2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio: 5 Cool Things (Review with Prices and Specs)

Really expensive, really entertaining, pretty darn rare.

2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Specs

Class: Premium Compact Crossover
Color: Verde Montreal
Seating Capacity: 5
Miles driven: 147
Real-world fuel economy: 17.2 mpg
Driving mix: 65% city, 35% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 17/23/19 (city, highway, combined)
Fuel type: Premium
Base price: $87,300 (not including $1595 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: Special paint ($2200), Quadrifoglio Package ($700), Dual-Pane Sunroof ($1485)
Price as tested: $93,360

Quick Hits

The great: Undeniable presence, seriously fun to drive
The good: Roomy and well-appointed cabin, unexpected highway manners
The not so good: A little loud, a little expensive

There is a hypocritical truth about the automotive media—maybe you already know this—and that’s that we want to you, the consumer, to buy vehicles that we never would. This for a number of reasons: First, if you don’t buy these cars and trucks, carmakers might stop producing them, and we would never have the opportunity to drive them again. Also—and this is important—it does our hearts good to know that there are consumers out there willing to set aside mainstream value tenets, including price and practicality, and purchase a vehicle that simply makes them happy. For this reason, bold car shopper, we salute you, and also envy you. But please, whatever you do, keep buying cool, weird, and fringe-segment cars.

Here’s a crossover we’d really like you to buy: The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. The Stelvio, as you may know, is a compact crossover infused with a fair amount of Italian character. Even in lower trim levels, the small Alfa ute accelerates with a compelling dose of energy and handles with uncharacteristic-for-the-category athleticism. The Stelvio’s cabin, regardless of trim level, is rich in leather and quality trim elements that help separate the crossover from more mainstream offerings. Indeed, the Stelvio feels decidedly exotic.

The Stelvio is as expensive as it is over the top—especially in Quadrifoglio trim and painted Verde Montreal—but we, the media, desperately want you to buy one. We want you do to what we are neither brave enough nor wealthy enough to do ourselves, and that is to fully embrace what motoring can be if you live a life without social, financial, and spousal repercussion, and likely have a three- or four-car garage.

Though weighed down with notes about why the Stelvio should not be your first (or second, or third) choice for the family’s next crossover, we’d like to share with you the reasons you should absolutely go and lease a Stelvio today, or tomorrow, latest. Because, I promise you, were auto writers not saddled to the consumerist religion of practicality and value, and if we were better paid, many of us would be tooling around in our own Stelvio Quadrifoglio.

5 Cool Things About the 2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio

It’s Alive (powertrain)

It’s not uncommon for a carmaker to stuff a large, powerful, engine under the hood of a sporty vehicle and call it a day. At 2.9 liters, the turbocharged Stelvio Quadrifoglio engine is not especially large, but at 505 horsepower it is certainly strong. And, in true-to-Alfa form, the small V6 makes its presence known, with a soundtrack that can be both heard and felt.

Note, too, that our observed 17 mpg performance can easily be improved upon, assuming you are not lured in too deeply by this engine’s siren’s song.

It’s Alive (handling)

Good news: The Stelvio Quadrifoglio affords drivers not only meaningful steering feedback, along with some great road feel, it pairs that steering with excellent chassis dynamics and impressive brake feel. As a package, the Quadrifoglio upgrades significantly bolster the base Stelvio’s sporty character.

It’s Alive (design)

Though the Stelvio is roughly the same shape as most other small crossovers, it’s aggressive grille design, deeply contoured bodyside, cool hood vents, and crazy multi-circle wheels combine to elevate the Alfa Romeo ute to something more than daily transportation.