For as long as he’s been in the public spotlight, Jeremy Clarkson’s long-standing disdain for the letters S, U, and V is a matter of public record. This is a man, after all, who has managed to describe SUVs as “idiotic,” “boring,” and a “complete waste of money” on separate occasions. But just like the time snow actually fell on the Sahara, Clarkson is not above turning some heads with his opinionated commentary. Lo and behold, then, because the SUV Scrooge finally admitted to liking one. Stand up and take the applause then, Alfa Romeo Stelvio. Jezza actually likes you.

The startling revelation on Clarkson’s column in the Driving section of The Sunday Times. Although true to form, Clarkson wasted little time adding another SUV to his “no-thank-you” list by throwing the Audi Q5 under the bus. Clarkson then pivots to the real subject of his column, the Stelvio, and to the shock of everyone, he actually had positive things to say about the Alfa Romeo SUV. He liked the design. He liked the interior. And, most shocking of all, he liked how it performed on the road, even while acknowledging that he was behind the wheel of a diesel version of the SUV. Ultimately, he even went so far as describing the Stelvio as “the only SUV that’s quite tempting,” and adding that the high-powered Stelvio Quadrofoglio “might even be irresistible.” Yup. Hell has frozen over.

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Could the Stelvio be a sign that Jezza’s finally warming up to SUVs?

Not a chance. In fact, don’t even consider it. Clarkson’s disdain for SUVs has deep roots, so there’s no changing the guy’s stripes, especially one who’s as stubborn as Jezza. He’ll forever be a thorn in the side of SUVs, and just because the Stelvio was able to get on his good graces, doesn’t mean that the next crop of SUVs are going to get the same reception. Think of Clarkson how you will, but the man is consistent, even if it is quite funny that he refuses tho clump the Range Rover – probably his favorite car of all time – into the same SUV category despite actually being one of the driving forces that led to the creation of the segment in the first place.

But this isn’t really about Jeremy Clarkson. This is about the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, which has once again found a way to defy the odds and silence the naysayers. It’s a testament to Alfa Romeo that it was able to create a model that’s looking more and more like a game-changing competitor in the ultra-competitive SUV market. Clarkson may be the most prominent individual to send his praises the Stelvio’s way, he’s far from being the only one with good things to say about the SUV.

Auto Express described it as an SUV that has the tools to “finally make Alfa Romeo a credible rival to premium German brands and Jaguar.” Autocar noted that it faces stiff competition from the likes of the Audi Q5, Porsche Macan, and Jaguar F-Pace, but it also noted that the Stelvio “deserves short-listing if it turns out to be as impressive on the road as it is on the track.”

Needless to say, Jeremy Clarkson’s sentiments about the Stelvio aren't exclusive. But to hear it from him makes it that much sweeter for Alfa Romeo. Jezza may still be an SUV antagonist, but even the hardest to please have their soft spots, too, and it just so happened that the Alfa Romeo Stelvio found Clarkson’s.

Read our full review on the Alfa Romeo Stelvio here.