2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Review: A Passion Party
Alfa Romeo came out swinging when they first introduced their Stelvio SUV, and 2020 sees a much-improved Quadrifoglio coming out with the knockout blow. This Italian beauty comes packed with a 2.9-liter prancing horse under the hood developing a serious 505 horsepower, and it accelerates so fast that most will spill their spaghetti carbonara before the needle hits sixty. Alfa Romeo has made the brave move of entering the hotly contested performance SUV market, and to our surprise, has managed to produce a car that easily matches the best the Germans and Brits have to offer in the X3 M and F-Pace SVR. With all the comfort and safety features present, and a beautifully balanced chassis to boot, the $80,455 Stelvio Quadrifoglio does what Italians do best: it parties with passion.
What's the Price of the 2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio?
Relative to the BMW X3 M, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is quite exotic, but that doesn't mean it has to cost a finely-dressed arm and leg. In the USA, the 2020 Stelvio Quadrifoglio starts with an MSRP of $80,455, excluding registration, tax, and a destination fee of $1,595. You will be paying over $10,600 more than you'd pay for the BMW, which starts at a base price of $69,900. The other outlander, the Jaguar F-Pace SVR, starts at a similar $80,600. New owners should tread carefully, however, stacking up the options will see the Stelvio nearing the $100k mark in the blink of an eye.
2020 Stelvio Quadrifoglio Exterior
Dimensions
Length | Wheelbase | Height | Max Width | Front Width | Rear Width | Curb Weight |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
185.1 in | 111.0 in | 66.3 in | 77.0 in | 61.2 in | 63.3 in | 4,360.0 lbs |
2020 Stelvio Quadrifoglio Performance
Handling and Driving Impressions
It was clear from the beginning that the Stelvio was not going to be just another fast SUV with the handling prowess of a brick. This, the first SUV produced by Alfa Romeo, has been developed to return sports-car levels of performance on the straights as well as in the bends. Under the arches of the Stelvio Quadrifoglio lies a beautifully balanced chassis, adaptive suspension, a high-performance braking system, and a set of sticky summer rubber. The end result is a car that handles with poise and precision. With the adaptive mode set in its most hardcore setting, only the most uneven roads upset it, and it's large 20-inch wheels laugh off-road harshness when cruising. The steering on the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is remarkably communicative and gives the driver an extra sense of reassurance. Alfa Romeo's Q4 AWD system sends all available power to the rear wheels under normal driving situations, but can shift up to 60% to the front if need be, adding to the planted feeling the Stelvio so proudly exudes. Stomp on the slow pedal and the large Brembo brakes respond in turn with predictable yet powerful stopping power. Don't mistake the Stelvio Quadrifoglio for just another fast family carrier; this thing can handle.
2020 Stelvio Quadrifoglio Interior
2020 Stelvio Quadrifoglio Trunk and Cargo Space
Warranty
Basic | Drivetrain | Roadside Assistance | Corrosion | Maintenance |
---|---|---|---|---|
4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 4 Years / Unlimited Miles | 5 Years / Unlimited Miles | 1 Years / 10,000 Miles |
Verdict: Is the 2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio A Good SUV?
The Italian SUV has never been an idea taken seriously by journalists and the car-buying public in general; the majority of people sided with the argument that Italians should stick to building what they know: beautiful sports cars and the odd panel van and economy car. So when Alfa Romeo declared that they would be joining the SUV weapons race, many were understandably skeptical, but once the Stelvio reared its head, many were impressed, and for a good reason. In Quadrifoglio trim, the Stelvio is an absolute masterpiece in design, capability, and overall style. The Ferrari-sourced V6 engine fills the cabin with the soulful jazz that only an Italian performance engine can produce, and the flowing lines of the body, and aggressive air vents on the hood, all spell one thing: fast. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio is blisteringly fast, but it also handles corners with aplomb, and while its interior isn't a match for German competitors such as the BMW X3 M, it still feels special and comes with every modern amenity you'd ever need. This isn't just another fast SUV, it is a passionate and shouty thing that will go down in the history books as one of Alfa's greatest creations.
What Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Model Should I Buy?
There's only the one on offer here, so we'll tell you how we'd spec ours (in our dreams). The exterior would be painted in the obligatory Rosso Competizione Tri-Coat, and we'd get the Dark five-hole wheels on top of that. We'd also paint the brake calipers red for obvious reasons. For practicality's sake, we'd get the power liftgate as well. Inside there's no option but to get the Sparco performance front seats in red and black, and we'd also get the dual-pane sunroof and carbon fiber steering wheel. For safety, we'd include the Driver Assistance Package. That leaves us with an Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio with a price tag of $88,840. Not bad.
2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Comparisons
2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio vs BMW X3 M
It seems like every iteration of BMW's crossover subcompact street-based city-trekking new-age SUVs is getting some M Division love these days. What that means is the base model gets more power, improved suspension, and a mean look. This fate has befallen the already popular X3, which in this case, is entitled the X3 M. Under the hood of this SUV lies a 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-6 engine producing 473 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed auto transmission. The BMW is heavy on juice, but its S58 engine delivers explosive power and feels on par with the Stelvio when it comes to handling. The interior of the X3 M is truly high-end and feels like the more accomplished space. The infotainment system is class-leading, and there is tons more space in the back. We do not approve of its heavy steering and stiff ride, but at over $10,000 less than the Stelvio, it's a hard one to pass up on.
2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio vs Jaguar F-Pace SVR
When Jaguar hands a car over to their Special Vehicle Operations division, you know that you're going to get something seriously quick out of the deal. So when Jaguar nominated their F-Pace SUV, we knew something special was in the making. The end result is a 542-hp British brute that will win a pub brawl without blinking. Not only is it more powerful, but it will return similar gas mileage figures to the Stelvio, although the Italian will beat it to 60 by a mile. On the road, the F-Pace SVR isn't quite as capable as the Stelvio, but it is definitely biased towards performance driving. Inside, the Jag offers nicely bolstered and quilted performance seats and a large 12.3-inch infotainment screen. Starting at around the same price, the Jaguar and Stelvio operate in the exact same space, and it will boil down to brand loyalty for most. We'd stick with the more capable Italian.