2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

DISTINCTIVE LOOKS, ABUNDANT POWER

SET STELVIO APART FROM COMPETITORS

With its distinctive Italian styling and lively performance, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio offers an attractive alternative for those shopping in the compact luxury SUV market.

It is especially appealing to those who want to get away from the “cookie-cutter” design that prevails in the very competitive segment dominated in 2022 by Tesla’s Model Y and imports from Germany.

Introduced as a 2018 model, Alfa Romeo has added a couple of new trims for 2023 in limited edition Estrema and Lusso models, but we are dealing here with the 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio that is offered in Sprint, Ti, Veloce, and Quadrifoglio versions. Veloce replaces the discontinued Stelvio Ti Sport that was part of the lineup for the first four years.

The 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, which this review is based on, ups the ante in performance with a twin-turbo 2.6-liter V6 replacing the turbocharged 4-cylinder engine in the other trims, boosting horsepower and torque to 505 hp and 443 pound-feet. Numbers for the 4-banger are a respectable 280/305, respectively.

Zero-to-60 mph times for the V6 are in the sub-4.0 second range, or about twice as quick as those for 4-cylinder models.

All models get an 8-speed automatic transmission with available oversize paddle shifters mounted on the steering column. All-wheel drive is standard on all but the base Sprint trim, which has it as an option to standard rear-wheel drive.

The V6 in the 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is a bit thirstier than the 4-cylinder Stelvio models with EPA figures of 17 miles-per-gallon city, 23 highway, and 19 combined compared to 22/28/24 for AWD 4-cylinder engine. Premium grade fuel is recommended for both engines.

Exterior features on the 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio include unique front and rear fascias, Brembo performance brakes, dual quad exhaust stems, and a 4-leaf clover logo on the side panel that pays homage to Alfa Romeo’s racing heritage. “Quadrifoglio” is Italian for 4-leave clover. A hands-free liftgate also is included.

Standard interior features include heated front and rear seats, 8-way power adjustable front passenger and driver’s seats with 4-way power lumbar support, a carbon fiber steering wheel and carbon fiber trim, and a 14-speaker, Harmon Kardon audio system.

Front-seat passengers get a generous 40.1 inches of legroom, but riders in the second row must make do with almost 10 inches less. Cargo space is only 18.5 cubic feet unless the second-row seats are lowered, then it’s tripled to 56.5 cubic feet.

Among standard tech features are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a wireless charging system. An 8.8-inch display screen includes navigation.

Safety systems include full-speed frontal collision warning, blind-spot and cross-path detection, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control with full stop.

My test 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio also included as options Driver’s Assist Package, dual-panel sunroof, and dynamic dual exhaust. The spectacular green exterior paint came with a price tag of $2200, which if memory serves as the most I’ve ever seen for a special paint in over 20 years of reviews.

All that and the $1,595 destination and delivery fee ran the final price up to $92,790 from the starting MSRP of $84,650.

Other Stelvio trims run from the mid-$40K range to just over $50,000.

What I liked about the 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio AWD: Exterior styling is appealing and distinctive. Performance is top notch. This is an SUV that definitely stands out like Sophia Loren in a room full of Rosie O’Donnell look-alikes. The Verdi (green) Montreal exterior on my test vehicle drew lots of positive attention in my stint.

What I didn’t like about the 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio AWD: Infotainment features have a steep learning curve. The screen itself is on the small side, especially when compared to some of those on competitors. Rear-seat legroom is tight (31.9 inches). Cargo capacity is more in line with full-size sedan instead of typical SUV.

Would I buy the 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio AWD? Love the look, but the Quadrifoglio’s MSRP is at the highest end of a segment filled with lots of quality choices. The Ti trim may be a more dollar-wise choice. It also offers all-wheel drive as standard and at a considerably more competitive price, but the Quadrifoglio packs a bigger punch.