ALFA STELVIO QUADRIFOGLIO

We love the Giulia Quadrifoglio; will Alfa’s hot SUV also win our hearts?

YOU ONLY NEED TO SKIP AHEAD TO ecoty to see how highly we regard Alfa Romeo’s comeback car, the Giulia, and not only in 503bhp Quadrifoglio guise, because the Veloce and Super are pretty special, too. But a D-segment saloon will only take a car maker so far; in the 21st century you need an SUV, and the Stelvio is Alfa’s offering.

This range-topping Stelvio Quadrifoglio is pitched squarely at Porsche’s Macan Turbo. It has the 503bhp 2.9-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 and eight-speed auto gearbox from the Giulia Quadrifoglio, the only change to the drivetrain being the addition of Alfa’s Q4 fourwheel-drive system. In normal mode it’s 100 per cent rear-wheel drive, reacting to sensors monitoring grip and slip levels to determine how much drive needs to be directed to the front, up to a maximum of 50 per cent.

The pumped body boasts short overhangs and a four-square stance emphasised by the discreet extensions to the aluminium wheelarches. The same material is used for the bonnet, doors and tailgate, plus the doublewishbone front and multi-link rear suspension. Its use also explains the Stelvio’s 95kg weight saving over a Macan Turbo.

It’s compact inside, but also well-finished, with hand-stitched leather, carbonfibre and Alcantara covering the standard sport seats – or the excellent carbon-shelled Sparco buckets that are available as an option.

With the Giulia’s mechanicals carried over, it’s little surprise that the Stelvio drives equally well. The V6 responds instantly and above 3000rpm piles on speed relentlessly, the ZF ’box whipping through the gears. That’s if you haven’t chosen to change gear yourself with the exquisite aluminium paddles, which you really should. You should also turn the DNA-PRO dial to Dynamic or Race mode. The former sharpens the throttle and gearchanges, cracks the exhaust up an octave and slackens the ESP; the latter turns everything off and injects a double shot of espresso. In either mode, body control is taut, the steering quick, direct and honest in its feedback, if a little mute when you want to commit.

Cross-country, this Stelvio reacts, drives and rewards more like a 500bhp hot hatch than an SUV. With the nose hooked up, it squats on its rear haunches and drives itself out of a corner with a punch to worry many an M- or AMGbadged car. On a less than perfect surface, the rear Pirelli P Zeros can be forced to relinquish their grip, allowing you to drive harder from the exit with just the right amount of slip to maintain forward momentum.

Criticisms? Those P Zeros can give up the fight if you ask too much of the front axle, scrubbing wide and howling their disapproval, so it pays dividends to be calmer on the way in and use the grip to make up the pace on the way out. Or spec the optional P Zero Corsas.

The rise of the SUV is unstoppable, and, while most are fit for purpose, few are a treat to drive and fewer still offer a genuine thrill. In fact until now there’s only really been Porsche’s Macan GTS. Well, now you can add the Stelvio Quadrifoglio to that (very) short list.