It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than four years since Alfa Romeo introduced the Stelvio to the world, jumping on the SUV bandwagon using their successful Giulia platform. Its pinnacle model is the Quadrifoglio or QV as its also known.
For 2024, its exterior scores updated LED adaptive matrix headlights and some tinted taillights. The rest of the car remains much the same, and that’s clearly a good thing because in typical Alfa fashion, the Stelvio is a work of art.
Our test vehicle was presented in beautiful Alfa Red, but there’s also the option of Montreal Green and Misano Blue among an array of colours. In standard QV form, the 20-inch rims look amazing and exude pure Italian style.
They manage to show off big Brembo brakes underneath through that thin, iconic circular wheel design too. While being an all-wheel drive vehicle, the setup is staggered at 20×9 up front and 20×10 at the rear, wrapped in super fat Pirelli 255/45 and 285/40 P Zero tyres.
This helps the muscular look, with some additional plastic bolstering on the rear guards. Those wanting a bit more can opt for 21-inch alloys in a very similar style and ceramic brakes.
The unmistakable Alfa grille up front necessitates an offset numberplate holder while some functional air vents adorn the bonnet, which feature a slightly different design from its sedan sibling.
Quadrifoglio emblems can be found on the front quarter panels, making appearances throughout the interior as well. On that front, the standard sports leather seats hold you in comfortably and offer plenty of adjustment.
The seating position feels sporty, even this high off the ground. Sparco leather and Alcantara bucket seats can be optioned but they do lose electronic adjustability. The dash is from a time when dashboards were still sculpted, which is a nice touch.
There’s a smallish infotainment screen (compared to rivals). The native system can feel a little laggy, but it does a reasonable job. You can place your phone in a cleverly designed area under the centre armrest that includes a wireless charging pad as well.
Since Apple CarPlay and Android Auto requires a wired connection, you’ll likely be making use of the USB connector located in the same area. The native maps are fine, but once paired, your navigation app of choice is probably better.
The centre console includes navigation wheels and buttons that become intuitive to use – with the all-important DNA Pro drive selector within easy reach to change between Dynamic, Natural, Advanced Efficiency and Race modes.
The suspension dampers can be softened in Dynamic and Race modes, but we’ll admit that this feels like a choice between harsh and harsher. For the 2024 update, the carbon fibre touches around the dash and console have been given a bit more texture to the touch.
This didn’t extend across to the steering wheel, but it’s a minor point. It is lovely to use though, with bits of Alcantara and leather helping with the grip and sporty nature of the vehicle, once again.
Two massive aluminium paddle shifters feel great and assist with shifting gears when the drive gets more spirited. They don’t rotate with the wheel, but are large enough to be used while steering.
Rear occupants will find a comfortable cabin, with space for taller passengers, however the lack of a standard panoramic glass or sunroof, paired with the dark interior lining, can make the Stelvio feel a little claustrophobic. A sunroof can be optioned.
The boot can hold up to 525-litres with the seats up, or 1,600-litres with the second row folded. But, it’s what’s under the bonnet that makes the Stelvio Quadrifoglio so special, and what your ears will be listening to in place of the 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.
A Ferrari-engineered 2.9-litre twin turbo V6 is a sight to behold and an aural sensation with the exhaust valves open. It generates 375kW and 600Nm to propel this SUV to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds.
Alfa Romeo have managed to employ a lot of aluminium and lightweight materials in the Stelvio’s construction too, resulting in a large performance SUV that weighs only 1790kg and drives so much better than something like this should.
Still, the Stelvio QV is a car that demands respect and even in Dynamic mode the rear can step out if the throttle is mashed with too much gusto. The all-wheel drive system is basically rear-wheel drive until the front wheels are required to help out.
This is a benefit over the solely rear-powered Giulia but can still bring fear to the uninitiated. During our time with the car, we found that easing our way up through the drive modes worked best.
Even the brakes can feel a bit touchy at first if you’re in the wrong mode. Dynamic and Race are not intended for your daily grind, you can leave that for Natural or Advanced Efficiency where everything softens up and is toned down.
For those more engaging drives, Dynamic or Race are where you want things to be. The audible difference when the exhaust valves fully open in Race unleashes the beast within, with pops not uncommon as things get more spirited.
The Stelvio QV exhibits agility and confidence, and yet with every corner, downshift and press of the throttle you’d be hard-pressed not to have a smile on your face from the rewarding experience.
That an SUV can do this is nothing short of amazing. Just don’t pay too much attention to the fuel consumption when you cut loose as the rate of depletion can be more than a little unnerving. The same can be said for the $175,000 drive away price (without options).
That’s no small figure and there are definitely strong competitors out there that could vie for your hard-earned cash, but we reckon you’d be hard pressed to find anything that can offer the same driving experience.
Although the tech inside is likely to be a mark down for the Stelvio, the shear driving and aural pleasure it brings should earn some points back for the feisty Italian. Safety tech is a little basic by today’s standards too. You do get blind spot monitoring.
There’s a stop/start system (which can be easily disabled), The radar cruise control seems to have a mind of its own too, slowing for shadows on the road (which is likely a calibration thing). There’s also level 2 autonomous driving functionality.
The Stelvio QV is the sort of car that will have a niche group of people ready to buy it but may be a hard ask for anyone not affiliated, invested in or die-hard fans of the Alfa Romeo brand. That’s a real shame.
We feel there needs to be more cars like this on our roads to counter the flood of the dull and mundane. There is also the realisation that this, along with the Giulia, is perhaps the last of its kind. We certainly hope that’s not the case.
You can find out more on the Alfa Romeo website or by talking to your local dealership. To get a low rate finance quote, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One. To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au.
Our test vehicle was provided by Alfa Romeo Australia for independent review purposes.
