Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio - long-term review

As we bid farewell to the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, I’ve been reflecting on just how far SUVs have come. Growing up in ’90s Britain, if your family needed space, an estate car was the answer. SUVs were used by the royals to potter around their grand estates, were they not? The thought of people using them for the school run, let alone ones with 500 horsepower, was absurd.

Yet here I am, having spent six months behind the wheel of the Quadrifoglio, and I get it.

Above all, the Stelvio’s V6 steals the show. It’s wildly spirited, borderline unhinged, in the best way. The Jaguar F-Pace SVR’s thunderous V8 is a worthy rival, but it lacks that same fizz of the Alfa.

The Stelvio has been a fantastically practical companion for Top Gear video shoots too. The boot offers ample space for all the gear, and it’s quick enough to chase down supercars for those killer shots. But even off duty, it’s been a commendable family car. While I initially noticed the firm ride, it never left me uncomfortable, even after long journeys.

It’s surprisingly easy to live with, and even when you turn things up in dynamic mode, the ability to soften off the active suspension with the touch of a button keeps it bearable on rougher roads.

Despite its Italian origins and Alfa’s reputation for unpredictability, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio has been mechanically solid throughout my time with it. The only issues have been a few minor gremlins with the infotainment, but nothing a quick off-and-on didn’t fix.

On the inside, underneath the bits of carbon trim, it’s hard to ignore that the Stelvio’s interior lacks the polish of its rivals. But I can turn a blind eye to that because those aluminum paddles are the best in the business.

What about public perception? Well, the Stelvio definitely turns heads. Some people say, “proper cool colour that", while others give disapproving looks, perhaps due to the anti-social growl from the Akrapovič exhaust. But that’s part of its charm. In a world where cars are increasingly sanitised, it’s refreshing to drive something with this much personality.

Alfa really has succeeded in making a bonkers SUV that’ll never fail to put a smile on your face. And with Porsche’s new Macan going all-electric, it’s safe to say it’s a direction many manufacturers are heading. The days of fast ‘n loud performance SUVs like the Stelvio Quadrifoglio are likely numbered. So, enjoy it while you can, it’s a big thumbs up from me.