2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Overview

By Dave Ashton

Generally speaking, the average SUV, even with a huge engine isn’t considered a sporty vehicle. But, what if a particular SUV was built from the ground up from the essence of a popular saloon car? This was basically the template for the 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is a high-performance version of the Giulia Quadrifoglio saloon that has been widely praised for its excellent driving dynamics and stylish Italian design. In this article, we will provide an in-depth review of the 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, highlighting its features, performance, and overall value.

Design and Features

The 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio retains the smooth and bulbous design of its predecessor, with a signature Alfa Romeo grille, muscular lines, and a quickly sloping off roofline. The Quadrifoglio variant adds some unique features, such as a carbon fiber hood, front splitter, side skirts, and rear diffuser, which not only enhance its sporty appearance but also improve its aerodynamics. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio sits on 20-inch wheels, with Brembo brakes – six-piston calipers up front and four-piston versions in the rear, providing plenty of braking power.

Inside, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio has a driver-focused cockpit with sporty seats, a leather-bound steering wheel, and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. It also comes standard with an 8.8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a navigation system, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio offers plenty of legroom and headroom for the driver and front passenger, but the rear seats are a bit cramped for taller adults.

Performance

Under the hood, the 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio packs a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 engine that produces 505 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels via Alfa Romeo’s Q4 all-wheel-drive system. According to Car and Driver, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 176 mph, making it one of the quickest SUVs on the market. Fuel economy with this version comes in at 23.9mpg, compared to the 2L Turbo 280 Competizione AWD petrol version at 31.7mpg or the cheapest petrol model the 2L Turbo 280 Sprint AWD Auto at 33.2mpg.

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio also comes standard with Alfa Romeo’s DNA Pro drive mode selector, which allows the driver to choose from Dynamic, Natural, Advanced Efficiency, and Race modes. Each mode adjusts the car’s throttle response, shift points, suspension settings, and other parameters to suit different driving conditions and preferences.

Value

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio luckily costs less than the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S and the BMW X3 M Competition. Other notable contenders in this area include the Audi SQ5, Porsche Macan Turbo, Jaguar F-Pace SVR and Mercedes-AMG GLC 63. According to The Car Connection, the Stelvio offers good value for its price, with standard features such as leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power liftgate, and a host of advanced safety features, including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring.

The regular Stelvio, from which the Quadrifoglio is based, received a five-star rating from Euro NCAP. This beats out the Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLC on points, and scored 11/31 in Whatcar.com’s 2020 Reliability Survey.

Conclusion

The 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is a high-performance SUV that is going to impress those who want practicality and a quality driving experience. The interior may feel a little cheaper than the rivals, with slightly less headroom, but the Stelvio makes up ground with great handling, responsive acceleration, and a well-kitted out standard model.