Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Review (2024)

Introduction

Alfa Romeo has never traditionally been associated with big, heavy SUVs. Mind you, neither has Aston Martin or Lamborghini – two other names that have joined the same party in recent years.

That we should discuss Alfa Romeo alongside Aston and Lambo gives you some idea of its esteem.

Granted, Alfa is not, and it has never been a supercar brand. However, the Stelvio was designed at a time when Alfa Romeo and Ferrari enjoyed a closer relationship than they do today.

The likes of BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar are the brands that the Stelvio will attempt to out-gun – and, with the Quadrifoglio version, the stakes are higher regarding bragging rights.

In case you’re not familiar with Alfa’s lexicon, the word Quadrifoglio translates as ‘four-leaf clover’ – a century-old symbol now placed on the side of the car, usually between the wing mirrors and the front wheel. This indicates it’s a high-performance model.

So, think BMW ‘M’ cars, Mercedes-AMG, Audi S or RS, or Jaguar’s SVR – Alfa Romeo has the Quadrifoglio.

The name is iconic, too. It is named after the famous Stelvio Pass, a mountain road that links Italy and Austria, with plenty of twists and turns and breathtaking views.

Neither the Stelvio nor the Quadrifoglio version is brand-new - the SUV was ushered in during 2016, with the high-performance version following a few months later.

The Stelvio received a facelift in 2021, but Alfa has tweaked the recipe slightly to celebrate last year's 100th anniversary of the Quadrifoglio badge, which debuted on the Alfa Romeo RL in 1923.

The RL took part in the iconic Targa Florio race in Sicily, which, at the time, was considered to be the most prestigious motor race on the planet in a pre-Formula One world.

So, is the modern-day Stelvio Quadrifoglio enough to compete with Jaguar and the German brands?

Alfa is a much-loved brand by any car enthusiast – so we're hoping so.

At a Glance

Looking at the standard version of the Stelvio, you might think it seems a little tame. After all, roundedness often gives off a family-friendly feel, often at odds with an athletic-looking design. Sure, the front has the triangular grille that's become a key identifier of Alfas - and that leaves room for large, angry-looking headlights and a lower grille that sits in two pieces beneath the main triangle, doubling up as air intakes. But the rest of the car is a tad bulbous and lacks the panache synonymous with the Italian marque.

The good news is that this is more than made up for in the Quadrifoglio edition.

Everything about it looks emboldened and more aggressive, with a more pronounced front end and sharper creases in the bodywork.

And even though Quadrifoglio refers to a cloverleaf, the number four must mean it has a quad-exhaust system, which adorns the car's rear in two pairs, either side of a rear diffuser.

Some may not be able to live with any Alfa that isn't low to the ground, but for an SUV, the Stelvio still looks fantastic, even if it's a tad too family-friendly for some.

In Quadrifoglio form, it looks even better.

Key Features

Unlike the standard car, which has three trims (Sprint, Veloce, and Tributo), the Quadrifoglio has only one.

That gives you all the toys you'd expect on the non-performance versions, including 20-inch dark finish wheels, an 8.8-inch infotainment screen with SatNav, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

Full LED matrix headlights, a powered tailgate, a heated steering wheel, keyless entry and aluminium gearshift paddles add to the luxuries on offer.

You also get ambient lighting, wireless device charging, six-way electrically adjustable heated front seats, dual-zone climate control and aluminium sports pedals.

DAB radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system are also included.

The engine is classic Alfa – and remains the same spec as before. It is a 2.9-litre turbocharged V6, although it’s now been tuned to produce 520PS, a 10PS increase on the outgoing model.

All in all, it's a very decent equipment list - and a host of additional safety and semi-autonomous features are included, too, which we'll discuss later.

Performance & Drive

We will deal with the easy bit first: going in a straight line.

It is a lot of fun, especially since 0-62mph is now achieved in a mere 3.8 seconds.

That is pretty astonishing for an SUV - and even more surprising is that it's 0.1 seconds quicker than the Giulia Quadrifoglio saloon - Alfa's rival to the BMW M3.

And the Giulia uses the same mill we're testing here (even the same chassis).

The Stelvio benefits from the increased traction of a four-wheel drive system borrowed from the Maserati Levante, whereas the Giulia only has rear-wheel drive.

