This era of insane crossovers and SUVs is in full swing. While the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk might definite it, it’s the Alfa Romeo Stelvio that serves as a fantastic ambassador to this world. Specifically, of course, the Quadrifoglio version.
Lift the hood. Staring back at you is a Ferrari-derived 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine. It’s good for 505 horsepower. Working together with its eight-speed gearbox, forward motivation is of the face-melting variety. This is a machine that has no business being this quick and fast, but business here is good. And the Alfa Romeo is good at it.
Molto ..er, expensive-o!
Cheap? No, of course not. The starting price is about $83,000. That’s a few thousand bucks below the 707-horsepower Insane-O Jeep. But this Alfa Romeo might be the better machine, if you desire a life spent slicing up backroads or apexing corners on a race track. Turn in is well tuned and the steering is responsive. Breathe on the brakes and you’re stopping. Switch the drive mode dial to RACE, the suspension to Mid, and then start tugging on the paddles.
Inside, this Alfa speaks fluent Italian. You’ll find red leather and carbon fiber everywhere. Sure, it’s tight inside but there is enough room for little adults and toddlers. I fit a car seat back there, in fact. Up front, the buckets are heavily bolstered and you’ll come to appreciate that after duking it out with your favorite section of right-left-right-left.
Crazy crossovers are still oddball machines. Yes, a real car or wagon is better suited to going fast. But that doesn’t make the Alfa Romeo Stelvio QF any less potent. The dash from 0-60 miles per hour happens well under the four second mark. Felony speeds exist with just a short bit of time on that throttle pedal, and the exhaust note barks defiantly for the entire journey.
Is it perfect? Of course not, it’s an Alfa! Is it awesome? You bet your ass it is.
