain show Alfa still knows how to build something special. Its looks are aging well. The limited Tributo Italiano trim adds just enough rarity and curb appeal. However, Alfa must sort out the user experience to attract new customers, not just loyalists with a high pain threshold.

Fix the screen. Keep the soul.

Like what you’ve read? Stay in the driver’s seat with more insider automotive insights. Follow @NikJMiles and @TestMiles for stories that go beyond the press release.