2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Carbon

　　

2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Review

byJosh JacquotCorrespondent

　　Josh Jacquot is an automotive journalist at zzdcar.

　　If you need a small sporty SUV but you can't stand the increasing number of vanilla entries in the segment, you need look no further. Alfa's Stelvio, though aging, remains one of the most engaging-to-drive — not to mention stunning — options. This easy-on-the-eyes Italian offers sharp control response, quick acceleration and excellent road manners. And that's in the standard 2.0-liter trims. Then there's the all-singing, all-dancing 505-hp Quadrifoglio, which is an absolute rocketship on any paved road. Yes, the Stelvio makes compromises to visibility and cargo space relative to some competitors, but those are small concerns if you're interested in the Stelvio for the dynamic merits it offers.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Carbon 4dr SUV AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$240/mo  for Stelvio Quadrifoglio Carbon

　　Stelvio Quadrifoglio Carbon

　　Quadrifoglio Carbon 4dr SUV AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $92,870 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Better value, fewer fancy differentials

With one glaring exception, Alfa continues to make the Stelvio a better value for 2024. By reducing the number of 2.0-liter trims from five to four and pushing many of the features reserved for the upper trims to the base model (called the Sprint), Alfa has improved the Stelvio's value proposition. Consider these standard features: adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, forward collision mitigation, heated front and rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. That said, Alfa deleted the Quadrifogilio's advanced torque-vectoring rear differential and replaced it with a conventional mechanical limited-slip. The new differential is less capable of influencing the Stelvio's handling. However, the new mechanical LSD appears on the Competizione 2.0-liter trim. Previously, the Quadrifoglio was the only trim that offered it.

　　

Competitors to consider

Competitors to the Stelvio include the Audi Q5 Sportback and BMW X4, both of which aim for the sportiness of the Alfa with aggressively sloping rear rooflines rather than taking a wholesale approach to performance tuning like the Stelvio does. But they also offer fresher designs, nicer interior materials and bigger infotainment screens. And if you're looking for something to compete with the utterly bananas Quadrifoglio, consider the BMW X3 M.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the Stelvio Quadrifoglio drive? If you're an oddball seeking an SUV purely for the love of driving, this Stelvio was created for you. Save for a touchy brake pedal in stop-and-go traffic, the Quadrifoglio delivers everything at exceptional levels. Acceleration is wicked with a soundtrack to match. It needed only 3.5 seconds to get from 0 to 60 mph in our testing. But speed doesn't come at the expense of smoothness. The V6 spins up quickly and works harmoniously with an eight-speed automatic transmission that always seems to be in the right gear. And if it isn't, there are large column-mounted paddle shifters at the ready to retrieve the gear you want.

　　Handling in the Stelvio is satisfying and entertaining enough that spending a day at the racetrack would be realistic. It still feels like you're in an SUV and grip isn't rib-crushingly high, but there's enough performance here to hold the attention of even the most experienced drivers. On public roads, this is way more car than you'll ever need.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Stelvio Quadrifoglio? With performance SUVs there's always going to be some concessions when it comes to comfort. The Stelvio's ride, thankfully, is stiff but not unbearable. The front seats have firm cushions and offer excellent lateral support. The centers of the seat cushions use suede to enhance grip, but they lack perforation and don't breathe particularly well.

　　The climate control uses knobs and buttons and can be accessed through the touchscreen as well. It maintains cabin temps pretty nicely, so it's mostly set-and-forget. Road noise is far from excessive. There is some wind noise at freeway speeds, but overall the cabin is well insulated. When you select the more dynamic driving modes, the engine comes through loud and clear, and it sounds amazing.

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