Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio - cinch Weekend Wheels

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is a beautifully crafted machine. The Italian firm has done an excellent job of delivering its DNA in the shape of a practical SUV. Its punchy 2.9-liter V6 engine makes it exciting to drive - with a breathtaking (especially for an SUV) 0-62mph time of 3.8 seconds. Beyond its spectacular looks and performance, the interior is spacious, luxurious, and most importantly, practical.

SUVs continue to grow in popularity, yet the Stelvio Quadrifoglio continues to stand out as one of the best high-performance vehicles in its class. In a competitive market, it rivals the likes of the Jaguar F-Pace, Porsche Macan , and the BMW X3, but this Alfa's performance really does put it in a different league. After all, its twin-turbocharged V6 engine was drawn from a Ferrari V8 (the brands used to hail from the same parent company), practically ensuring its exhilarating and tuneful character.

Appropriately, the engine delivers 510hp and a maximum of 600Nm of torque, which is a lot of muscle. It works with an automatic gearbox, which gives you the thrill of flicking through gears via some very tactile shift paddles behind the steering wheel. As far as autos go, this takes the driving experience to a whole new level. (You can check them out in our Alfa Romeo Tonalo video, which uses the same paddles… Teaser alert, they’re really cool!) 

This car is a monster even when you put its immense performance to one side. It gives you plenty of road presence thanks to its swooping lines, large wheel arches and 20-inch (or optional 21-inch) alloy wheels. This blend of beauty and muscle really makes it turn heads.

The Italian flair is also present in the cabin, which feels both premium and sporty. The interior is well built and features plenty of Latin finishing touches. The steering wheel is wrapped in Alcantara leather and carbon fibre which looks stunning alongside the subtle red stitching throughout the car. There’s also a tidy 8.8-inch infotainment system that features Sat-Nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as DAB Radio.

Sold? Us too. This is a machine that offers much more than just getting you from A to B; it'll lure you into picking the longer route home just so you can spend some extra precious minutes behind the wheel, exercising that V6 and clicking those paddles. If you want to get your hands on this Italian beauty, we have one waiting for you in our online showroom for £51,000, or the monthly equivalent.