Alfa Romeo Stelvio – interior and tech
Nostalgic design touches aren't enough to distract from what is a relatively basic, low-rent cabin for the money
As you’d expect, the Stelvio’s cabin is much the same as that of the Giulia, and while it was passable at launch – particularly at the initial £33,990 asking price – it's now behind the curve in 2025, and rivals offer markedly better fit and finish for the same money. The flowing curved dashboard, aluminium paddle shifters and cowled instruments provide a distinctly Alfa feel, but the environment isn't as premium as you'll find inside a BMW X3 or Mercedes-Benz GLC.
The Stelvio’s mid-life update brought a new (and rather lovely) digital instrument pack to the table, which evokes the analogue dials of classic 105-series Alfas, a reprofiled steering wheel and small tweaks to the centre console. Each of these changes made a difference, but the fundamental material quality still isn't good enough for a near £50k SUV.
Still, the ergonomics are solid, and the bank of physical climate controls are intuitive to use. The Stelvio feels a great deal more spacious than many of its rivals too, and there’s plenty of adjustment where it’s required. Oh, and the heated steering wheel (standard on all but the base model) gets up to truly scorching temperatures – especially welcome on a cold winter day.
While we appreciate the use of a physical rotary controller for the infotainment system, the 8.8-inch setup isn't the biggest, brightest or most advanced available at this price. With standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (albeit wired, frustratingly) there's enough functionality to get by, but it can be fiddly to navigate the menus and graphics are off the pace, particularly in comparison to the iDrive system from BMW. The Stelvio’s cabin feels truly last gen despite efforts to bring it up-to-speed with rivals.
One of our test cars was also already beginning to show signs of wear on some materials, despite a relatively low mileage reading. Seat upholstery wasn’t looking as strong as you might expect, easily scratched materials were the same, and we also experienced more squeaks and rattles on rougher roads than you’d expect from a c£50,000 car.
