Alfa Romeo has finally caved in. It now has its own sports utility vehicle in the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio. The iconic car company's decision to finally manufacture an SUV is in tune with the current popularity of the vehicle type.

As Top Gear pointed out, Alfa Romeo's venture into the SUV business will be an important one. The Stelvio's success in the field will likely dictate how Alfa Romeo will do in the future. In other words, it's make or break time for Alfa Romeo and the 2018 Stelvio is leading the charge.

The 2018 Stelvio SUV is as seductive as any Alfa Romeo car comes. It is based on the beautiful 2017 Guilia Quadrofoglio sedan, as mentioned by Forbes. It is equipped with premium features one would expect from a vehicle created by the iconic brand. It also looks good outside and inside. It sports 18-inch aluminum wheels while one would find high-quality leather seats inside.

The new Stelvio is not all about beauty. It boasts of a 280 horsepower and 306 lb-ft of torque courtesy of its aluminum 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with four cylinders. The all wheel drive SUV can reach 60 miles per hour in just 5.4 seconds. The Stelvio also has an eight-speed automatic transmission, push-button start, power liftgate, rear parking sensors, a backup camera, and a remote start with passive entry.

The 2018 Stelvio is perhaps the most affordable Alfa Romeo so far. The SUV will have a starting price of $42,990 which is much less than its potential rivals such as the Porsche Macan, and Jaguar F-Pace which costs $48,850 and $43,060, respectively. The Audi Q5, meanwhile, is cheaper at $40,900 but is only capable of 220hp.

An additional $1,800 will turn the Alfa Romeo Stelvio into a sportier SUV. The sport package includes aluminum sport pedals, steering column-mounted aluminum paddle shifters, and a sport-tuned suspension. It will be available in the United States starting this summer.