2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
#16
Lexus Champion
#17
Beautiful in any trim. The shape is very reminiscent of the Levante.
Unfortunately, like the Giulia, it's interior is an entire generation behind the competition in design, quality, and technology. You've really got to love the way it looks and drives to dismiss those other shortcomings. The F-pace is also flawed in this manner.
I've actually found all the recent Alfas, Maseratis, and Jags to be great looking cars and SUVs that just kind of suck in every other way. At the end of the day, the most solid and well-engineered luxury vehicles come from Germany (with Lexus not far behind).
Unfortunately, like the Giulia, it's interior is an entire generation behind the competition in design, quality, and technology. You've really got to love the way it looks and drives to dismiss those other shortcomings. The F-pace is also flawed in this manner.
I've actually found all the recent Alfas, Maseratis, and Jags to be great looking cars and SUVs that just kind of suck in every other way. At the end of the day, the most solid and well-engineered luxury vehicles come from Germany (with Lexus not far behind).
Last edited by BrownPride; 12-03-16 at 01:35 PM.
#19
Lexus Champion
Looks like a rather generic Euro-hatch to me. (Flame away!)
#20
Lexus Fanatic
True, but regardless of the drive wheels, it can look like a CX-5.
Given the current popularity of SUVs, it will be interesting to see whether it can actually sell in the U.S., where the Alfa badge has about as much appeal as overcooked pasta.
Given the current popularity of SUVs, it will be interesting to see whether it can actually sell in the U.S., where the Alfa badge has about as much appeal as overcooked pasta.
Last edited by mmarshall; 12-03-16 at 08:47 PM.
#21
Lead Lap
I don't think Alfa Romeo carries the negative connotation you think it does. It's going to be a niche luxury brand just like Jaguar.
#22
Lexus Fanatic
Very niche at best....although, of course, we are living in an age of SUVs, which could boost the Stelvio's sales. Alfa does carry a negative connotation in unreliability. That's one of the things that forced it out of the U.S. market 20 years ago....along with low sales and excessive, costly government regulations. But, of course, things can change in 20 years....as Hyundai and Kia have proved so well.
#23
Lead Lap
Very niche at best....although, of course, we are living in an age of SUVs, which could boost the Stelvio's sales. Alfa does carry a negative connotation in unreliability. That's one of the things that forced it out of the U.S. market 20 years ago....along with low sales and excessive, costly government regulations. But, of course, things can change in 20 years....as Hyundai and Kia have proved so well.
I'm well aware of the reasons Alfa Romeo left the U.S. market and the reputation for unreliability, but that doesn't mean Alfa Romeo has the appeal of "overcooked pasta." It is still seen as a upscale brand and a bit of an "exotic" choice in the market. Jaguar and Land Rover have never had a reputation for reliability yet are doing just fine. People are gobbling up Grand Cherokee's like there's no tomorrow and its spotty reliability has been well documented. For the record, I seriously doubt these Alfas will have high reliability but I do think they will be a compelling alternative to the norm. They're just Italian Jaguars in my mind.
#24
Lexus Fanatic
Why do you say very? The Giulia and Stelvio are right at the heart of 2 very popular segments. People who want something stylish and different than the normal will definitely be drawn their way.
I'm well aware of the reasons Alfa Romeo left the U.S. market and the reputation for unreliability, but that doesn't mean Alfa Romeo has the appeal of "overcooked pasta."
I'm well aware of the reasons Alfa Romeo left the U.S. market and the reputation for unreliability, but that doesn't mean Alfa Romeo has the appeal of "overcooked pasta."
It is still seen as a upscale brand and a bit of an "exotic" choice in the market. Jaguar and Land Rover have never had a reputation for reliability yet are doing just fine. People are gobbling up Grand Cherokee's like there's no tomorrow and its spotty reliability has been well documented. For the record, I seriously doubt these Alfas will have high reliability but I do think they will be a compelling alternative to the norm. They're just Italian Jaguars in my mind.
I wouldn't quite call the Stelvio an Italian Jaguar (that would probably be a better term for the Maserati SUV), but I agree it will certainly be an unusual alternative to the norm.
#25
Lexus Champion
Why is it that people can claim the spindle grille to be ugly but NO ONE will say that the Alfa Romeo horse collar grille is ugly. This must be the absolutely worse grille design, apart from the Edsel.
Come on, Alfa, where is your horse? Horse... your carriage awaits.
Come on, Alfa, where is your horse? Horse... your carriage awaits.
#26
Lexus Fanatic
Well, some people may simply disagree about the Alfa grilles being ugly. Personally, it's not one of my favorites as to its general shape, but at least it is not way oversized like on some makes.
#27
Lead Lap
OK, partly I could have used a better term, and partly you misunderstood me. What I meant was not that the brand has no appeal among its "Alfisti" enthusiasts (it does), but that it is not, and probably never will be, a mainstream brand in the U.S. I agree, though, that the Stelvio is likely to outsell the 4C.
Yes, Consumer Reports has panned Grand Cherokee reliability. But general experience with them by owners, here on Car Chat, has been mixed...and actually more on the good side more than bad, with reliability. Steve and Bitkahuna, for example, were generally quite pleased with theirs. And I found every one of the present-generation (non-SRT) versions I've sampled quite pleasant to sit in and drive.
Why is it that people can claim the spindle grille to be ugly but NO ONE will say that the Alfa Romeo horse collar grille is ugly. This must be the absolutely worse grille design, apart from the Edsel.
Come on, Alfa, where is your horse? Horse... your carriage awaits.
-snip-
Come on, Alfa, where is your horse? Horse... your carriage awaits.
-snip-
#28
Lexus Champion
Styling is subjective. What some people find ugly, others like.
#29
Lead Lap
There is a lot of hypocrisy and this is a perfect example right here. You ask me to post a more flattering photo of the Alfa horse collar, yet when people post pictures of the spindle grille on the new RX, taken with a fish-eye lens from waist level, they are never asked to post a more flattering photo.
Styling is subjective. What some people find ugly, others like.
Styling is subjective. What some people find ugly, others like.
#30
Agree with TangoRed. Alfa and Jaguar are targeting the same customers, and are both entering the same two high volume luxury segments with the XE/Giulia and the F-PACE/Stelvio. Something non-100K unit 3 Series and C-Class. Something that has some styling flair, and the premise of sharpened driving dynamics.
The Giulia has driving dynamics nailed, and with much of these segments heavily catered towards leasing customers, questions about long-term reliability as fairly moot at this point. That will be answered within the first few years and will impact whether or not there will be demand for the off-lease/CPO vehicles.
The Giulia has driving dynamics nailed, and with much of these segments heavily catered towards leasing customers, questions about long-term reliability as fairly moot at this point. That will be answered within the first few years and will impact whether or not there will be demand for the off-lease/CPO vehicles.
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