Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio 2025 Review: Grand Tour of Belgian Forests • Castles • Racing Circuits • Fine Dining

Following two epic journeys with the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio – first in summer 2024 with the Dolomites as the destination, crossing through Europe in a fantastic summer setting, and then again towards the Alps for a spring break skiing trip earlier this year in March – your correspondent, and his loyal co-pilot also known as Luigi P, got a big spring in their step when asked to venture on a journey to the beautiful forestry region of the Ardennes, with its endless rolling hills, rivers, and tarmac which grips like no other in Europe.

Situated primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, extending into Germany and France, the Ardennes region is ideal for hiking, kayaking, cycling, and nature retreats. Often called the Belgian version of Burgundy, it offers thick, ancient forests, deep valleys, rocky terrain, rolling hills, and ridges, along with a rich military history – both in World Wars I and II, including the famous Battle of the Bulge.

Famous for its wildlife, including wild boar, deer, and numerous bird species, the region also boasts streams and lakes perfect for kayaking and a broad variety of other water sports. Its medieval castles, citadels, and folkloric settings provide a wealth of history, making the Ardennes a worthy destination for a road trip.

But let’s not forget the ultimate mission: test drive the latest Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio.

Some cars are tested with numbers. Others, on the open road. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio has built its legacy in the second camp: a machine built not just for performance, but for journeys. To discover if it still carries Alfa’s spark in 2025, we packed our bags in London and set off east — towards Belgium — visiting Flanders and the Ardennes. The trip would become as much about history, nature, and endless forests as it was about driving. And the ultimate cherry on the cake: take the Stelvio QF to the two legendary circuits in the region: Spa Francorchamps and the Nürburgring.

London Before Dawn: Setting Off in Silence

At five in the morning, London was quiet, the streets empty and cool. Ahead stretched ten days, four countries, and countless roads — from lakeside villages to medieval castles, from dense forests to the roar of famous race circuits. Our destination was the Nürburgring, but the true adventure would be everything in between. The Stelvio waited, headlights cutting through the early haze. London slipped away behind us, the hum of the engine promising more as the horizon widened. There was excitement in the unknown, and a sense that the journey itself would define the car as much as the roads.

Over the White Cliffs: Ferry Rituals and First Miles in France

The drive to Dover offered the first taste of freedom. Cruising along quiet roads, the Stelvio felt ready to stretch its legs. Boarding the ferry, we joined the shuffle of cars below deck while passengers hurried upstairs for breakfast. Fashionably late, we waited forty minutes in line before rewarding ourselves with a full English. Once in Calais, the sun rose higher and the Stelvio seemed to awaken. On wide French roads, switching into Dynamic mode sharpened the throttle, the steering became taut, and the car surged forward eagerly. It wasn’t about speed — it was about feeling alive as the landscape opened before us.

Belgian Welcome: Mussels in Flanders and Golden Guildhalls in Brussels

The famous Flanders region greeted us with still waters at the Donkmeer lake in East Flanders, a place reclaimed from marshland centuries ago. Walking its shores grounded us before the journey ahead.

The Stelvio’s agility made navigating narrow village lanes a joy, quick and responsive despite its size. That evening, we gathered for steaming pots of mussels with garlic and white wine, crusty bread mopping up every last drop — a meal earned after a long day.

Brussels followed, its cobblestone streets testing visibility and handling. In the Grande Place, golden guildhalls glittered like theatre scenery, the Stelvio quietly parked nearby — modern metal in a city steeped in history. And let’s not forget the most famous boy statue in Europe – Manneken Pis – the legend of a little boy who saved the city by peeing on a burning fuse of a bomb placed near the city walls.

A Week in the Ardennes: Castles, Forests and Fairy-Tale Villages

The Ardennes became our base for ten unforgettable days. Each morning began with a ritual: boots, bikes, and baskets loaded into the back of the Stelvio before setting out. Its practicality proved itself daily, carrying everything we needed, while its confidence on winding roads made travel a pleasure.

The first days were dedicated to history. In Durbuy — proudly called the smallest city in the world — we wandered cobbled alleys, ivy-draped houses, and quaint cafés. From there, we explored neighbouring La Roche-en-Ardenne, climbing medieval castle ruins to gaze down at the river Ourthe. The Stelvio, parked below, stood in vivid contrast to the grey stone, a modern companion in an ancient landscape.

