The 2022 Stelvio Quadrifoglio will get no major changes and the SUV is itself a high-performance trim level of the regular Stelvio SUV. Alfa Romeo has not yet made the exact list of features official but with the revised features list we expect it to get some new features atop the existing ones. Some of the standout features offered by the outgoing Stelvio Quadrifoglio SUV are carbon-fiber interior trim, heated front seats, a sports steering wheel with paddle shifters mounted in the column, and a torque-vectoring rear differential. Some optional features include a household-type power outlet, heated second-row seats, and an adjustable cargo rail tie-down system.

Which trim should you buy?

There are no trims to choose from since the Quadrifoglio is itself a trim level. We would suggest you opt for the Active Assists 1 and the Premium Package for a better experience since the SUV lacks some basic safety and interior features that are bundled within the above-mentioned packages.

The 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio will retain the previous year’s powertrain hence the power figures and the performance levels quill be similar as well.

The powertrain is a 2.9 L 690T twin-turbo V6 motor and the best part is, it is made by none other than Ferrari. We wish Alfa Romeo fitted a V8 under the hood of the SUV but a chopped-up V6 is what we get. The powertrain itself is a brilliant unit and dishes out a healthy 505 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of maximum torque. The motor is mated to an 8-speed ZF 8HP75

 automatic transmission that handles all the power from the engine very efficiently. 

*2021 data taken for reference

The sporty BMW X5 M50i houses a much bigger 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 and has significantly more power figures than the Stelvio Quadrifoglio but its acceleration times say otherwise. The F-Pace comes with the beefiest motor of all, a supercharged 5.0-liter V8, and manages to clock a sub-4-second 0-60mph time but still fails to beat the Stelvio. The Porsche Macan Turbo is just about at par with the rivals here with more or less similar power and performance figures on tap.

How well does the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio handle?

Phenomenal and exhilarating are the words to perfectly sum up the handling of the Stelvio Quadrifoglio. It takes corners like no other SUV in the class and will make you forget that you’re piloting a luxury utility vehicle.

The vehicle gets adaptive suspension to dial up the handling and the different drive modes also help to alter the throttle response and the shift timings. There is also a strut bar installed and it contributes significantly to the handling of the SUV.

Braking performance

High-performance SUVs do require a set of very capable brakes to tame all the power and heft of the vehicle and the Stelvio Quadrifoglio gets them too.

The SUV is fitted with high-performance brakes both at the front and rear with six-piston calipers and four-piston calipers respectively. The brakes are very sensitive and at low speeds, the slightest of input will almost fully engage the brakes, making the SUV yank unnecessarily. But at high speeds, the performance is simply phenomenal and the SUV halts from 60mph within 108 ft.

*2021 data taken for reference

Compared to the Stelvio, the X5 M50i doesn’t live up to its sporty nature and has a stopping distance of 118 ft despite housing a bigger set of brakes than the former. The Jaguar F-Pace SVR comes with the biggest brakes and its performance data is not known yet but we expect it to be quite decent. The Porsche Macan trails behind the Stelvio closely with an impressive braking distance of 110 ft.

Fuel economy is not really a term that gels well with an SUV housing a Ferrari-derived twin-turbo V6 spitting out over 500 horsepower. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio returns a measly 17mpg within the city, 23mpg out on the highways, and combined mileage of 18mpg. The point of concern is its smaller-than-average gas tank holding about 16.9 gallons of fuel, offering a sub-400 mile of combined driving range.

*2021 data taken for reference

Both the Jaguar F-Pace SVR and the BMW X5 M50i has similar fuel economy figures and almost identical driving ranges. The Porsche Macan takes advantage of its small powertrain and returns similar fuel economy ratings to the Quadrifoglio but offers more driving range than the latter owing to its bigger gas tank.

It may come as a surprise but the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio’s cabin is more comfortable and practical than you’d expect. The dashboard design is modern with all the controls easily accessible from the driver’s seat. The dashboard is nicely covered in soft leather with contrasting red stitching all around. The same treatment is found on the center console as well.

The front seats feature 14-way power adjustability along with lumbar support with excellent bolstering as well. The headroom at the rear seats might be less for taller passengers and the all-black interior theme might make the rear seating area a bit claustrophobic. However, there is a sunroof to help that situation. The cargo capacity is decent too and the rear seats can be folded completely to further increase the cargo capacity.

