DRIVEN + VIDEO: Move Over Macan, The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio May Have Just Usurped You...

While I will admit it is a bit of an oxymoron to get worked up over how sporty a sport-utility vehicle is, the reality is that auto manufacturers are really pushing the boundaries with their offerings. Take, for example, the BMW X5M, which laps a track just as fast as the E46 M3.

That's impressive!

Now if you're looking for the most sporting SUV it's pretty hard to look beyond the Macan. That's because it is so dialed in. I recall Agent 001's first impression because he described it along these lines: It's not a smaller Cayenne, it's a bigger Cayman. Considering the handling credentials the Cayman boasts, that's a rather huge compliment.

But now the Italians are in the game. After a 2017 where the Giulia got a whole lot of respect — even when it was broken half the time — it seems like 2018 may be the Stelvio's year. Check out this Autocar video review that details this reviewer's experience with this crazy red head.

Having disrupted the sports saloon sector with the brilliant Giulia Quadrifoglio, Alfa Romeo has now turned its attention to the high-performance SUV segment with the Stelvio QV.

With the same 503bhp turbocharged V6 as its four-door stablemate, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio immediately become one of the fastest SUVs on sale. But how does it stack up dynamically? We head to the stunning Jebel Jais mountain road in the United Arab Emirates to find out...

TomM - 1/9/2018 7:23:29 AM

-1 Boost

For a long time - Car Manufacturers - in order to get attention for their vehicles - shoehorned larger and larger engines into smaller and smaller cars - allowing performance - at least in a straight line - that was bragging rights to the owners. The engine size badges were so important that they were DUPLICATED aftermarket (Blackmarket) - as a way to draw attention to the cars involved. ANd some of these cars were nothing more than Drag Racers for street use.

THAT has not changed - as the horsepower wars continue to this day - but with the new requirement that a vehicle must also have the Dynamic of good handling along with the speed. People who buy these cars have no expectation for reliability - and often these cars spend as much down time as they do running. But the cars DO MOVE the marketplace - and since the engines are likely already developed for larger cars or trucks - this was a "cheap fix" for manufacturers. ANd yes - today - they have moved beyond this to produce engines that would have only appeared in race cars 50 years ago - but still - this is the dream of every Drag Racer born near Englishtown NJ - as well as those around the country.

Once upon a time -WE created out own engines - part by part - built special versions of various transmissions - used different gear ratios in the rears - and put together the cars ourselves. ANd the competition was at the part suppliers level - where a a new intake manifold could be the difference between winning and losing. THe wrenches ruled the sport. Today - on the road - with all of the electronic controls - it is not really possible for the poor man to do this to their own car. Still there are some things you can do - and the fun is still there. Long Live it!

MDarringer - 1/9/2018 8:03:19 AM

-5 Boost

Alfa has indeed disrupted--with laughter--the the sports saloon sector with the brilliant (sic) Giulia Quadrifoglio. Cue the fanboys who will spew saying their Giulia has no problems--which obviously proves that the car is a reliability icon. I usually say "lease but don't buy" but with AlfA Romeo, do you even want to be stuck in a lease?

MDarringer - 1/9/2018 8:46:38 AM

-2 Boost

@fiftysix It's "you're" not "your". Stay in school an stay off the crack pipe.

trboaccord - 1/9/2018 8:08:09 AM

-3 Boost

The first problem I see here is an Alfa is more reliable than a Porsche or BMW? Since when did the world become flat? Alfa is a chrysler parts bin hermaphrodite just take a peek inside one its awful

MDarringer - 1/9/2018 8:19:28 AM

-3 Boost

Uh Oh! new you've done it. That had to have triggered the fanboys.

Foncool - 1/9/2018 8:51:44 AM

+4 Boost

This has been taking place forever not only in the auto industry but other industries as well, (electronics). It is not cost effective for a small manufacturer to have proprietary parts built. Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley Bugatti all raid the VW parts bin, rolls Royce likewise with BMW.

knowitall1985 - 1/9/2018 10:12:02 AM

-2 Boost

total junk!!

CarCrazedinCali - 1/9/2018 2:01:40 PM

0 Boost

Neat, but the craftsmanship still varies WIDELY between the two marks... I drove the Giulia and foglio version too just after they launched and was impressed.... that impression since faded after looking at them some more. I have always thought Chrysler knew how to put together a shiny package, but not so sure about quality or durability.

trboaccord - 1/9/2018 3:06:51 PM

0 Boost

I see the fanboys dont dare comment but will just vote funny how that works considering they know there is no defense for Alfa as they are building a trash product wrapped in a fancy wrapper

MDarringer - 1/9/2018 6:42:30 PM

0 Boost

you nailed it

cidflekken - 1/10/2018 2:15:29 AM

+4 Boost

No Alfa Romeo product should be eligible for any "best" list, whether in a 1:1 comparison, a "best list", or "...of the year" list. Yes, I'm sure they drive like large Ferraris but the absolute horrendous reliability issues they've faced AT PREMIERE of the Giulia (not sure about the Stelvio) cannot and should not be excused. That's irresponsible "journalism" to recommend such an unreliable product and not make the buying public fully aware. I mean, it's one thing if a lot of these problems happened at 10k or 20k miles, but AT INTRODUCTION????