Cycling, Hiking, and Hidden Lakes: A Ten-Day Adventure

Adventure took over much of our stay. Over ten days, we spread activities across the region:

• Mountain biking: 50 kilometres of climbs and descents through dense forests, discovering hidden lakes and streams;

• Hiking: long walks along rivers and woodland paths, sunlight streaming through the canopy, broken only by the sounds of rushing water;

• Exploration: neighbouring villages and medieval towers, each with stories of resilience and centuries of history.

Returning to the Stelvio each day felt like stepping into a sanctuary. Seats soothed tired muscles, climate control cleared forest humidity, and its grip on twisty roads made the drive back feel like an extension of the adventure, not a chore.

Motorsport Pilgrimage: Watching the Action at Spa-Francorchamps

Midway through our Ardennes stay, we turned to motorsport. A visit to Spa-Francorchamps brought goosebumps: cars thundering up Eau Rouge and over Raidillon, sound echoing through the forested hills. We hadn’t come to drive the Stelvio on track; it was there to carry us, steady and reliable, while still reminding us of Alfa Romeo’s racing soul. Watching the spectacle, the car felt part of the story simply by being present.

The Nürburgring Nordschleife: Arriving at the Green Hell (Not Racing It)

Later, we crossed into Germany. The autobahn gave the Stelvio space to stretch, cruising smoothly and confidently – with quite a few occasions where the Italian stallion put the German muscle cars to shame. By afternoon, we arrived at the Nürburgring. The Nordschleife — the Green Hell — is a place of legend. We didn’t drive it this time; we watched as Porsches, BMW M cars, and lightweight specials hurled through the bends. The Stelvio waited nearby, unassuming but proud. Sometimes, to belong, you don’t have to race — you simply have to arrive.

A Farewell in the Sky: Hot-Air Balloons and the Journey Home

On the final morning in the Ardennes, hot-air balloons drifted above misty valleys, silent and surreal. It was a perfect farewell: part dream, part adventure. The journey home was reflective. The Stelvio carried us through Belgium and France with quiet confidence, its comfort and space reminding us how seamlessly it had supported ten days of castles, forests, rivers, and race tracks. By the time the white cliffs of Dover appeared, it had proven itself not through statistics, but through the experiences it made possible.

Reflections: Stelvio vs Giulia Quadrifoglio

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio boasts a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 with approximately 505bhp driving an all-wheel-drive system. This results in enhanced agility and sharper steering – making it a far more nimble and fun SUV to drive compared to the vast majority of its peers. The powerplant is considerably more joyous than most performance SUVs. It is one of the quickest SUVs we have tested and behaves like a true performance car. Beyond that, it brings personality, drama, and uniqueness.

The Stelvio comes well-equipped with performance hardware, including adaptive dampers, big brakes, and AWD. Its cockpit is more about engagement than blandness: good driving position, strong steering feedback – reflected in the Stelvio’s dynamic character.

Some quirks add character: the suspension prefers a smooth runway to a cobbled medieval village, turning a bumpy backroad into a polite reminder that you’re driving something Italian. Rear visibility? Let’s just say the Stelvio trusts its sensors more than your own eyes — and they rarely let you down. The sound system, meanwhile, is more background ambience than concert-hall grandeur — perfect for contemplating the view rather than headbanging to the radio. After all, this is a road trip for forests, castles, and circuits, not a battle of bass.

Having previously toured Europe in the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, the contrast is clear. The Giulia QF is a sharper performer — lighter, less prone to understeer, sharper in every corner, and comes alive with the infamous Racing DNA mode.

These minor flaws aside, Alfa Romeo has achieved something rare in an SUV: a car with character, charm, reliability, and above all, a heart. The Stelvio is different. It trades some raw precision for versatility: higher seating, all-wheel drive, and space to carry bikes, luggage, and all the gear needed for ten days of adventure. A family car with a superpower under the bonnet.

Yet the essence is the same. Both cars turn journeys into adventures: the Giulia through adrenaline and performance, the Stelvio through freedom, exploration, and soul. From fairy-tale Durbuy to the roaring circuits of Spa and the Nürburgring, the Stelvio was our essential companion and trustworthy steed.

https://www.alfaromeo.co.uk/models/quadrifoglio/s…