I like a lot of stuff about the Alfa, but...great engineering? Maybe...but not much actually FROM Alfa.
The zf8 is German.
The multiair 2.0 is, ironically, from Fiat, which as part of the takeover of AR, then AR president, Ettore Massacesi, said AR would never use a Fiat engine, as the engine was a big part of Alfa identity. The engine isnt Alfa. Its pure Fiat design. Now we get to the chassis...the brakes are Brembo, and Continental AG is who designed the brake by wire system. Continental is German, and Brembo was at least an Alfa aupplier3even back in the day. The Q4 awd system is courtesy of Magna Powertrain, an American company who has made systems for pretty much everyone. The only thing in the Stelvio that I actually credit Alfa Romeo for, is the suspension. The rest of the car is a shopoing catalogue from other countries and companies. Even the chassia/atruxture, which was designed at Maserstis facility, by Ferrari engineer Philipe Krief. That's not a bad thing, but it does downplay the whole "AR engineered..." angle, with regard to Stelvio. No they didn't. AlfaLink is about it.
That said, the one thing AR did do, is my favorite part of the vehicle, which is its suspension. I hate how stelvio wallows around. It feels like a miata. But I also recognize that this is not a bad thing, just a preference. Some people like miata. I do not. But noone will rightly argue that miata is a bad suspension. I think it's unique in an SUV, to be sure, and is the reason people think other brands are "oversprung"---they arent---they just prefer miata to corvette suspension dynamics.
In short, Stelvio is a Heinz 57 of a vehicle, and comes from many companies, all stuffed into one. Quirks are going to be a thing, but the suspension and handling characteristics are unique and love/hate, and I think that is what actually sells---or doesn't sell---the car, to people who purchase based on driving it.
Like the miata, there is nothing to "get". You either like it, or do not. Alfa doesn't somehow post the best numbers in their class, either. They just do very well, and appeal to those who enjoy their dynamic, which is any car, really, just options, but Alfa is a unique option to be sure, and I am glad to see niche brands, even if they exist on the dole from parent companies. I was very sad to see SVT dissolved by ford, for example, back when.
But again, Alfa didn't engineer much of anytbing beyond Alfalink. Stellantis bought it for them. Daddy's money is all that saved AR from a downtrending EU economy some years back, so to speak. And like most family members who would be in ruin but for daddy's money, there can be some personality flaws, no matter how otherwose charming. Part of which, OP seems tonhave tired of.
One thing I will say, I like things made from one company. Glock. Benelli. They make good guns. Boring and reliable. Why? They control the whole process. They do not adapt other company's product to their production. They make it. In cars, this is very hard to find, as they all psrtner and share, but I do try.