The 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is proof that labels can be awfully misleading. Just as “sugar-free” or “all-natural” may lead you to believe that you’re making healthy choices in the grocery store, the reality is that you’re probably being deceived.
By the same token, even though the 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio’s spec sheet describes this as an “SUV”, nothing about this remarkable vehicle feels SUV-like. This is a sports car that just happens to have a taller body and back seats.
The first sign that you’ve been misled is when you press the red starter button and that tuneful 505-horsepower 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 springs into life. It propels this all-wheel-drive Alfa to 60 mph in only 3.6 seconds.
It’s also blessed with a poised chassis and communicative steering that make this crossover even more fun to drive than a BMW X3 M. As further proof that this isn’t an SUV in the traditional sense, the Stelvio isn’t even that spacious at the back, while the trunk is smaller than rivals.
Alfa Romeo has duped us and delivered an “SUV” only by name – and that’s precisely why we’re smitten with the 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio
The only changes to the 2022 Stelvio Quadrifoglio involve newly standard features. These include a suite of previously optional driver assists such as adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and front and rear parking sensors.
It also now comes standard with an auto-dimming rearview mirror, built-in navigation, front and rear heated seats, and wireless phone charging.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The sole engine is a hypnotic twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V-6 that makes 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. It pairs exclusively with a paddle-shifted eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels.
One version we tested rocketed to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, making it one of the quickest SUVs we’ve ever tested. The most impressive trait of this hot crossover—along with its stunning body—is an ethereal chassis that rides as well as it turns.
A set of standard adaptive dampers allows you to select the firmness of the ride, but only the bumpiest roads diminish the ride quality. Otherwise, the Stelvio QF corners with remarkable poise and rewards the driver with communicative steering feedback.
The sticky performance tires and beefy brakes on our test vehicle helped haul the QF from 70 mph to zero in 157 feet, performance befitting that of a sports car.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is rated at 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. Those numbers are slightly higher than the similarly powerful AMG GLC63 S (15 mpg city/22 highway) and considerably better than the X3 M (15 mpg city/20 highway).
The last Stelvio QF we ran on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route—part of our extensive testing regimen—fell short of expectations with a result of 21 mpg. For more information about the 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Stelvio QF’s interior has some build-quality flaws, but its leather-covered and contrast-stitched surfaces are much improved versus the materials found on the regular Stelvio.
The QF’s supportive front seats, nearly perfect driving position, and enormous column-mounted paddle shifters ensure the driver never feels too far from the racetrack.
It also has many desirable standard features such as 14-way power-adjustable front seats, ambient interior lighting, a heated steering wheel and front-seat cushions, and more.
The 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio has a comfortable back seat, but headroom and interior cubby storage are unremarkable. Still, we managed to fit eight carry-on suitcases behind its back row and another 11 bags with the seats folded.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Every QF includes an 8.8-inch touchscreen that also operates through a handy rotary controller on the center console. Along with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in navigation and a wireless phone charger are standard; a Wi-Fi hotspot is optional.
The infotainment system features crisp graphics, intuitive menus, and a customizable layout. Unfortunately, some of the icons and information are hard to see and some navigation directions were delayed. Audiophiles will appreciate the 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio‘s standard 12-speaker, 900-watt Harman/Kardon audio system.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The Stelvio QF comes with an assortment of standard driver-assistance technology, including automated emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring.
For more information about the 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio‘s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.
Photos
Full Specifications
2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Q4
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE AS TESTED
$94,095 (base price: $82,095)
ENGINE TYPE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port and direct fuel injection
Displacement
176 in3, 2891 cm3
Power
505 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque
443 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): control arms/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 15.4-in vented, cross-drilled ceramic disc/14.2-in vented, cross-drilled ceramic disc
Tires: Pirelli P Zero PZ4, F: 255/45R-20 101Y AR R: 285/40R-20 104Y AR
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 110.9 in
Length: 185.1 in
Width: 77.0 in
Height: 66.3 in
Passenger volume: 89 ft3
Cargo volume: 19 ft3
Curb weight: 4309 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
Rollout, 1 ft: 0.2 sec
60 mph: 3.3 sec
100 mph: 8.5 sec
130 mph: 15.8 sec
150 mph: 23.9 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 4.3 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 2.4 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.0 sec
¼-mile: 11.8 sec @ 116 mph
Top speed (mfr’s claim): 176 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 152 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 305 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.94 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 13 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 21 mpg
Highway range: 350 miles
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 19/17/23 mpg
