2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio SUV

With Alfa Romeo already having almost perfected the performance-oriented compact SUV to a great extent, they have decided against making any major changes for the 2021 model year apart from the new optional wheel design and few more paint options. This also means that the Stelvio still misses out on a few key features and continues with its compact seating and luggage quarters. Priced at an MSRP of $82,845, the 2021 Stelvio Quadrifoglio competes against the likes of the BMW X5 M50i, Jaguar F-Pace SVR, Mercedes-AMG GLC 63, and the Porsche Macan Turbo. 

The Quadrifoglio is the top-end trim of the Stelvio lineup and hence features almost all of the features that Alfa has to offer in its compact SUV. The adaptive self-leveling HID headlights and polished alloy wheels as standard while the front seats and steering wheels get heating functionality. As standard, there is a leather and Alcantara upholstery on offer and a Harman/Kardon premium audio system.

Apart from all these high-end features lists, Alfa Romeo also offers a few options packages to better spec your Stelvio. For example, the $1,500 Carbon package adds carbon-fiber interior inlays all over the cabin while the $2,200 Active Assist 2 Package adds all the driver assistance features to the mix.

Which trim should you buy?

As there is no trim to choose from, there isn’t really much to recommend. That being said, it is always better to opt for the modern driver aids through the Active Assist 2 Package as it will add a layer of safety for both the driver and the car. 

With only one powertrain on offer, the good people at Alfa Romeo have made sure they provide the Stelvio with only the best. Hence, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is powered by a Ferrari-derived 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine which is basically two cylinders taken off from the Ferrari-sourced V8 engine. It is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission which powers all four wheels as standard. 

The engine might seem smaller in capacity but is rated to produce a shopping 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque which propels this SUV to a blisteringly quick 3.3 second 0-60 mph sprint. The quarter-mile is covered in under 12 seconds while the top speed is claimed to be at 176 mph by the manufacturer. The powertrain offers an exceptional throttle response with a wide and instantly accessible powerband which is only complemented by the smooth and quick-shifting transmission and the pops and crackles from the exhaust. 

There is not much of a difference between the pricing of all these SUVs but almost all of them offer very different engines. While the Porsche Macan Turbo has a very similar small capacity twin-turbo V6 as the Quadrifoglio, it has a lower engine output which makes it a tad bit slower off the mark. The F-Pace SVR features a powerful supercharged V8 with massive power reserves and yet is slower than both the Macan and Stelvio. The X5 M50i on the other hand is the slowest of them all in spite of the huge power and torque output. 

How does the 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio SUV handle?

Alfa Romeo has been known for its athletic chassis and agile handling cars and there is no doubt that there have been no compromises made in this regard in the Stelvio Quadrifoglio as well. The Q4 all-wheel-drive system sends all of its power to the rear wheels on normal days but can send upto 60% of the power to the front when absolutely necessary. The DNA Pro drive mode selector allows the driver to choose between the very docile submissive Advanced Efficiency mode and the track-focused Race mode. 

The Race mode reduces the traction control system involvement and offers more depth in the car’s exhaust note. The steering wheel is very light and precise that makes the car feel quicker than it is, but one does feel the need for heft at higher speeds to provide more confidence. The ride quality is pretty firm and there is no body roll whatsoever. This might be very confidence inspiring at high-speed corners but one sharp bump and the ride quality is disturbed which tosses the occupants inside the car. 

2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Braking Performance

The lower variants of the Stelvio were plagued with a weird feel to its brake pedal which felt inconsistent and overly sensitive at low speeds. Thankfully, that is not the case with the Quadrifoglio as the larger 14.2-inch front and 13.8-inch rear Brembo brakes are more than capable enough to bring this lightweight 4,300 lbs SUV to a complete stop in a braking distance of just 108 feet when panic braking from 60 mph.

The larger dimensions of the BMW X5 M50i affect its braking performance in spite of featuring larger front discs. The Macan Turbo weighs similar to the Alfa Romeo and even features larger brakes all around and yet travels a couple of feet more in the 60-0 mph braking test. The Jaguar on other hand has the largest brakes at all ends and yet has the worst stopping distance in this comparison by a mile. 

