GRR Garage: Stelvio Quadrifoglio vs. Giulia Quadrifoglio

Both cars have exactly the same engine with the same figures for power and torque: 510PS (503bhp) at 6,500rpm and 600Nm (444lb ft) at 2,500rpm. The two key differences are that the Stelvio weighs more, at 1,830kg compared to the Giulia’s 1,620kg, and the Stelvio is all-wheel-drive while the Giulia is, of course, rear-wheel-drive.

Let’s deal with the weight first. You’d think that an extra 210kg would be noticeable the moment you turn a wheel, but, to its credit, the Stelvio does a remarkable job of shrinking around you. It isn’t quite as strong on the brakes and it doesn’t feel quite as low as the Giulia, but the Stelvio’s quick steering goes some way to offset any lack of urgency that the extra weight would bring. Honestly, while it might not look it (and while there are times that a big SUV will always be a big SUV, like squeezing through a narrow lane), the Stelvio is incredibly nimble.

For me the biggest difference between the two cars is how they put the power to the road, and if you’re looking to buy one or the other it’ll probably be the factor that pushes you one way or the other.

Performance for both cars is hugely impressive. 0-62mph in the Giulia takes 3.8 seconds, while the Stelvio, despite the extra pounds, will tackle the same sprint in 3.7 seconds. Imagine telling the owner of a new Ferrari F40 back in 1987 that a five-seat family bus would one day out-accelerate their bright red, lightweight pride and joy by half a second. You’d have been slapped. Hard.

The Stelvio’s all-wheel-drive system, while rear-biased most of the time, never lets all 503 horses rampage out of the stable. If you put your foot to the floor, regardless of the conditions, you’ll find yourself being catapulted down the road at an alarming rate. Even with Race mode engaged and all of the systems off, you’ll likely never run out of traction unless you really, really try.

The Giulia is a very different story. Traction on or off, in the dry or the wet, the Giulia feels very rear-wheel-drive, and your driving style changes accordingly. Approach a corner in the Stelvio with the traction and stability control off and you have absolute confidence that you can put the power down without having to worry about oversteering into a tree. The Giulia forces you to sit up and pay attention, requiring more attention and more precision. With the systems on you can feel the car’s electronic brain limit the power going to the rear wheels and grab the rear brakes, all in an attempt to keep you on the straight and narrow. With everything off, you’ll start murdering two of Pirelli’s finest.

That’s the joy of the Giulia, and given the choice between the two cars why I’d be driving away in the saloon rather than the SUV. The engine in both cars is exciting, there’s no doubt about it, and the fact that you can buy such an engine in an SUV is truly wonderful – all credit to Alfa there. But when it comes to thrills, the Giulia comes out on top.

Photography by Joe Harding.