Motoring Review Alfa Romeo Stelvio

Alfa Romeo's Stelvio is a giant salivating, ravenous beast - and with the Quadrifoglio treatment, it's even more of a snarler.

Generally, Alfas don't have quite the same build quality as the predictable German suspects, but the Italian brand drives as well as any BMW, Mercedes-Benz or Audi.

The Quadrifoglio, or QV as we often abbreviate the name to in the UK, is like BMW's M, Audi's RS or Mercedes' AMG. The green cloverleaf badge signifies blistering clout and rapidity - as well as quite a few stops at the petrol pumps.

Of course, if you're a petrolhead at heart, you won't care much about efficiency. Instead,

you'll be beaming about the 510ps mass under the bonnet that enables this SUV to get from 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds. Yes, you read that correctly - this Stelvio will do the benchmark gallop in sub-four seconds. Drive it somewhere without speed limits, like a disused airfield or a racetrack, and you'll feel like you're about to take off. Why? Because the Stelvio QV can reach an eye-watering, brain liquifying 176mph.

The beefy set-of-wheels is also able to swap between driving styles – from, for example, “Efficiency” to “Race” - and it can be comfortable, too. This isn’t always the case when it comes to athletic, big-wheeled high-riders.

A 2.9-litre V6 turbocharged petrol engine propels the SUV - and this is joined up to a

A 2.9-litre V6 turbocharged petrol engine propels the SUV

reassuringly grippy four-wheel-drive system. The Stelvio QV is practical as well - with room in the cabin for five people and a boot offering 525 litres of cargo space.

Sure, some of the car’s interior isn't glued together brilliantly, but behind the wheel of such a monstrous motor, you'll, doubtless, be concentrating on the road – and avoiding speed cameras too much to let that get to you.

PROS' N' CONS

• Awesome performance ✔ • Great fun ✔ • Be prepared to fork out at the pumps ✖ • Interior fit and finish ✖

FAST FACTS - ALFA ROMEO STELVIO 2.9 TURBO PETROL QUADRIFOGLIO - AS TESTED:

• Max speed: 176 mph • 0-62 mph: 3.8 secs • Combined mpg: 28.8 • Engine layout: 2891cc six-cylinder (V6) petrol turbo • Max. power (PS): 510 • CO2: 222 g/km • Price: £70,900