Alfa Romeo presented its first sports utility vehicle back in 2016 at the LA Motor Show and now the long-awaited range topping Quadrifoglio is here!
As with the Giulia Quadrifoglio saloon (with which the Stelvio Quadrifoglio shares its architecture), that firepower is provided by an all-aluminium 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6. It’s a powerplant that can trace its lineage to Ferrari’s F154 family of modular V8s, engines that have been put to use in everything from the 488 Pista to the Maserati Quattroporte GTS. Liberated of two cylinders and reconfigured for use under the Stelvio’s island bonnet, it develops a heady 503bhp at 6500rpm, and its 443lb ft slug of torque is available at 2500rpm.
Alfa Romeo’s Stelvio Quadrifoglio isn’t the largest performance SUV out there. Nevertheless, the firepower required to shift its claimed 1830kg mass at a rate that’s fast enough to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7min 51.8sec – a record that has now been broken by the Mercedes-AMG GLC63 S – is still going to have to be considerable.
The Stelvio Quadrifoglio’s dark but purposeful cockpit sets the tone rather effectively for the exciting driving experience to come. The car’s fittings aren’t universally or even very widely of high enough perceived quality to match what you’ll find in an Audi SQ5, GLC 63 or Porsche Macan Turbo but, just as with the Giulia, Turin is gambling that won’t be a turn-off for Stelvio owners.
It’s quite a lot more likely to be a turn-off for a Stelvio owner spending £75,000 on a car than someone spending £40,000, we’d point out; especially since the efforts made to enrich this car’s cabin (leather on top of the dashboard and on the doors and lacquered carbon fibre deployed liberally) don’t distract you for long from the places where the interior looks and feels cheap (ventilation controls, gearlever, steering column plastics, steering wheel button consoles).
An Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio will be expensive to run. At £69,500 before the temptation-laden options list, it exists in a financial realm far beyond that of its competition. An overall test economy of 22.0mpg; dropping down to single figures during the performance testing – further necessitates deep pockets if you’re to use this as a multi-faceted family car in traditional SUV fashion. This car has speed, soul and poise but was it a mistake to have its credentials as an everyday-use family car compromised by such a hardcore ride, and by handling that can at times feel like too much to stomach. While we fear plenty of owners might ultimately conclude the same, others will embrace a really absorbing, fast and wonderfully unlikely driver’s car!
Pros ‘n’ Cons
- Styling √
- Price √
- Performance √
- Interior Features X
- Ride X
Fast Facts
- Max speed: 176 mph
- 0-62 mph: 3.8 seconds
- Combined mpg: 31.4
- Engine layout: V6 BiTurbo
- Max. power: 503bhp
- CO2: 210 g/km
- Price: £69,500
Read our Alfa Romeo Giulia Review
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