*2021 data taken for reference

The BMW X5 M50i is almost as practical as the regular X5 with the same practical and comfortable cabin and a huge trunk. The F-Pace SVR falls short in terms of interior dimensions but offers a generous cargo space nonetheless. The Porsche Macan’s interior dimensions are not known but it is as comfortable as the rest of the rivals here but offers the least cargo capacity.

Some interior features include:

• Tilt & telescopic multi-function leather heated steering wheel with paddle shifters
• 14-way power-adjustable leather and suede front seats
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Carbon fiber center console, dash, and door trim
• Aluminum foot pedals

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio will come with the same infotainment system as the previous year’s model. The system features an 8.8-inch touchscreen display placed right in the middle of the dashboard.

The display is vibrant and the user interface is smooth to use with an uncluttered menu layout. It offers most of the modern connectivity features and navigation as well. The optional 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system is a treat to the ears and offers a true surround sound experience.

Some highlighted infotainment features are:

• Integrated wireless charging
• 8.8-inch touchscreen display
• 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system(optional)
• SiriusXM and HD radio
• Bluetooth streaming
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 3-D Navigation

In a word, yes, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio has enough appeal to attract the right set of buyers who can look past the awkward yet iconic Alfa Romeo’s front grille design. The SUV gets the brand’s “POETRY IN MOTION AND IN PARK” design language that gives a distinctive character to this Italian performance machine. Apart from the aggressive front fascia, there are no sharp design cues all around the body shell and the rear fascia looks quite sporty too with the chrome-tipped quad exhaust pipes. The ground clearance is decent at 7.9-inches and the SUV can scale some challenging terrains with ease.

*2021 data taken for reference

The BMW X5 M50i is the longest one here while the F-Pace SVR is the widest one and both the SUVs do come with excellent ground clearance as well. The Porsche Macan has the shortest wheelbase followed by the Stelvio. The most aggressive-looking vehicle here is the Stelvio while the Macan Turbo has the smoothest design aesthetics.

Some exterior features are:

• HID LED headlights 
• Power-folding, auto-dimming exterior mirrors
• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Chrome quad exhaust tips
• Black grille with chrome surrounds
• Black window trim

The high price tag of the Stelvio prohibits it from getting crash-tested by the NHTSA or the IIHS. Despite that, the SUV is built on the FCA Giorgio Platform which utilizes a high-strength structure to offer exceptional safety. Apart from the build quality, the SUV gets a host of active safety features such as eight airbags, Blind-Spot Monitoring, Automatic Emergency Braking, and Adaptive Cruise Control among other features.

Some standout safety features:

• Forward collision mitigation
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Lane Departure Warning
• Blind-Spot Monitoring
• Cross-Path Detection
• Front & Rear Parking Sensors
• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Lane Keep Assist
• Rearview Camera

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio vs BMW X5 M50i

The X5 M50i is the saner version of the mad X5 M SUVand it holds up quite well in front of the Stelvio. But the handling of the X5 is nowhere near to what the Stelvio offers and lacks behind in terms of acceleration times as well.

The interior is more practical and the ride is more comfortable in the M50i though, making it a more suitable high-performance daily driver.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio vs Jaguar F-Pace SVR

The F-Pace SVR is what you’d call fine British engineering but it struggles to keep up with the Stelvio Quadrifoglio if we compare them from the performance and handling aspect.

The SVR is more comfortable and practical than the Stelvio though but has a poor fuel economy. It makes up for it with its sizable gas tank to offer a decent driving range and this is the point where the Stelvio loses big time.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio vs Porsche Macan Turbo

The only worthy competitor of the Stelvio Quadrifoglio in the class is the Macan Turbo. It is nimble and quick, can keep up with the Stelvio around the corners, and can accelerate as fast as the latter too. On the practicality aspect though, it falls short in front of the Stelvio with lower-than-average boot space.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio will appeal to those seeking a high-performance SUV which can take corners almost like a sports sedan. It has an appealing design, plenty of interior features, a practical trunk, and decent ground clearance with the brand’s Q4 AWD system. It lacks in some areas such as ride quality and overall reliability. Overall, if you want an SUV purely for the thrill of driving fast alone, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is the one to go for.