Hey Hoons, your friendly neighborhood car buyer checking in. I’m taking a break from the usual car review programming to update everyone on my latest happenings. When last we spoke, I was selling my 2017 Jaguar F Type R on Cars & Bids. I was also driving a 2023 Wrangler Sahara for a daily driver and got rid of that as well. I began looking for something that was a combination of the two, something that was insanely fun to drive but could haul around some kids and stuff. I won’t bore you with the search details; as usual, I was all over the map. At least I was until I found this.

2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio

This sucker was still new on the Alfa Romeo of Charlotte dealership lot two years later. The best part was that it was offered with a roughly $20,000 discount. I immediately put down a deposit and booked a flight to Charlotte. Yes, I wore a Ferrari F1 shirt to pick it up, don’t @ me bruh.

First Impressions

So far, it’s the best car I’ve ever owned. It’s practical, seating five relatively comfortably with plenty of cargo space for day-to-day stuff. And with a bonkers twin-turbo 2.9L V6 with 505 hp and 443 lb-ft on tap, it’s easily the most entertaining daily driver I’ve ever had. It goes like hell, with a 0-60 time of 3.3 seconds which is actually quicker than the 550 horsepower F Type R. The “DNA” drive selector dramatically affects the car’s behavior via a series of driving modes. Switch the dial to “D” for “Dynamic,” and the exhaust note goes from basic tenor to a tremendous Italian baritone. It gives a nice burble on the upshift and matches the revs nicely on downshifts via the huge paddles. Press the adaptive suspension button in the middle of the dial, which turns off the overly aggressive suspension, and you’ll find a smooth daily driving mode.

It’s got some quirks. The aggressive suspension and summer tire combo mean that there is a bit of a “thunk” at full lock in low-speed tight turns. Plus, I already had my first engine light. The DNA selector stopped working, but it was fixed pretty quickly with a software update. The rearview camera is tiny, only utilizing part of an already small 8.8-inch touchscreen. Still, so far it’s super minor quibbles, I look forward to driving it every time.

Grazie!

I also already decided on a plate, thank you for reading. I’ll let you know how it all goes, as this will be the best or worst car purchase I’ve made.