2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio: Stirring Souls, Defying Expectations

SUVs
November 28, 2024
Dan Gunay

When it comes to blending Italian passion with raw performance, few SUVs can rival the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. Born from a legacy that stretches back over a century, Alfa Romeo has always stood for more than just cars; it represents an unyielding commitment to beauty, speed, and soul-stirring emotion. With roots in motorsport glory and iconic designs like the Giulia Sprint and the legendary 33 Stradale, the brand’s DNA is woven into every inch of the Stelvio Quadrifoglio.

This high-performance variant of Alfa’s midsize crossover doesn’t just promise speed and dynamic handling—it delivers an experience that feels more like a passionate embrace from a sports car than a typical family hauler. The Ferrari-derived V6 engine sings a thrilling Italian aria, while the design turns heads with the kind of elegance only Alfa can muster. But does it live up to that storied reputation on everyday roads? Let’s find out.

Alfa Romeo currently has two SUVs in their model lineup in North America. The Stelvio is the larger SUV that offers completely different driving experience compared to the smaller SUV – the Tonale. However, both SUVs have a very similar design language, including the distinctive front fascia. The V-shaped “Scudetto” grille is the signature design feature for any Alfa Romeo, including the Stelvio. The Quadrifoglios come with a honeycomb mesh pattern and chrome accents. There are large air intakes for better airflow for engine cooling and improved aerodynamics, which also contributes to the vehicle’s aggressive stance.

The rear end of the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is quintessentially Alfa Romeo, effortlessly blending sportiness with elegance. While it may not be the newest contender in its segment, its design remains striking from every angle. Genuine quad exhausts, a functional aerodynamic diffuser, and a sporty spoiler underscore its performance pedigree. The sculpted tailgate and sleek taillights add a touch of sophistication, creating an upscale yet dynamic presence that’s undeniably Alfa Romeo.

The sculpted lines continue on the side profile, it features flowing and muscular lines that emphasizes its dynamic stances. The wheel arches are wider that offers wider track and provide a commanding presence. However, the most important design feature is the signature “Teledial” pattern wheels which are inspired by classic Alfa race cars. Overall, it offers a nice balance of sportiness and luxury with its coupe-inspired lines and dynamic silhouette that emphasizes its sport car roots while still carrying the traditional SUV layout.

Just like the exterior, the interior blends premium materials with performance-focused design in mind. The diversity in the interior is excellent. There is a nice combination of leather, aluminum, carbon fiber trims along with soft touch surfaces where occupants see easier. The leather wrapped seats offer great adjustability with decent amount of range, which means it can accommodate taller adults quite well, while keeping you in the seat during spirited driving.

The rear seats provide an average amount of legroom for a compact SUV, but this is easily forgivable considering the rear-wheel-drive platform. Rear passengers can still enjoy a range of creature comforts, including USB ports, air vents, and heated seats. My only gripe is that the seats don’t recline—a feature that would make longer trips much more comfortable.

Unfortunately, the Stelvio suffers a bit when it comes to the cargo space, as it is far behind the primary competition like the BMW X3. It offers 18.5 cubic feet (523 liter) of cargo space behind the second row, that can go up to 56 cubic feet (1586 liter) of space with the rear seats folded. The numbers aren’t the worst, but it is below average. On the positive side, the cargo floor is quite low, which makes it easier to load heavy and large items. As expected from a premium entry, it comes with a hands-free liftgate standard.

Just like the overall practicality and cargo space, there is a room for improvement when it comes to the tech. For 2024, the Stelvio received a new 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, which carries over for 2025. The screen quality and resolution is great, but the customization part could have been better. It still offers three different layouts that can be changed based on the driving mode. However, the infotainment system still only comes in one small size at 8.8 inches, which doesn’t have the best screen quality and the camera resolution. The infotainment system is mostly responsive and easy to use, but it just shows the age of its platform.

The most thrilling aspect of the Stelvio Quadrifoglio—and what truly sets it apart—is its exceptional drivetrain. From the moment you start it, you understand why this SUV captures the hearts of enthusiasts. At its core lies a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6, inspired by Ferrari’s engineering prowess. This powerhouse churns out an exhilarating 505 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, seamlessly paired with a responsive eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.

What sets the Stelvio Quadrifoglio apart from the competition is the way the power is delivered. The Q4 all wheel drive system prioritizes rear wheels, but adjusting the amount of power sent between the front and rear axles efficiently, ensuring the maximum grip without feeling overly intrusive. The torque vectoring differential works in a way that makes you feel safe, but gives you enough playful character in the corners.

In typical Alfa Romeo fashion, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio comes with the DNA drive modes that changes a lot of features, including adaptive dampers, throttle response, steering weight that makes it more versatile and great daily driver. The Dynamic mode offers the sharpest throttle response and firmest suspension setting, which can also be separately adjusted. Even in daily commuting, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio retains its composure and not punishing the occupants in Normal mode.

Unlike most SUVs, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio doesn’t falter when you venture onto the twisty backroads—it thrives there. Alfa Romeo’s engineers have struck an impressive balance between performance and control, especially in the firmest suspension setting. Body roll is virtually nonexistent, giving you the confidence to push harder through corners.

The chassis feels meticulously tuned, and the steering is sharp, communicative, and responsive, providing just the right amount of feedback to keep you connected to the road. It lets you know precisely how much grip you have at the limit. While it retains the elevated driving position and ground clearance of an SUV, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio channels the spirit of a hot hatchback, delivering an engaging driving experience that’s rare in this segment.

The Stelvio may not be the freshest face on the market, and there are a few compromises to note, such as its tech, which feels slightly dated, and the somewhat limited interior space compared to some rivals. But one look at its stunning exterior, with its muscular lines and distinctive Alfa styling, and you realize it hasn’t lost an ounce of visual appeal. The Quadrifoglio isn’t just about good looks, though—it offers a compelling blend of sportiness, raw power, and practicality that’s hard to match.

Engine	Twin turbocharged 2.9-liter V6
Transmission & Drivetrain	8-speed automatic & all-wheel-drive
Max power (combined)	505 hp @ 6500 rpm
Max torque (combined)	443 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm
0-100 km/h	3.6 sec
Curb Weight	4309 lbs – 1955 kg
Fuel Economy (observed)	17 MPG – 13.8 L/100 km
Starting at (starting at)	$99,690 CAD
Website:	www.alfaromeo.ca/en/