Subcompact Luxury: 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Review

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio

Subcompact Luxury: 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Review

If you are looking for a subcompact luxury SUV that combines stunning looks, exhilarating performance, and Italian flair, you might want to consider the 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. This is not your typical family hauler, but a high-performance machine that can challenge some of the best sports cars on the road.

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio is powered by a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine that delivers 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. This engine is derived from a modular Ferrari engine family and sounds glorious when you rev it up. The power is transmitted to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission that can be manually controlled with paddle shifters. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio can sprint from zero to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds, according to Car and Driver, and reach a top speed of 176 mph.

But the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is not just about straight-line speed. It also handles like a dream, thanks to its adaptive suspension, torque vectoring rear differential, Brembo brakes, and precise steering. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio has a DNA drive mode selector that lets you choose between Dynamic, Natural, Advanced Efficiency, and Race modes. Each mode alters the throttle response, steering feel, shift speed, and suspension stiffness to suit your driving style and road conditions.

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio also stands out with its distinctive design that blends elegance and aggression. The front end features a V-shaped grille with carbon fiber accents, LED headlights with matrix technology, and large air intakes. The side profile showcases the muscular fenders, 20-inch wheels, and quad exhaust tips. The rear end has a roof spoiler, LED taillights, and a diffuser.

The interior of the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is equally impressive, with leather and Alcantara upholstery, carbon fiber trim, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. The seats are supportive and comfortable, with optional Sparco racing seats for more lateral support. The dashboard features a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, and a Harman Kardon sound system. The driver also gets a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display.

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio offers plenty of safety and driver-assistance features as well, such as blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view camera.

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio is not without its drawbacks, however. It is not very spacious or practical compared to some of its rivals, such as the Porsche Macan GTS or the BMW X3 M. The cargo area is relatively small at 18.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 56.5 cubic feet with them folded down. The rear seat legroom is also limited at 35.9 inches. The interior materials and build quality are not as refined or luxurious as some competitors either.

Another downside of the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is its fuel economy and reliability. The EPA estimates that it will get 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, which is not very impressive for a subcompact SUV. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio also has a reputation for being unreliable and having frequent issues with its electronics and software.

The 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio starts at $87,770, which is quite expensive for its segment. However, if you are willing to pay the premium for its exceptional performance, handling, and style, you might find it worth every penny.