Base price: $80445
As tested: $96540
Crossovers are meant to be a matter of practicality, so elements such as security features and shipping are your biggest marketing assets. Reliability is also a decent attribute. Competitive costs are good. But if you’re buying food for an Alfa Romeo, you’ve already made the decision that you don’t care about everything. I find it a little tricky to get into this mood, even for exam purposes, but an Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio appeared on my doorstep and my intuition began to take over.
Thanks to the remarkable exterior design, the delivery of the Stelvio to my house was the most exciting thing that happened on my street all day, at least according to my apathetic neighbors and tired from the pandemic. The Quadrifoglio carries the Misano Blue Metallic paint task very well (as you deserve, as this color costs $600 more, a smart offer compared to the costs of some options), and the Brembo yellow brake stirrups look like the Nero Edizione 20- Bronze cannon wheels in inches (an option of $850). The front, with its triangular grille inverted, is unlike anything else on the road. It’s a laughing SUV and it’s easy to see how other people are attracted to it. In a word, beautiful.
Stelvio Quadrifoglio zippers. It doesn’t feel as sporty as you expected, it just feels fast. Although the turns are simple and comfortable, it does not motivate playful driving as an agile sports car does, even if it is not due to lack of skill. Delight is more suitable for a quarter mile than for an autodrome; look for the faster trail, than the maximum of a laugh, from A to B. In this sense, and perhaps only in this sense, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio feels useful. This is thanks to a 2.9-liter biturbo V6 engine that generates 505 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, as well as an eight-speed automatic transmission with gearshift paddles and all-wheel drive. It’s tempting to drive and let the transmission do its job, however, gear shifting paddles are even more fun in this vehicle because the engine responds very well.
A slower speed is also smooth. The turning radius is strangely narrow for its size, making it less difficult than expected to navigate Chicago’s narrow lanes and enter the garage.
Beyond the external design and fun driving experience, this Stelvio has some other height notes, nothing outlandish and nothing that deserves to motivate you to buy one if you haven’t already considered it, but the main points that Alfa Romeo has controlled to nail where your rivals are wrong. The black leather interior, adding a leather-trimmed board, looked elegant and comfortable, for the most part. The most sensible thing about the dashboard is flat and easy to see, which is great (a lot of competition inexplicably manages to ruin everything). The wireless device’s charging dock is in a convenient location, without supporting the original state of the center console. This would not be my first pick for a family circle vehicle, however, it is worth noting that the base of my son’s car seat was installed quickly, with an easily accessible LATCH mechanism in the row for now.
On the other hand, despite all the elegance of the external design of the Stelvio Quadrifoglio, it is as if the in-house designers were applying for a completely different company. I don’t object to a little carbon fiber to visually emphasize the facets of functionality of a vehicle, but too much and it starts to look sticky, almost false, which is literally a shame given that it’s the genuine thing. Alfa Romeo has better tactics for spending cash than on yards and yards of carbon fiber moldings. The infotainment formula is a suggestion. It has two 8.8-inch screens, adding a touch screen. It adapts well to the board, but the formula’s answers are slow and hesitant. Overall, the appearance and ease of use of the cab are a little less than a customer deserves by spending approximately six figures.
The Quadrifoglio style is difficult to sell, but for what it is worth, so is the fundamental Stelvio. If you have to opt for an Alfa Romeo, giving in to emotion compared to everything else, you might also faint because you probably can’t explain why you yourself anyway.
I am a Chicago-based editor with 15 years of experience in the automotive industry. I’m proud to be born in New England and graduate from Saint Michael’s
I am a Chicago-based editor with 15 years of experience in the automotive industry. I am proud to be from New England and graduated from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont with a degree in journalism and mass communication. My paintings include automotive features and reviews, new car reviews, automotive news and occasional coverage. I have been published in the Chicago Tribune, U.S. News – World Report, HowStuffWorks, Hagerty, CarGurus, Carfax, Motor1 and Autobytel. I recently had my first child and took a look into the future to explore car reviews and news from a new parent’s perspective. Feel free to ask us questions, suggestions or advice. I love listening to readers.