Toyota has some excellent laurels on which to rest: a history of outstanding reliability and affordability are nothing to sneeze at, as are many of its past and current vehicles of high status. But that doesn't change the fact that it feels like Toyota is resting on its laurels with the 2019 Corolla.Corolla sedan carries over unchanged from last year
Pros Comes with a long list of standard convenience and safety features Plenty of room inside, especially in the back Sport seats remain comfortable after hours of continuous driving
Cons Acceleration is slow, even for this class Most interior materials feel cheap Fuel economy isn't great Rivals achieve the same with more power A snooze to drive
Pros Responsive CVT Comfortable front seats Roomy backseat Touchscreen graphics quality Estimated gas mileage
Cons Ride quality Steering feel Droning sounds from CVT Modest power at highway speeds Some low-grade plastic interior trim No Apple CarPlay, Android Auto connectivity
The 2019 Toyota Corolla is a fun choice as a hatchback, but we’d skip the sedan in favor of its competitors.
Pros Entertaining hatchback Spacious hatchback Well-equipped hatchback Good safety gear The hatchback, period
Cons Outdated sedan CarPlay only on hatch CVT can drone Shop the competition
Named after a famous winding pass in the Italian Alps, the Stelvio is perfect for carving up canyons. A turbo 2.0-liter four makes 280 hp and pairs with an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. For more power, the Quadrifoglio flaunts a 505-hp 2.9-liter turbo V-6; an adaptive suspension is standard. Alfa claims a zero-to-60 time of 3.9 seconds. Inside, the Stelvio offers an optional 900-watt Harman/Kardon audio system, but we’re pretty sure that sweet engine is all you’ll want to hear. Assembled at Alfa’s Cassino plant in Frosinone, Italy, the Stelvio is built on the same platform as the Giulia and will be offered in three trim levels: Stelvio, Stelvio Ti, and the high-performance Stelvio Quadrifoglio, which has enough distinct features and tuning to be considered a separate model. While the Stelvio and Stelvio Ti both rely on a 280-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four for motivation, the high-performance Quadrifoglio utilizes the 505-hp 2.9-liter turbocharged V-6 from the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. Aluminum is used extensively in the construction of every Stelvio, including the front and rear subframes, the suspension components (control arms in front, multilink in the rear), the doors, and the fenders; the rear crossmember is partly made of composite plastics to pare more weight.
While the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio offers an enjoyable experience at all trim levels, the Ti outfitted with the Sport package represents the best of what this SUV has to offer. The Ti provides a more premium experience, adding more attractive interior materials and heating for the front seats and steering wheel. The Sport package completes the experience with supportive seats, great-looking 20-inch wheels, satisfying shift paddles, and your choice of red, black or yellow brake calipers.
PROS Among the more fun-to-drive compact luxury crossovers available Powerful and exciting engine Distinctive styling and wheels help it stand out in the crown
CONS Odd brake pedal feel makes it hard to modulate easily Low tow capacity versus segment Somewhat snug back seat
The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio ranked #7 in Luxury Compact SUVs. Currently the Alfa Romeo Stelvio has a score of 8.3 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 15 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Superb handling Powerful engine
Cons High base price Some lower-quality materials Below-average cargo space
