Most SUVs aren't machines that pull at our heartstrings, but the 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio isn't most SUVs. It's a high-r iding, Italian-bred heartthrob with a 505-hp twin-turbo V-6 and a soundtrack that stirs the soul like a power ballad. Engage its sportiest drive-mode setting, grip its delicate steering wheel, and prepare to be thoroughly entertained.
Whether its charging in a straight line, knifing through a corner, or screeching to a halt, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio feels more like a sports sedan than the compact luxury crossover it is. While its ride height and bulbous rear hatch can't hide its true identity, Alfa Romeo makes it look beautiful.
The only changes to the 2022 Stelvio Quadrifoglio involve newly standard features. These include a suite of previously optional driver assists such as adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and front and rear parking sensors. It also now comes standard with an auto-dimming rearview mirror, built-in navigation, front and rear heated seats, and wireless phone charging.
Price
Alfa Romeo has raised the starting price of the Stelvio Quadrifoglio a few thousand dollars to account for the addition of various newly standard features. The version we'd choose would forgo the optional Sparco racing seats due their restrictive qualities and lack of heating elements. However, we'd add the Carbon package that dresses the exterior mirrors, V-shaped grille, and steering wheel with carbon fiber and includes a leather-wrapped shift knob.
Engine Performance
The sole engine is a hypnotic twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V-6 that makes 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. It pairs exclusively with a paddle-shifted eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels. One version we tested rocketed to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, making it one of the quickest SUVs we've ever tested. The most impressive trait of this hot crossover—along with its stunning body—is an ethereal chassis that rides as well as it turns.
A set of standard adaptive dampers allows you to select the firmness of the ride, but only the bumpiest roads diminish the ride quality. Otherwise, the Stelvio QF corners with remarkable poise and rewards the driver with communicative steering feedback. The sticky performance tires and beefy brakes on our test vehicle helped haul the QF from 70 mph to zero in 157 feet, performance befitting that of a sports car.
Fuel Economy
The 2022 Stelvio Quadrifoglio is rated at 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. Those numbers are slightly higher than the similarly powerful AMG GLC63 S (15 mpg city/22 highway) and considerably better than the X3 M (15 mpg city/20 highway). The last Stelvio QF we ran on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route—part of our extensive testing regimen—fell short of expectations with a result of 21 mpg.
Interior Design
The Stelvio QF's interior has some build-quality flaws, but its leather-covered and contrast-stitched surfaces are much improved versus the materials found on the regular Stelvio. The QF's supportive front seats, nearly perfect driving position, and enormous column-mounted paddle shifters ensure the driver never feels too far from the racetrack.
It also has many desirable standard features such as 14-way power-adjustable front seats, ambient interior lighting, a heated steering wheel and front-seat cushions, and more. The Stelvio has a comfortable back seat, but headroom and interior cubby storage are unremarkable. Still, we managed to fit eight carry-on suitcases behind its back row and another 11 bags with the seats folded.
Entertainment
Every Quadrifoglio includes an 8.8-inch touchscreen that also operates through a handy rotary controller on the center console. Along with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in navigation and a wireless phone charger are standard; a Wi-Fi hotspot is optional. The infotainment system features crisp graphics, intuitive menus, and a customizable layout. Unfortunately, some of the icons and information are hard to see and some navigation directions were delayed. Audiophiles will appreciate the Stelvio's standard 12-speaker, 900-watt Harman/Kardon audio system.
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