The acceleration is fierce, and the pedal that provides it is impressively responsive. There is minimal delay between putting your foot down and the engine reacting.

Most automatics suffer a delay, but despite the Stelvio coming with an eight-speed transmission, it takes milliseconds to change down when you floor it.

The big drawback of any SUV is its handling - this is where Alfa purists will say the Stelvio fails.

Granted, no SUV is genuinely excellent at going around bends, but happily, Alfa Romeo has done a stunning job.

Firstly, you'll quickly forget that you're driving an SUV, as its weight - not far short of two tonnes - is well masked behind its extremely playful and agile characteristics.

Its keen handling, helped by the limited-slip differential and superb precision in the steering, which weights up well in the bends, makes it feel barely any different to drive than the Giulia saloon.

Secondly, the power distribution between the front and rear is slightly biased towards the latter, meaning you can slide the back end a little on the corner exit and have some fun with a kick of oversteer as you bury the accelerator.

If you are used to a Giulia, you'll notice the ride comfort is a tad inferior in the Stelvio, mainly because the SUV's suspension is stiffer to cope with the extra weight.

Nevertheless, the exhaust sounds nice, the SUV is very keen to please in both a straight line and around corners, and it's undoubtedly among the best-driving SUVs money can lease.

One area that does seem a tad unnecessary is the driving settings. Whereas Dynamic mode is arguably the best option, the more aggressive Race mode effectively disables every bit of electronic counteraction.

That sounds great until you decide to overdo it on corner entry and then end your day upside down in a ditch.

Thankfully, we didn't, but turning off the car's ability to shift the power to whichever wheel needs it most is not a good idea for a performance SUV.

Running Costs & Emissions

You wouldn’t expect a big-engined SUV with all-wheel drive to be incredibly economical.

Sadly, if you thought we were building towards a surprise here, we’re about to let you down.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio will manage 23.9mpg – if you’re driving it like any other car. And that’s despite cylinder deactivation, which can save fuel by turning off some of the engine’s six cylinders when they’re not required.

Let’s be honest, though; there's little point in leasing the Quadrifoglio if you're not going to make the most of it.

Expect plenty of trips to the petrol station then, while the emissions of 267g/km of CO2 will only serve to leave the Chancellor of the Exchequer licking his lips when he sends you the bill.

£2,605, to be precise – and that’s just for the first year’s road tax.

As a company car, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is pretty pointless, as the Benefit In Kind tax is, in practice, only kind to those choosing plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles nowadays.

There is no PHEV or electric option on the Stelvio, let alone the Quadrifoglio.

Interior & Technology

The Stelvio’s interior was impressive when the car was first launched.

But a lot has changed since then, with many manufacturers making huge strides in cabin refinement.

There are no major changes to the interior, but the Stelvio already appeared very inviting, so a modest spruce up is all you get.

Carbon fibre patterns are now along the dashboard, the doors and the centre console.

The three dials on the centre console remain, while the rest of the darkened cabin is brightened up with lots of silver brushed aluminium trim.

It looks lovely, and while it may not have the same level of refinement or luxury as Audi, BMW, or Mercedes-Benz, it nevertheless impresses.

Once you've seen the Stelvio Quadrifoglio’s cabin, a standard Stelvio will look uninspired compared with it.

The steering wheel looks sporty, as do the humps above the dials, whose digital presence in the 12.3-inch screen behind the wheel seems exciting.

You can choose from four differing screen layouts, and a new 'Race' configuration has been added to the Quadrifoglio models.

Even the gear lever looks inviting, but you won’t regret the lack of a manual gearbox when you pull the nicely damped paddle shifters.

The 8.8-infotainment screen is marginally improved on the old one, featuring sharper graphics. And, although the system impresses, it’s still not a match for Audi’s, let alone BMW’s, while the inclusion of a rotary dial to control the system is a big plus.

There are also various features that can monitor the car's location and various settings through smartphones and tablets, plus send alerts to Amazon Alexa.

You can tell that some of the switches and dials are a little too plasticky and lack the same quality you'd expect to find in German cars, but we're nitpicking.

You will lease an Alfa with your heart, and the odd button feeling a little less premium than an Audi is unlikely to cost many if any, transactions.