The high-performance SUVs are never really a great combination for being the most frugal vehicles due to their heft and large power requirements. That being said, the 2021 Stelvio Quadrifoglio does not do that bad in this section, returning about 19 mpg combined as per the EPA ratings. The 16.9-gallon fuel tank is pretty small though, as compared to its competitors, and hence has a much shorter combined range of only about 300 miles, which means more frequent visits to the gas station.

The Porsche Macan Turbo too has pretty similar fuel economy figures as that of the Quadrifoglio but has a lower highway efficiency rating. But its larger gas tank aids it in offering a much longer driving range. Both the BMW and Jaguar SUVs have very similar fuel economy ratings and almost identical gas tank capacity, hence both also have a driving range very similar to one another, which is much longer than the other two.

The cabin of the Stelvio Quadrifoglio feels as sporty as it gets for an SUV and feels pretty premium to look at as well. The interior design is very attractive with lovely stitching, carbon-fiber interior trims, sporty dials, and a racy steering wheel design. Though there is no compromise made in terms of the materials used, the build quality leaves a bit to be desired. The build quality is not that bad but feels lacking when compared to the premium rivals. 

The seats feel very plush and premium with the leather and Alcantara upholstery being offered as standard. The sport seats are firm and very well-bolstered and offer great support when driving aggressively. The space on offer inside the cabin of the Stelvio is pretty tight though and taller occupants will find legroom limiting even at the front. The rear seat is best suited for younger individuals as most adults would find their knees rubbing against the front seats. There are heated seats and steering wheel, seat memory, and many other cabin functions on offer. 

Being the top-of-the-line model, it also features various elements like a leather-upholstered dashboard and door trims with all-around carbon fiber inlays. One can choose from a wide range of upholstery colors that can also be opted with contrasting stitching. Other sporty touches include a leather-wrapped instrument panel with accent stitching, a steering wheel with perforated leather inserts, genuine carbon-fiber trim, and aluminum sport pedals. For an added cost, one can also opt for the hands-free liftgate and heated rear seats for added convenience.

The luggage space at the rear is also limited to 18.5 cu-ft which can only be extended to a maximum of 56.5 cu-ft by folding down the rear seat. The Macan too offers similar numbers but the BMW X5 offers the best cargo capacity which is marginally better than the Jaguar F-Pace. The Bimmer is also the most spacious for the passengers as the Jaguar’s sophisticated design limits headroom for its occupants, similar to the Porsche Macan. Some of the interior features in the 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio are: 

• 14-Way Power Heated Front seats w/Power 4-Way Driver Lumbar
• 40-20-40 Folding Bench Fold Forward Rear Seat
• Leather & Alcantara Seat Upholstery
• Leather Upholstered Dashboard and Door Trim Insert w/Carbon Fiber inlays
• Tilt/Telescoping Sport Heated Leather Steering Wheel
• Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning w/Rear Ventilation Ducts & Fan Control
• Memory Settings for Driver Seat and Door Mirrors
• Garage Door Transmitter

What’s there to keep you entertained?

Alfa Romeo introduced a rotary dial last year that complements the 8.8-inch touchscreen well. The screen may not be the largest and might not be the most intuitive to use due to its smaller icons, it offers crisp graphics that are very appealing to look at. There are plenty of technologies on offer which include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, satellite, and HD radios, Bluetooth, and voice commands, along with a powerful 900W Harman/Kardon audio system. That being said, it misses out on a Wi-Fi hotspot while the wireless charging pad costs $300 extra. Some of the infotainment features include:

• An 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 15-speaker 900W Harman/Kardon audio system
• Built-in Navigation system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• Bluetooth Wireless Phone Connectivity
• HD Radio
• Voice Activation

There are no changes made this year apart from the new set of 21-inch optional wheels and nobody isn’t complaining as well. The SUV looks striking and sensuous, unlike other crossovers, which makes it stand apart. The Alfa trefoil grille is flanked by stylish bi-xenon projector adaptive headlamps with LED daytime running lights, look stylish, to say the least.

