Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 is better and more modern than Alfa Stelvio, but falls short in one area

There are pros and cons to the Stelvio’s aging

As soon as we get in, something stands out about the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. He has a surprisingly high seating position, for which he gets a reprimand both here and in the next chapter. The fact that your head almost touches the roof limits the feeling of space.

In the Mercedes it is the massive center console and the thicker door panels that have a negative effect on the freedom of movement. In addition, the high sill and the firm side bolsters of the Performance seat make it more difficult to get into the AMG. In the back, the GLC offers more space than the Stelvio, but here too you have to step smoothly over the high sill. The clarity and operation of the Mercedes are clearly better than in the aging Italian.

Anyone who finds modern assistance systems more annoying than pleasant will be happy with the Alfa, because in the Alfa Romeo Stelvio you can permanently silence the lane assist. In the Mercedes, the speed warning and lane assist jump to active during every journey – as recently made mandatory by the EU.

With the rear seats in position, the boot holds 470 litres. With the seats folded down, it is 1530 litres. The Alfa offers 525 to 1600 litres of storage space, but cannot be equipped with a tow bar.

AMG four-cylinder is not economical but powerful

The AMG E Performance is ‘only’ a four-cylinder, but it is a very powerful one. Together with the electric motor, it delivers 680 hp. This makes it lightning fast – and not just when sprinting. The GLC also benefits from its electric motor on winding roads and even on the race track. Thanks to four-wheel steering, active roll stabilisation and phenomenal mechanical grip, the Mercedes takes corners like a sports car: precisely, neutrally, with a lot of grip and with exceptionally fast responses to steering commands.

If you want, you can also switch off the ESP and drift until you see green and yellow. With the ceramic brake discs costing over 5 grand, the GLC scores even more points, they react powerfully and are well dosable.

On the same circuit laps, the Alfa Romeo, despite its 400 kg lighter weight, is less light-footed and less agile. At the limit it leans clearly and under braking and acceleration it ‘dives’ noticeably. In most circumstances it feels too heavy and especially in tight bends it is clearly less agile than its rival.

This is partly due to the Q4 all-wheel drive, which only allows a 2.5 percent slip difference between the front and rear axles. The Mercedes computers regulate the distribution of its torque more flexibly and thus allow more room for a controlled rear break. The traction itself is, however, very good in both cars.

Conclusion

You can read the full test in our magazine Auto Review, but we’ll give away something about the test conclusion. Although fervent AMG fans will miss the V8, the Mercedes-AMG 63 SE Performance wins this comparison with two fingers in the plug socket. It does everything better than the Alfa Romeo, is enormously powerful and sporty and even convinces with its comfort.

The AMG (2210 kilos) is very heavy and its electric range of 12 kilometers is a joke. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is a car for the enthusiast. It fascinates with classic Alfa virtues and packages sports car performance in an elegant design. And the V6 sound is priceless anyway – the AMG drivetrain cannot offer that passionate experience.

You can read the full comparative test in Auto Review 7. Good to know: you get a subscription to the magazine with a big discount in our webshop.