With summer fast approaching, the thought of securing some form of refreshing sports car that'll allow you to make the most of the stunning weather and the bone-dry twisty driving roads beckoning you to take them on could well be manifesting. With a stiff $35,000 budget ready to be put down on your dream performance weapon, you suddenly remember that you have a family and their luggage to ferry around, too. While this may push the sports car dream to the side for a while, this doesn't mean you have to compromise on performance.Alfa Romeo's commanding Stelvio Quadrafoglio presents the best of both worlds; a comfortable and practical SUV that boasts the sort of pace that'll get most $35k sports cars looking over their shoulder. And all this for your original $35k budget. Nope, this isn't a simulation. The Stelvio QV Has Plummetted In Value Since It Was New Alfa Romeo Like most luxury SUVs that come with price tags approaching the $100,000 mark, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio has been ravaged by depreciation since it first arrived in the US back in 2018. That's not a reflection on the standing of the vehicle, as the Stelvio QV has received widespread acclaim for its engaging powerplant and handling balance that has the tendency of making you forget you're traveling in a high-riding SUV. These kinds of cars lose their value so much due to their rich owners eventually trading them in after a few years to get their hands on a brand-new machine, with others with similar budgets doing the same.As a result, values for high-end luxury vehicles have to drop to the point where buyers with more restrictive bank accounts can afford to buy and then run them. This scenario is perfectly illustrated by the Stelvio QV, the range-topping variant of Alfa's compact luxury crossover. Earlier 2019 editions of the car have an average value of around $35k in 2026, a cost just a fraction of what it retailed for. Older Stelvio QVs Are Worth Less Than Half Their MSRP Alfa Romeo This is a pretty drastic drop in value, given the model retailed for $80,245 back in 2019. This 56.3% decrease in just seven years means that those who can only dream of dropping north of $80k on a car can now have one in excellent condition, and with decent mileage on the clock, for a much more realistic budget. The Stelvio QV is one hell of a car for the money, especially when you bear in mind the kind of on-road performance it's capable of. Alfa's Sporty SUV Handles Like A Sports Car Alfa Romeo The secret to the Stelvio QV is its fantastic chassis setup, which affords it the kind of handling balance a focused sports car would be proud of. Alfa's engineers worked hard to make enthusiastic drivers feel right at home behind the wheel of the Stelvio QV, and it all starts with its independent front and rear suspension setup, which works alongside an advanced adaptive damping system to keep the high-riding family bus nice and flat under heavy cornering. This works alongside an excellent steering setup that is not only lightning quick, but also provides a fantastic feel for where the wheels are, enhancing driver confidence and engagement in one fell swoop.The Stelvio QV also boasts a limited-slip differential that features torque vectoring capability, which ensures you can jump on the power to maximize your corner exit without the car scrabbling toward understeer. Not that it struggles for traction in any case, given its Q4 all-wheel drive system. It also has a near 50/50 weight distribution, which is a key factor for its pointy on-road behavior. All these elements combine to provide razor-sharp handling that makes your brain forget you're piloting a 4,300-pound family SUV. It Also Flies When You Get The Throttle Pinned Alfa Romeo The Stelvio's awesome handling is only one part of the equation, as its twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 is also a honey. It churns out 505 horsepower, which rockets it to 60 mph in a blazing 3.6 seconds. You'll struggle to find many $35k sports cars that'll be able to match that number. The smooth V6's grunt is channeled to the wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, which provides effortlessly quick gear changes that further feed into the illusion that you're in a purpose-built track monster. The Stelvio Delivers In Terms Of Luxury, But It's Not The Most Comfortable Upmarket SUV Jared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet It's not only in terms of outright performance that the Stelvio gets the job done, as its cabin matches its exterior when it comes to Italian style. Supportive heated and electric Alcantara bucket seats are the centerpiece, while a leather-wrapped dash and carbon-fiber trim pieces straddle the line between fine luxury and sportiness. It also comes with a range of standard features, such as a Harman Kardon audio system, dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, while a powered liftgate acts as the cherry on the cake. Keep your eyes peeled on the used market, and you may find examples equipped with options like a dual-plane sunroof and heated rear seats.The posh Alfa does fall slightly when it comes to ultimate ride comfort as a result of its performance-focused suspension setup, even when the softest setting is selected. It's by no means horrendous, but it lacks the suppleness of other high-end luxury SUVs on the market.The QV is undoubtedly aimed at those who want a hardcore performance sports car on their driveway, but can't justify taking delivery of one due to needing a more practical vehicle. There are more comfortable luxury crossovers than the Stelvio residing in the wild, but you'll struggle to find one that makes you feel as alive on a quiet back road as this Italian charmer. The Stelvio's Sedan Sibling Is Even More Fun To Drive Alfa Romeo Should you not feel the need for a larger SUV-style vehicle such as the Stelvio, but still need a practical four-door sedan-style vehicle with decent trunk space, then its Giulia QV cousin could be the ideal alternative. The two models are built on the same FCA Giorgio platform, and utilize an identical twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6. The Giulia also has the same adaptive damping suspension and torque-vectoring rear diff as the Stelvio, even if the sedan sends its grunt to the rear wheels only. While this reduces peak traction, it at least allows you more tail-out action.The Giulia is even more agile and responsive though, primarily due to its significantly lighter 3,806-pound frame. Plus, its lower-slung design ensures it has a lessened center of gravity, which reduces body roll and allows the tires to work more effectively in their quest to grip the road as tightly as possible. That said, the lack of AWD means it gets to 60 mph a little slower than the Stelvio, despite being considerably lighter.The Giulia QV has held its value a bit better than its larger counterpart, with the average cost for a similarly-aged 2019 example sitting around the $40k mark, even though it retailed for around $5k less when it was shiny and new. Ultimately, whichever of these two rapid Italian family-friendly options you choose, it's doubtful you'll feel too wistful about missing out on a sports car for the same money. Especially as you watch most similarly-priced options get ever smaller in your rearview mirror.Sources: Alfa Romeo.