Prior to the introduction of the compact-sized Tonale, the rear-biased Stelvio was the bread and butter of Italian automaker Alfa Romeo. In terms of deliveries in the United States market, how big of a difference is there between the Stelvio and its platform sibling?
In the first three quarters of 2023, the Giulia sold 2,694 units compared to 4,032 for the crossover-bodied alternative. For the entirety of 2022, the numbers are 5,092 versus 7,752 deliveries. One year prior, FCA US LLC reported 7,634 versus 10,539.
One of the sharpest crossovers in the segment, the Stelvio doesn't get any sharper than the Quadrifoglio. Powered by a twin-turbo V6 with Ferrari know-how, the hi-po version produces 510 ps and 600 Nm in European specification, or 505 hp and 443 pound-feet in the United States of America. These figures apply to the Giulia Quadrifoglio as well, but there's a catch.
The Stelvio Quadrifoglio is all-wheel drive by default, whereas the four-door sedan is exclusively rear-wheel drive. The Giulia Quadrifoglio in the video below is equipped with the ZF-supplied automatic of the Stelvio Quadrifoglio, which offers the advantage of quicker upshifts and downshifts to the detriment of driver engagement in all imaginable scenarios.
Tipping the scales at 1,905 kilograms (4,200 pounds), the crossover in the featured clip isn't your usual Stelvio Quadrifoglio. Thanks to a Stage 1 tune, it makes 586 ps and 850 Nm of torque, meaning 578 horsepower and 627 pound-feet. This German-plated Stelvio Quadrifoglio is joined by a stock Giulia Quadrifoglio, which is noticeably lighter at 1,735 kilograms (3,825 pounds) in European specification.
Photo: KaRace on YouTube
Pictured with Hankook summer tires as opposed to Pirellis for the punchier Stelvio Quadrifoglio, the sedan clocked as good of a time as 11.35 seconds in the quarter mile. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio recorded 11.34 seconds, which is ridiculously close. Because it's equipped with all-wheel drive, the crossover does have the upper hand in 0-100 acceleration. That's 62 miles per hour in old money, with the Stelvio sport utility vehicle and Giulia sedan posting 3.62 and 3.68 seconds, respectively.
The folks at KaRace also raced these V6-powered twins from a roll (at 50 kilometers per hour or 31 miles per hour). The metric that interests us the most is how these vehicles pull from 100 to 200 kilometers per hour, as in 62 to 124 miles per hour. Not surprising in the least, the more aerodynamic and lighter Giulia Quadrifoglio made easy work of its challenger by clocking 7.97 versus 9.60 seconds.
Based on a platform developed by ex-Ferrari man Philippe Krief of Ferrari 458 Speciale fame, the Giulia and Stelvio will be succeeded by electric vehicles in the near future. With Alfa Romeo targeting an EV-only lineup by 2027, we assume that both models will be replaced by the end of 2026.
Both will receive the STLA Large platform with 400- and 800-volt setups and battery packs ranging from 101 to 118 kWh. The highest driving range you can expect from the STLA Large is approximately 800 kilometers or 500 miles in the WLTP. Over in the US, the EPA's range estimates will be lower.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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