Space & Practicality

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio's six-way powered adjustment in the front seats makes finding a comfortable driving position easier than ever.

Adjustable lumbar support is included, too, which is a nice bonus. The driving position is high up, as you'd expect in an SUV, even if that's very un-Alfa.

The view out of the front could be better, as the pillars are still on the thick side, and it's even worse from behind. Thankfully, a rear-view camera is included as standard, along with front and rear parking sensors.

In the front, you'll have no issues regarding legroom and headroom, with plenty of space for the driver and passenger.

If you want to, there's enough room to sprawl out to help you relax on longer journeys.

In the back, the sloping roofline slightly reduces the available headroom, so taller adults might find themselves brushing their hair along the ceiling.

Legroom isn't bad, but you'll likely be uncomfortable soon if you're more than six feet tall and sit behind someone the same height.

The cabin has oodles of storage spaces, including decent-sized door pockets, a cubby underneath the centre console, various USB charging ports, and four cupholders.

The boot offers 525 litres of space, expanding to 1,600 litres with the back seats folded down in a conveniently versatile 40/20/40 split.

Despite being divided into three, the seats don't move forward or backwards, which is a shame. Nevertheless, the boot shape is relatively square, and there's no load lip, which is a bonus.

Safety

Euro NCAP crash-tested the standard Stelvio in 2017, and that rating is valid for all versions, including the Quadrifoglio.

It is an old rating, though, so it's expired - and as safety technology has moved on, so too have the testing criteria, which have raised the bar higher than ever.

Nevertheless, the Stelvio earned a five-star rating, scoring a mighty 97% for adult occupants, 84% for children and 60% for safety assists.

Alfa Romeo has added more safety tech, which includes automatic emergency braking, active blind spot assist, lane keep assist, driver attention alert, a tyre pressure monitoring system, and traffic sign recognition, all of which are included as standard.

Automatic high beam and rain-sensing wipers and the rear-view camera we mentioned earlier are also factory-fitted.

It also features something hilariously called the Monster Brake System. Disappointingly for the kids, this isn't in case you run into Godzilla while heading to the supermarket, but rather the name that Alfa gives to its Brembo ventilated brake system.

Autonomous driving aids are also available as optional extras, which we’ll come to shortly.

Options

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio is a costly car, but no matter how adamant you are that you will not spend a penny more on the options list, we dare you to try.

Classic Alfa red is the default body colour, while bright blue, dark grey and black are metallic colours that cost extra.

Green is designated as a ‘special’ hue and costs significantly more.

You can upgrade the standard 20-inch alloys to 21-inch ones if you wish, and red brake callipers can replace the default black ones if you're willing to fork out extra.

The Driver Assistance Pack adds traffic jam assist – which will handle automatic stopping and starting in queues – and a Highway Assist System, which maintains a safe gap to the car in front, along with intelligent speed control.

You can have Alcantara, leather sports seat upholstery, and Sparco Carbonshell seats, but they're pricey.

Mind you, the expense is dwarfed by the cost of carbon ceramic brakes, while an Akrapovic sports exhaust only adds to the bill.

An electric sunroof and various styling elements and accessories, from coloured key fobs to an aluminium fuel cap, also tempt you to hand over more money.

Rival Cars

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio has a few formidable rivals.

The main competitors are the Mercedes-AMG GLC, BMW X3 M, and the Porsche Macan (below).

We would also urge you to check out the frighteningly quick Jaguar F-Pace SVR.

All of them offer arguably more sophistication and refinement, but if you're a true petrolhead, you’ll know a big downside is that none of them are Alfa Romeos.

Verdict & Next Steps

Overall, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is a serious contender for the best in the business.

Does it outdo the BMW X3 M or a Porsche Macan? Not quite. But does it make up for it with its superb looks and generous equipment list? Absolutely.

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio is the underdog - but that's precisely why it should appeal. While everyone else in the market will be going after the obvious choices, all eyes will be on you driving about in this.

It is great to drive for an SUV. It goes like hell and is even quicker than the Giulia Quadrifoglio saloon. The transmission and acceleration are responsive and rapid.

Yes, some of its rivals can beat it for practicality and overall refinement. But how could you go elsewhere for a car you lease with your heart?

Where to next?

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio.

**Correct as of 25/04/2024. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments, or £9,841.50 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.