Despite the looming tightening of emissions and fuel economy standards around the world, there has never been a better time to buy a super SUV. Lamborghini and Ferrari have already entered the scene with their own offerings, and even McLaren is poised to build one in the next few years.
The focus of this test, the 2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, may not be in quite the same performance league as those SUVs, but it also doesn’t cost nearly as much, but it’s a brutally fast vehicle that put a big grin on our faces while driving it last week.
Unfortunately, the Quadrifoglio’s time in the US ends after the current model year, but it will continue to delight drivers in other markets.
So what makes it so special? Let’s find out.
Quick Facts
Updated look, same Italian theater
Alfa Romeo has been building the Stelvio Quadrifoglio since 2017 and has made the first significant changes and improvements for 2024. It is now better equipped to compete with cars like the BMW X3 M and boasts a more modern and sophisticated look.
The design changes start at the front, where Alfa Romeo has fitted the Stelvio with new headlights and LED daytime running lights. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that these new lights fundamentally change the SUV’s look, but they certainly make it appear a touch more aggressive and not as squinty as its predecessor.
Read: Last call for V6 Clover! Alfa Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio Super Sport complete US run
Modifications continue at the rear and include updated taillights with clearer lenses and less red. It also gets darker privacy glass, red brake calipers and new 21-inch wheels. Inside, Alfa Romeo has also fitted a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
At this stage of a review, we usually analyze a car’s interior. But this is a Stelvio Quadrifoglio, a vehicle that is all about the driving experience. So, let’s dive into that first, shall we?
Photos: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
An accomplished artist, invigorating sounds
Since 2017, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio has been powered by a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 producing 375 kW (503 hp) at 6,500 rpm and 600 Nm (443 lb-ft) of torque. In overseas markets, power has increased to 382 kW (513 hp), but in Australia it continues to deliver 503 hp / 375 kW. That’s more than enough. After all, no driver has felt the extra 10 horses.
That V6 is a hoot. While it’s not exactly a Ferrari V8 with two bent cylinders as some outlets would have you believe, it’s derived from the Ferrari California’s 3.9-liter F154 BB and was developed by many former Ferrari employees. A twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 from Mercedes-Benz has more power, but the latest GLC 63 AMG has ditched that engine in favor of a hybridized 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Lame.
I’ve never driven a V6 that sounds so good. When you press the accelerator, the engine erupts into a glorious crescendo, creating a symphony that only the best Italian performance cars can produce. It sounds heavenly. At low speeds, driving around town, you can hear the whine of the turbochargers in the background, while at higher loads the intake noise dominates the experience. None of the videos of the Stelvio Quadrifoglio on the internet can do the sound justice.
Of course, it’s not just the engine that sounds fantastic, but the exhaust too. When driven in “N” (Natural) and “A” (Advanced Efficiency) modes, the SUV is quiet, but gets a little louder when you switch to “D” in Dynamic mode. This mode also sharpens the throttle response and steering. However, the exhaust only comes to life when you activate the Race model.
Photos: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Mated to the V6 is an eight-speed automatic transmission operated by a pair of massive aluminum paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. This transmission shifts quickly when you’re pushing the Stelvio, but can be a little jerky at lower speeds. It’s not as refined as some of the dual-clutch systems on the market, nor is it the best single-clutch eight-speed transmission on the market, but it has tons of character and is the perfect complement to the engine.
Read: Stellantis boss will not sell Alfa Romeo to Chinese, the new Stelvio will arrive in 2025
As you’d expect, the Stelvio QV comes to life in Race mode. Alfa Romeo says this mode is “best suited to track driving,” but it’s perfectly suited to the road if you want all 375 kW (503 hp) and 600 Nm (443 lb-ft). As mentioned, it opens the exhaust valves. It also turns off the ESC and traction control. Since the Stelvio has all-wheel drive, you might not think much about it. However, it’s not a symmetrical all-wheel drive system, which distributes power equally between the front and rear wheels.
