Overview
As the market becomes oversaturated with faceless crossovers and silent electric vehicles, the 2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is a necessary evil. Its bodacious looks border on salacious compared with cookie-cutter alternatives, and its 505-hp twin-turbo V-6 makes noises that easily offends bystanders. Its delicate steering wheel is endlessly enjoyable to employ whenever the crossover is dissecting ribbons of road, and its standard all-wheel-drive system helps launch the Italian-bred SUV with malicious intent. Sure, it's about as reliable as a prison snitch and most rivals are more refined. Still, the 2020 Stelvio Quadrifoglio (QF for short) supplies unrivaled passion and derives its performance bloodline from Ferrari.
What's New for 2020?
For 2020, Alfa Romeo improved some of the Stelvio's lackluster interior materials and controls. For example, the shifter is now covered in leather rather than cheap-feeling plastic, and the switchgear on the center console looks and feels nicer. Its infotainment system has also been revised with better software and a new 8.8-inch screen that now responds to touch inputs. The QF's driver assists are more advanced, too. Automated emergency braking with forward-collision warning is newly standard, and there's more semi-autonomous technology.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
- Stelvio Quadrifoglio: $82,040
The 505-hp Stelvio QF costs a almost $12,000 more than the 503-hp BMW X3 M Competition and a few thousand less than the 503-hp Mercedes-AMG GLC63 S coupe. Those unconcerned with Alfa's reliability issues will be rewarded with the best-looking SUV in its class and an added sense of exclusivity. The version we'd choose would forgo the optional Sparco racing seats due their restrictive qualities and lack of heating elements. However, we would add the heated rear seats, panoramic sunroof, carbon-fiber steering wheel, and the Comfort and Convenience with Liftgate package. It brings a 115-volt outlet, acoustic laminated front-door glass that helps make the interior quieter, an adjustable rail system in the cargo area, and a hands-free power liftgate.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The sole engine is a hypnotic twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V-6 that makes 505 horsepower and 443 lb-ft 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 from zero to 60 mph in 3.4 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 EPA estimates the 2020 Stelvio Quadrifoglio will earn 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. Those numbers are slightly higher than the similarly powerful AMG GLC63 S (16 mpg city/22 highway) and considerably better than the X3 M (14 mpg city/19 highway). However, we haven't tested any of these three mighty SUVs on our 200-mile highway fuel-economy route.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The 2020 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 Stelvio 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. It includes standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration; a Wi-Fi hotspot and a wireless phone-charging pad are 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 Stelvio's standard 12-speaker, 900-watt Harman/Kardon audio system.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The 2020 Stelvio Quadrifoglio hasn't been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Still, the compact luxury crossover offers driver-assistance technology such as standard automated emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. Key safety features include:
- Available adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology
- Available lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Available automatic high-beam headlights
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Alfa Romeo's limited and powertrain warranties align with luxury rivals such as Audi and Porsche. However, none of these brands can compete with BMW's lengthy complimentary maintenance period.
- Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for 1 year or 10,000 miles
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