Alfa Romeo Stelvio vs Porsche Macan: dare to be different

In the performance-oriented compact luxury SUV segment, there are many players across the industry. But how many models really offer the driving experience you'd expect from a car? Very few. 

In fact, the list is very slim. It includes the two protagonists we're comparing here, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and the Porsche Macan.

The second is better known and enjoys a strong reputation. It's not overrated. We'd be lying if we told you that the Porsche Macan isn't a good car. However, it's not alone in offering intoxicating driving pleasure. A certain Stelvio offered by Alfa Romeo has all the tools to stand up to the Porsche Macan, and even beat it in several respects.

The style

In both cases, the designers are to be applauded. The Macan is magnificent, as is the Stelvio. So what's the difference? Porsche styling is highly visible on the road, as the brand has been reproducing it for decades. As a result, you no longer turn your head when you see a Macan, which is a bit insulting when you buy a luxury SUV. 

Let's face it, it's nice to be noticed behind the wheel of your new vehicle. 

With the Stelvio, it's a guarantee. Alfa Romeo's unique style, with its grille in the shape of an inverted triangle, is unique throughout the industry. The Macan is beautiful, but there's no substitute for the Italian design that the Stelvio enjoys.

The Quadrifoglio version

The most powerful variant of the Porsche Macan is the GTS. It's equipped with a 2.9-liter turbo V6, which delivers 434 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque. Excellent, really.

However, with the Stelvio, you can opt for the Quadrifoglio version. The latter also benefits from a 2.9-liter V6 turbo engine, but power is far superior with the Italian representative. The mill offers 505 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque.

The result is that from 0-97 km/h (0-60 mph), the Stelvio takes just 3.3 seconds, while the Macan can do no better than 3.5 seconds. We agree that this is excellent in both cases, but while we're at it, why settle for anything less?

The price

Finally, it's worth looking at the price range of the two models. Without wishing to cast aspersions on Porsche's reputation, it's well known that the bill quickly climbs with options. Alfa Romeo, on the other hand, offers more complete models and options at more reasonable prices. In the end, for similarly equipped models, you'll save a lot by trusting Alfa Romeo.

To analyze all this in detail, a visit with one of our representatives is in order.

In conclusion, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is more distinct in style, more capable in performance, and more competitively priced.

This model is a win-win situation.