The dual heat extractors on the hood, the quad-exit exhaust outlets, and bespoke rocker panels are the defining factors of the Quadrifoglio over the basic Stelvio. The rear end is pretty similar in terms of design while sporty red brake calipers behind the blacked-out 20-inch wheels look particularly striking. One can also opt for a dual-pane sunroof for an additional $1,350 along with a range of 20-inch and 21-inch wheels

Both the Macan and Stelvio are pretty much similar in terms of exterior dimensions and also are very similar in weight. The BMW X5 is the largest and heaviest of them all and also has a much higher ground clearance than the two. The Jaguar too offers a pretty similar ride height as that of the X5 and is also larger than both the Porsche and Alfa Romeo SUVs. The X5 M50i might have the sporty appeal, but it isn’t even close to being as stylish and appealing as the other three, with the F-Pace having received multiple awards for its design. Some of the exterior features in the 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio are:

• Automatic Projector Beam High-Intensity Low/High Beam Daytime Running Adaptive Self-Leveling Headlamps w/Washer
• LED Brakelights
• Power Liftgate and Lip Spoiler
• Speed Sensitive Rain Detecting Variable Intermittent Wipers w/Heated Jets
• Power Heated Auto Dimming Side Mirrors w/Power Folding and Turn Signal Indicator
• Black Grille w/Metal-Look Surround
• Black Side Windows Trim and Black Rear Window Trim
• 20-inch Bright 5-Hole Alloy Wheels

The high-performance vehicles are usually not crash-tested by the safety testing agencies due to their high-value nature, and since the Stelvio is a low sales volume car, even its base trims haven’t been tested by either the NHTSA or the IIHS. Also apart from the blind-spot monitoring system, not many other active safety features are offered by Alfa Romeo as standard even with the Quadrifoglio. Most of them have to opt separately and the list of those features also include adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, driver attention alert, and a hands-free liftgate. Some of the safety features in the 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio are:

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) And Driveline Traction Control
• Front Collision Mitigation
• Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning-Plus
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Rear Cross Path Detection
• Front And Rear Parking Sensors
• ParkView Back-Up Camera
• Low Tire Pressure Warning

2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio SUV vs BMW X5 M50i

The most practical yet fun-to-drive SUV, the BMW X5 M50i is the perfect combination of being a sporty SUV that does not lose out on the practicality and comfort factors. Although it is no way as quick off the line on the straight line and even at corners, it offers a much more comfortable ride quality. The cabin is much more spacious and offers plenty more creature comforts and technology than the Stelvio. With more standard safety features and not a huge difference in pricing, the BMW makes for a more sensible choice.

2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio SUV vs Jaguar F-Pace SVR

Both the Alfa Stelvio and Jaguar F-Pace are particularly stylish to look at and both have also been known to have a few reliability issues as well. The Quadrifoglio is quicker off the mark, stops quickly, and even has marginally better fuel efficiency. On the other hand, the F-Pace SVR gets a larger gas tank, a feature-loaded cabin that is far more spacious. The ride quality is also more comfortable with the Jaguar and unless the absolute performance is what you seek, the Jaguar is a better alternative.

2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio SUV vs Porsche Macan Turbo

Both the Porsche Macan and Alfa Stelvio are known for their exciting performance and handling with appealing cabin and exterior design language. There is not much to separate between the two in terms of both acceleration and braking performance and their frugality. Both compromises cabin space and have stiff ride quality. Both also offer most of their features and technologies as options, increasing their similarities to a whole nother level. That being said, the Alfa Romeo is no match to the customization possibilities offered by Porsche. 

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is a powerful compact crossover that caters to the enthusiasts SUV buyers and the Quadrifoglio takes it to an extreme extent where no other SUV lies. It has a performance that surpasses many coupes and sedans and can handle like no other SUV. The design is appealing and there are quite a few features on offer to make it more usable on a daily basis. If the harsh ride, limited rear seat and cargo space, and limited standard features do not bother you and absolute outright performance is what you seek, look no further than the 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio.