Alfa Romeo Stelvio vs. Porsche Macan

In the highly competitive premium small crossover segment, automakers have the tough duty of creating models that are not only relatively affordable, but they also have to be well equipped and have the performance chops brand loyalists look for. No automaker is more familiar with this than Porsche, and it delivers the goods with the Macan.

Can the newcomer to the segment, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, strike a better balance than the Macan? We took a deep dive into both the Macan and the Stelvio to find out which is the better buy. Continue reading to find out how the Alfa stacks up.

See a side-by-side comparison of the Macan & Stelvio »

What the Stelvio Gets Right

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio gets a quick start on the Macan with its $42,990 starting price (including $995 destination fee), which is $5,860 less than the base Macan. In fact, buyers could move all the way up to the Stelvio Ti Sport and still end up cheaper than the base Macan.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio’s base engine is a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 280 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque, or 28 hp and 33 lb-ft more than the base Macan.

What’s more, once the Stelvio Quadrifoglio hits showrooms in early 2018 with its 505-hp 2.9-liter V-6, it’ll officially become the world’s fastest production SUV around the Nurburgring in Germany. It will lap the iconic German track in 7:51.7 and hit 60 in 3.9 seconds. The most powerful Macan, the 440-hp Turbo with the Performance Package, can't touch that.

The Stelvio is also a bit more cargo friendly than the Macan, thanks to its extra 0.8 cubic feet of cargo room with the seats up and more traditionally shaped cargo area. With the seats down, the Stelvio’s advantage grows to 3.5 cubic feet.

What the Macan Gets Right

With the Macan, you’re getting a lot of what the Porsche name is known to deliver. Its performance is on point in every trim, even the base model. Moving up to the Turbo model adds 400 hp to this small crossover, which makes it the king of the hill until the Stelvio Quadrifoglio hits showrooms.

As you move into the Macan’s higher trims, like the GTS and Turbo, small body tweaks enhance its sporty nature, as do enhancements to the cabin. Speaking of that cabin, its fit and finish are perfect, unlike the Stelvio, which looks and feels a lot cheaper than the Porsche.

Finally, with up to nine inches of ground clearance – in the GTS model – the Macan is a little more comfortable off the beaten path than the Stelvio. It’s still no off-road monster, but it’s a bit more capable.

Need Pure Performance, Get the Porsche

If performance across all trims is on the top of your list, then the Macan is the model for you. Despite not being on the same level as one of Porsche's sports cars, the Macan delivers amazing performance in a segment not really known for that. Though the Stelvio will be more powerful eventually, the Macan offers a higher degree of agility, responsiveness, and fun across all its trims.

Verdict: Alfa Romeo Stelvio

Despite not matching the Macan’s all-around performance across its entire lineup, the Stelvio is the better buy for the average crossover consumer. It delivers above-average performance, looks amazing, has all the bells and whistles you’d ever need, and rings in thousands cheaper than the Macan. Plus, if you really need true performance, you can always wait on the Quadrifoglio.

Take a closer look at the Porsche Macan »

Take a closer look at the Alfa Romeo Stelvio »

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