Instead, most of the power is sent to the rear wheels, meaning the Quadrifoglio has no problem spinning the rear tires when you tap the accelerator as you accelerate out of a corner.
Alfa Romeo claims the Stelvio Quadrifoglio takes just 3.8 seconds to reach 100 km/h, and it feels just as quick. Curiously, there’s no launch control. Instead, the best way to start the SUV is to apply pressure to the brake, let it crouch down, and release the brake. It zips up from a standstill and shifts through the gears in just 150 milliseconds, producing a powerful bang with each gear change. It’s absolutely addictive, and the relentless thrust the engine delivers never gets old.
And then there’s the way the thing handles. For the 2024 model year, Alfa Romeo has ditched the electronically controlled rear differential in favor of a mechanical limited-slip differential. The old car’s adjustable shock absorbers have been retained, and the combination of the two results in an SUV that handles as well as a sports sedan.
Of course, there’s no hiding the fact that you sit much higher than in a sedan like the Giulia Quadrifoglio, but the Stelvio feels light and responsive. Our test car was fitted with 255/40 Pirelli P Zero tires and try as we might, we couldn’t induce the slightest understeer. Oversteer? That’s another story, because this thing likes to kick out the rear, but even when it does, it’s still controllable.
In the ‘N’ and ‘A’ drive modes, the shocks stay in their softest setting. Switch to Dynamic mode and they switch to ‘Medium’. This setting is relatively stiff and will probably be a bit too bouncy for all but the most enthusiastic drivers. Switch on the Stelvio’s Race mode and the shocks get even stiffer, but you can switch them back to ‘Medium’ using the Ferrari-like bumpy road button. We left them in this setting most of our time with the SUV, as the stiff setting is too much for all but the smoothest road surfaces.
The flagship Stelvio also feels right at home in everyday driving. Alfa Romeo quotes fuel consumption on the combined cycle at 10.2 l/100 km (23.1 mpg US), although we averaged closer to 14 l/100 km (16.8 mpg US), meaning it’s quite a thirsty beast.
The sharp steering takes some getting used to. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio has a steering ratio of 12.1:1, making it faster and more direct than many high-end sports cars and super sports cars.
Photos: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Inner
In Australia, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio starts at a staggering AU$162,700 (about US$108,044 at current exchange rates) and our test car’s Verde Montreal comes in at AU$4,000 (US$2,600). The cabin doesn’t quite feel upscale enough to justify that price.
In front of the driver is a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that looks very professional with its traditional instrument panels. This display offers a certain level of customization, but it’s not quite as configurable as we would have liked. There’s also an 8.8-inch infotainment display in the center of the dashboard that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The materials used feel good. Soft leather wraps the seats, door panels and center console, while raw-finish carbon fiber adorns the dashboard, center console and a strip across the dashboard. The steering wheel is the perfect size, finished in a beautiful combination of black leather and black Alcantara, and houses a bright red start/stop button – a nice bit of Italian flair.
Photos: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
The metal paddle shifters are excellent and absolutely solid, making it easy to change gears while keeping your hands at 9 and 3 o’clock on the wheel. However, the rim, paddle shifters and indicator stalk are all very close together and I found it a little uncomfortable resting my fingers between the wheel and the paddle shifters.
Visibility is excellent and there’s plenty of space. The trunk can hold up to 525 liters (18.5 cubic feet) of cargo with the seats up, and the second row is big enough for tall adults. Unfortunately, there’s no ambient lighting or a head-up display, features we’d like to see in cars in this price range.
Verdict
There are loads of incredible high-performance SUVs out there, but few are as driver-focused as the Stelvio Quadrifoglio. It’s impossible not to be beaming from ear to ear behind the wheel of this thing, and the brilliant engine makes it feel like an event every time you get behind the wheel. It’s one hell of a drive.
