Wanna ride shotgun with the GRM crew?
Welcome to the other test vehicle for this week, the 2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio AWD.
Whereas the rest of the Stelvio lineup gets a turbocharged inline-four good for 280 horsepower and 306 lb.-ft. of torque, the Quadrifoglio gets one additiona…
This is one of the few SUV's I'd happily fork over the cash for if I could afford it, even though I'm sure it would break me mentally, spiritually and financially. I just think it's sexier than E36 M3..
The green is quite striking in person.
06HHR (Forum Supporter) said:This is one of the few SUV's I'd happily fork over the cash for if I could afford it, even though I'm sure it would break me mentally, spiritually and financially. I just think it's sexier than E36 M3..
Same here. I'd have one in the driveway if I could afford and while also affording a second car as backup when the Alfa's in the shop.
-Rob
J.A. Ackley said:The green is quite striking in person.
That green is one of the choices Mazda needs to offer on the Miata..........just saying.
I was next to one of these in traffic recently. It didn't sound nearly as good under hard acceleration as I expected. What do you guys think of the exhaust note?
dyintorace said:I was next to one of these in traffic recently. It didn't sound nearly as good under hard acceleration as I expected. What do you guys think of the exhaust note?
Driving impressions to come soon! (The car just got here.)
500hp SUV, you say?
How much is it rated to tow?
Orlando and back today, so one hour in each direction.
My big question: Should a nearly $100,000 vehicle have this much wind noise? I’d call it objectionable. The noise seems to start right around 55 mph.
FJ40Jim said:500hp SUV, you say?
How much is it rated to tow?
It’s rated to tow 3000 pounds.
David S. Wallens said:Orlando and back today, so one hour in each direction.
My big question: Should a nearly $100,000 vehicle have this much wind noise? I’d call it objectionable. The noise seems to start right around 55 mph.
So Italian cars are still... Italian?
Sticker price on ours is $92,790. I’d expect a bit more.
I put some more miles on the Stelvio during the long weekend:
If it’s not in the sport mode, it’s a bit meh–slow to downshift, boring exhaust note, etc. The knob on the console unlocks its personality, but you gotta twist it every time you get into it.
Why does it need those giant paddle shifters? Is the typical owner really headed to the Nürburgring? (Come on, let’s be honest here.)
Not only are those paddles comically big, but they’re kind of in the way–the backs of my fingers graze them while making turns. Is that the worst thing ever? Maybe not, but a nearly six-figure vehicle shouldn’t bug me.
Wind noise is still present. My wife thinks it’s coming from the passenger widow. To me, it sounds like it’s emitting from the top-center of the windshield. But since she was the one sitting in the passenger seat, I’m thinking she might be the right one here. Either way, it’s too loud for this price point. Way too loud.
Those seat bolsters are big. Good once you’re in, but you definitely have to plan your entrance accordingly.
No head-up display? Should a vehicle at this price point have one?
And that green, yes, it gets comments. No issues finding the car in a parking lot.
One guy smoking a cigarette on a motorized bicycle was like, ”So, that’s like a bright green, huh?“
Yep, it’s much like a bright green.
Are the front doors as uncomfortably short as the ones on the sedan? A friend has a Sedan and it's actually not easy to get into because the door opening simply isn't long. The B pillar is a good 4-6" in front of the seat back when I have the seat adjusted to my height.
Love that green. And forgot that the Prius came in teal. Wish more cars came in non-grayscale colors.
How touchy are the drive-by-wire brakes?
In reply to nocones :
The front doors seemed appropriate to me, but the trailing edge of the rears jut out a bit. (The relationship between the door handle and the edge of the door itself is a bit close.)
In reply to zoomies :
Brakes feel fine to me. I’m headed back to Orlando later today, so more impressions to come.
Questions? LMK before I send off.
Stopped for dinner on the way home this evening.
Got an interesting comment while gassing up: “Nice car, young fella.”
Just a few hours earlier, someone asked if I was retired.
A few more takes:
No matter the suspension setting, the ride is a bit harsh. I’m thinking a little more sidewall would help.
Doesn’t drive big at all. A good size for in-town driving.
The color continues to get so much attention.
Actual knobs for radio volume and HVAC are very much appreciated.
The transmission seems slow to downshift until you really need it. When you stomp on the gas, it does wake up in a big hurry.
Makes me want to drive 100 miles to my nearest Waffle House.
How did folks react to the brand? I feel like half of the US is clueless about Alfa Romeo and the other half makes jabs about their reliability
And... do you think the 500 horses make up for all the downsides? I've heard the QV is such an experience that it would win over more folks if they chose to test drive it versus the usual suspects (M, AMG, etc.)
In reply to zoomies :
Much more response to the color than the brand, but someone at a gas station did ask who made it.
“Alfa Romeo,” I said.
“Who? I’ll send a photo to my son. He’ll know.”
In reply to zoomies :
And just for you. And, yes, it was yummy.
I really lusted after a Giulia QV when they shoed them at the NAIAS with manuals and a little less so after finding out we would not get it in the US. About 2 years ago a guy at work, who goes through cars like socks, bought a used one with a CPO warranty. My want quickly evaporated when he said the serpentine belt needed changed every 30 or 40 thousand miles and that basically the whole front of the car has to come off to do it. This guy had built a 700 WHP CTS-V in his garage, so is not afraid to get his hands dirty, but dumped the Alfa as soon as the warranty was up.
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