The 2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio

Part of a historic brand over 114 years old, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is one of the models lucky enough to carry a four-leaf clover on its flanks. In this case, the Quadrifoglio proudly shows it is part of an elite subset within the Italian brand. Here, it’s a high-performance version of their midsized crossover SUV. It’s powerful, fun to drive and can haul butt and the family at the same time. Napleton News had a chance to practice our Italian recently. Here’s how we did….

What is a Quadrifoglio?

Before we delve into what makes the Stelvio tick, a quick explanation. What exactly is a Quadrifoglio? It’s a four-leaf clover in Italian. In this case, it dates back to 1923 and is used to signify only the highest performance Alfa Romeo vehicles. According to company history, Alfa Romeo built four race cars for the 1923 Targa Florio road race. One of the cars was driven by Alfa pilote Ugo Sivocci, who was actually a very talented driver having a streak of bad luck. He painted a green four-leaf clover on the front of his Alfa Romeo race car to ward off the evil eye. Not just any evil eye, but THE evil eye. It definitely worked, giving Alfa Romeo a four-leafed 1-2 finish and its first international victory.

Since that race, the Quadrifoglio logo has been a crucial symbol of every high-performance Alfa Romeo since.

And how about the Stelvio Quadrifoglio?

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio is a midsize crossover SUV that punches way above its class but is beginning to show its age. It’s powered by a potent, Ferrari-designed twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 making 505 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. That’s quite a load for a midsized SUV. This engine is matched to an 8-speed automatic with paddle-shift levers sending power to an all-wheel drive system that provides both grip and composure.

This package can tick off a 60 mph clip in 3.4 seconds, making it one of the fastest SUVs tested. Standard independent adaptive dampers allow the driver to tailor the ride quality to any condition or need. This Stelvio is loaded with other standard features including Brembo high-performance brakes, a torque-vectoring rear differential, dynamic dual-mode quad exhausts and the Alfa DNA Pro Drive Mode Selector with Race Mode. It’s a mouthful for certain but it goes a long way to enhance the Stelvio’s performance.

What about the Quadrifoglio’s looks ?

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio possesses a sexy, smart, and curvy visage that is right-sized for most needs. There’s definitely Italian style and grace beginning with the “scudetto” (Little Shield) located in the grille’s center. This little detail pays homage to all the Alfa-Romeo’s before it. Under the grille are large, under bumper intakes to cool the engine room.

A sloping roofline separates this ute from the boxier, less powerful members of the segment. Thankfully, its stylized creases help to define old world craftsmanship as well as add interest in the flanks of the body.

What about inside the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio?

The last time we were inside the Stelvio, we said it doesn’t disappoint. A few years later, though we find it a bit stale. Don’t get us wrong, it still does everything we expect it to. The carbon fiber-trimmed center console is still here, with its machined rotary dial. Cupholders? Check. Qi wireless phone charging. Check. 12.3-inch driver’s information display. Check.

There’s also a standard 8.8-inch center touchscreen display to operate the navigation, audio, cellular connectivity, and performance pages to log your capabilities while on a race track. The one turn-off of this system is how buried some of the apps are. Items like the seat ventilation and vehicle settings take a fair amount of navigating. They shouldn’t be that hard to find.

There’s also Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, ten-way power leather sports seats, keyless entry and SiriusXM radio. There is also a standard 14-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system that is included with the Quadrifoglio package.

Behind the wheel of the Stelvio.

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio is unlike most other SUVs on the road today. Count the BMW X3M, Porsche Macan, certain Range Rovers, and Mercedes-AMG GLE-class as contenders. This is the fast crowd and posers with alloy wheels and spoilers need not apply. Like very few other crossovers available, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is one of the fastest crossovers in the world today!

When pushed, the engine gives off a Formula 1-like high-pitched squeal as the 505 ponies are unleashed. It’s only fitting since this six-cylinder is designed by Ferrari before being handed off to Alfa Romeo. Speed builds quickly and soon we are effortlessly passing the also rans of the roadway. But the ride is firm, even rough. Such as it is with a thoroughbred.

And good things don’t last forever: The High-Performance SUV will go away at the end of the 2024 model year so if you want one you need to hurry!

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Specifications

Engine Type	2.9-liter Twin-turbocharged V6
Horsepower	505 hp @ 6,500 rpm
Torque	443 lb-ft @2,500 rpm
Transmission	8-speed automatic
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined/City/Hwy)	19/17/23 mpg
Suspension F/R	Double Wishbone / Multi-link
Turning Circle	38.7 ft.
Also Available	Various trim levels.
Specs
Warranty	4 years/50,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty	4 years/50,000 miles
NHTSA Safety Rating	Not Rated
Max Seating Capacity	5 passengers
Wheelbase	111.0 inches
Overall Length	185.1 inches
Width	77.0 inches
Height	66.3 inches
Cargo Room (Behind 1st, 2nd row)	56.5 / 18.5 Cubic Feet
Headroom, Front	40.6 inches
Headroom, 2nd	38.9 inches
Legroom, 1st	36.6 inches
Legroom, 2nd	31.9 inches
Shoulder room, 1st row	57.5 inches
Shoulder room, 2nd row	56.0 inches