It’s exhausting to imagine that it’s been greater than 4 years since Alfa Romeo launched the Stelvio to the world, leaping on the SUV bandwagon utilizing their profitable Giulia platform. Its pinnacle mannequin is the Quadrifoglio or QV as its additionally recognized.
For 2024, its exterior scores up to date LED adaptive matrix headlights and a few tinted taillights. The remainder of the automotive stays a lot the identical, and that’s clearly a great factor as a result of in typical Alfa trend, the Stelvio is a murals.
Our take a look at automobile was introduced in lovely Alfa Pink, however there’s additionally the choice of Montreal Inexperienced and Misano Blue amongst an array of colors. In customary QV type, the 20-inch rims look wonderful and exude pure Italian fashion.
They handle to point out off huge Brembo brakes beneath by that skinny, iconic round wheel design too. Whereas being an all-wheel drive automobile, the setup is staggered at 20×9 up entrance and 20×10 on the rear, wrapped in tremendous fats Pirelli 255/45 and 285/40 P Zero tyres.
This helps the muscular look, with some extra plastic bolstering on the rear guards. These wanting a bit extra can go for 21-inch alloys in a really comparable fashion and ceramic brakes.
The unmistakable Alfa grille up entrance necessitates an offset numberplate holder whereas some practical air vents adorn the bonnet, which characteristic a barely totally different design from its sedan sibling.
Quadrifoglio emblems could be discovered on the entrance quarter panels, making appearances all through the inside as effectively. On that entrance, the usual sports activities leather-based seats maintain you in comfortably and provide loads of adjustment.
The seating place feels sporty, even this excessive off the bottom. Sparco leather-based and Alcantara bucket seats could be optioned however they do lose digital adjustability. The sprint is from a time when dashboards had been nonetheless sculpted, which is a pleasant contact.
There’s a smallish infotainment display (in comparison with rivals). The native system can really feel just a little laggy, however it does an affordable job. You possibly can place your cellphone in a cleverly designed space below the centre armrest that features a wi-fi charging pad as effectively.
Since Apple CarPlay and Android Auto requires a wired connection, you’ll possible be making use of the USB connector situated in the identical space. The native maps are fantastic, however as soon as paired, your navigation app of selection might be higher.
The centre console consists of navigation wheels and buttons that develop into intuitive to make use of – with the all-important DNA Professional drive selector inside simple attain to vary between Dynamic, Pure, Superior Effectivity and Race modes.
The suspension dampers could be softened in Dynamic and Race modes, however we’ll admit that this appears like a selection between harsh and harsher. For the 2024 replace, the carbon fibre touches across the sprint and console have been given a bit extra texture to the contact.
This didn’t lengthen throughout to the steering wheel, however it’s a minor level. It’s pretty to make use of although, with bits of Alcantara and leather-based serving to with the grip and sporty nature of the automobile, as soon as once more.
Two huge aluminium paddle shifters really feel nice and help with shifting gears when the drive will get extra spirited. They don’t rotate with the wheel, however are massive sufficient for use whereas steering.
Rear occupants will discover a snug cabin, with area for taller passengers, nonetheless the shortage of a regular panoramic glass or sunroof, paired with the darkish inside lining, could make the Stelvio really feel just a little claustrophobic. A sunroof could be optioned.
The boot can maintain as much as 525-litres with the seats up, or 1,600-litres with the second row folded. However, it’s what’s below the bonnet that makes the Stelvio Quadrifoglio so particular, and what your ears shall be listening to rather than the 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.
A Ferrari-engineered 2.9-litre twin turbo V6 is a sight to behold and an aural sensation with the exhaust valves open. It generates 375kW and 600Nm to propel this SUV to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds.
Alfa Romeo have managed to make use of a whole lot of aluminium and light-weight supplies within the Stelvio’s development too, leading to a big efficiency SUV that weighs solely 1790kg and drives so a lot better than one thing like this could.
Nonetheless, the Stelvio QV is a automotive that calls for respect and even in Dynamic mode the rear can step out if the throttle is mashed with an excessive amount of gusto. The all-wheel drive system is mainly rear-wheel drive till the entrance wheels are required to assist out.
This can be a profit over the solely rear-powered Giulia however can nonetheless carry worry to the uninitiated. Throughout our time with the automotive, we discovered that easing our method up by the drive modes labored finest.
Even the brakes can really feel a bit sensitive at first in case you’re within the flawed mode. Dynamic and Race usually are not meant on your every day grind, you possibly can depart that for Pure or Superior Effectivity the place every little thing softens up and is toned down.
For these extra participating drives, Dynamic or Race are the place you need issues to be. The audible distinction when the exhaust valves totally open in Race unleashes the beast inside, with pops not unusual as issues get extra spirited.
The Stelvio QV displays agility and confidence, and but with each nook, downshift and press of the throttle you’d be hard-pressed to not have a smile in your face from the rewarding expertise.
That an SUV can do that is nothing in need of wonderful. Simply don’t pay an excessive amount of consideration to the gasoline consumption once you minimize free as the speed of depletion could be greater than just a little unnerving. The identical could be mentioned for the $175,000 drive away worth (with out choices).
That’s no small determine and there are positively robust rivals on the market that might vie on your hard-earned money, however we reckon you’d be exhausting pressed to search out something that may provide the identical driving expertise.
Though the tech inside is more likely to be a mark down for the Stelvio, the shear driving and aural pleasure it brings ought to earn some factors again for the feisty Italian. Security tech is just a little primary by right now’s requirements too. You do get blind spot monitoring.
There’s a cease/begin system (which could be simply disabled), The radar cruise management appears to have a thoughts of its personal too, slowing for shadows on the highway (which is probably going a calibration factor). There’s additionally stage 2 autonomous driving performance.
The Stelvio QV is the form of automotive that may have a distinct segment group of individuals prepared to purchase it however could also be a tough ask for anybody not affiliated, invested in or die-hard followers of the Alfa Romeo model. That’s an actual disgrace.
We really feel there must be extra vehicles like this on our roads to counter the flood of the uninteresting and mundane. There may be additionally the realisation that this, together with the Giulia, is probably the final of its variety. We definitely hope that’s not the case.
Yow will discover out extra on the Alfa Romeo web site or by speaking to your native dealership. To get a low fee finance quote, speak to Australia’s finest reviewed automotive finance dealer; Credit score One. To see an incredible vary of automobiles on the market, try OnlyCars.com.au.
Our take a look at automobile was offered by Alfa Romeo Australia for unbiased evaluation functions.
