Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2020 revealed: SUV improves safety credentials

Alfa Romeo has revealed a facelift for its first SUV, the Stelvio, with the refreshed mid-sizer expected to launch in Australia next year with an expanded suite of advanced driver-assist systems.

While local plans for the refreshed Stelvio are yet to be locked in, an Alfa Romeo Australia spokesperson did tell CarsGuide details will be announced as soon as January.

The Stelvio's active safety features now cover all-speed autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, active blind-spot monitoring, driver-attention alert, highway and traffic-jam assist, and traffic sign recognition. As such, the SUV is now recognised as a Level 2 autonomous vehicle.

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With the exception of two new paintwork options and three grade-specific trim packages (body colour, Dark Miron and carbon-fibre), the Stelvio’s exterior design is unchanged, although its cabin has been given a more significant touch-up.

The headline act is the 8.8-inch central display that is now a touchscreen, joining the carryover rotary-dial controller as a secondary input method for the Stelvio’s overhauled multimedia system, which features a faster processor, sharper graphics and driver-configurable interactive widgets.

While a 7.0-inch multi-function display is still positioned between the traditional tachometer and speedometer, it has been revamped to show more information and be easier to read.

The 8.8-inch central display is now a touchscreen.

Higher-quality materials, bigger cupholders and a new smartphone storage area with wireless charging form part of the redesigned centre console, which also features an Italian flag at the base of the gear selector. The steering wheel has also been tweaked.

For reference, Australia’s existing Stelvio line-up is comprised of four full-time variants, from the unnamed base petrol ($65,900 plus on-road costs) to the high-performance Quadrifoglio flagship ($149,900).

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The 147kW/330Nm petrol and 154kW/470Nm diesel 2.0-litre turbo engines used in the base grade remain available in other markets alongside the Ti’s 206kW/400Nm 2.0-litre and Quadrifoglio’s 375kW/600Nm 2.9-litre turbo-petrol units.

Stelvio sales have improved slightly this year, with 303 examples sold to the end of October – a 7.8 per cent increase over the 281 examples sold during the same period in 2018.

Nonetheless, the Stelvio is still well off the pace the segment-leading Mercedes-Benz GLC, which has found 4972 homes this year.