The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio and BMW X4 M Competition are two of the finest performance-focused SUVs on the market. But which is the quickest?

South Africa’s Cars.co.za has the answer. A look at the spec sheet immediately tells you that these two are very evenly matched. As a matter of fact, both produce exactly 503 hp, with peak torque from the Alfa Romeo sitting at 443 lb-ft (600 Nm) and the X4 M Competition just 1 lb-ft behind at 442 lb-ft (599 Nm).

Providing the Stelvio Quadrifoglio with its power is a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 engine while the BMW uses a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six. Both SUVs feature quick-shifting transmissions and have all-wheel drive. A key advantage for the Alfa Romeo, however, is the fact that it weighs quite a bit less than the BMW – upwards of 100 kg (220 lbs) less depending on specification.

Also Watch: The BMW X4 M Competition Loves To Do Donuts, Who Would Have Guessed?

In the drag race, it is the Italian SUV that launches off the line faster than the BMW, quickly establishing a lead. However, once the cars passed the 120 km/h mark, the BMW started to inch its way back. In the final few seconds of the race, the BMW didn’t just close in on the Alfa Romeo but actually overtook it.

It’s not a particularly surprising result but it is interesting to see how quickly the X4 M passed the Alfa, an SUV with a better power-to-weight ratio. It’s almost as if the X4 M has more horsepower than BMW claims. How very German.