Do we have anyone on the forum with ownership experience of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio AWD?
I am looking to replace my trusty BMW X1 potentially with one, now its 7 years old and has 66k.

Yet to test a Stelvio though - mostly because there isn't anywhere that local to try one!
Similar concerns about getting it serviced. Nearest dealership would be Swindon.

Toying though between a diesel 2.2Td or the 280hp petrol, going for a Speciale or Milano edition.
The motoring reviews for both engine are a very mixed bag, praising the sporty drive but putting a downer on the car' interior quality and infotainment.

Thus far, I have tried the new shape X3, Volvo XC60 as well as Merc GLC rivals - all very nice in their different ways, but I keep thinking the Alfa might be more "enjoyable", in the sense it has "character" and is a little less common?

Sadly a Quadrifoglio is not realistically on the shortlist!
I would suggest the interior quality would not be any less than a Land Rover Discovery Sport or Jaguar F-Pace?

Any insights gratefully received.
Keep safe.

Not ownership experience but I was in a similar position to you in 2018. I was looking to replace my Alfa 159 sw and with a dog and child the Giulia wasn’t quite big enough. I wanted to stay with the Alfa brand so the stelvio became the obvious choice even though I’m not a fan of SUVs. My wife was also very keen on it.

Booked a test drive in Swindon, which is a 3 hour drive for us from West Wales and was assured that we’d be able to take it out on our own for an extended drive. Anyway arrived at the allotted time to be told by the salesman that they had no computer systems as it was the weekend that they switched over to Johnsons, therefore he couldn’t insure us solo and would have to come with us. This wasn’t an issue for me but it meant that my wife wouldn’t drive it.

I drove a 2.4 diesel, but would have ordered the 280 petrol. I was surprised at how well it drove for something so tall. It was pretty nippy and bizarrely felt a bit like our MX5 in that you could feel it was predominantly rwd. Got back to do a deal to be told that we couldn’t order there and then due to lack of IT so would take some details and contact us.

On the way home my wife expressed that she didn’t feel that the salesman had paid her any attention and felt he was rude to her therefore didn’t want to buy one. I ended up buying a Golf R estate instead, whilst not a like for like comparison it worked out £11k cheaper than the Stelvio even though I was getting Fiat friends and family discount!

Apologies for the waffle, have a pic of the one we tested

Interesting read Dave - thanks for sharing.
The car you pictured is very similar to one I had lined up, but it was sold very quickly before I could get to try it. It too was a 280hp AWD petrol and was kitted out with quite a few extras and only had 9k miles.
Pity about your test drive experience - main dealer car salesmen (its usually men) generally seem lacking in some basic human inter-action skills and I have always struggled with them as a breed.

I learnt TH White have given up all interests in car dealerships and gone back to just agricultural sales (which is the core of their business). They used to be old style Land Rover dealers, but apparently JLR insisted they had to spend a huge amount of money to retain main agent status and had to have a high end swanky show room in keeping with Range Rover, rather their traditional old defender type customers.

It also looks like you were unfortunate to have had a test drive perhaps when TH White were in the middle of pulling out of car sales.

My situation has moved on over the weekend and sadly I have given up on the idea of a nearly new Alfa.
Unfortunately, their UK dealer network just has too many shortcomings.
A real pity, because personally I am sure I would have loved owning a Stelvio.
Coincidently, my better half was also less keen!

A Golf R I am sure is a cracking car, if not quite as stylish as your 159 estate.