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Automotive publication Car and Driver helps consumers choose vehicles based on specs and expert opinions. Consumers don’t always agree with the opinions expressed by professionals in articles and videos. One thing is for certain, numbers don’t lie. When it comes to horsepower, it’s tough to refute that a vehicle is the most powerful or capable once it can put up the right numbers when it’s go-time. Only one compact luxury SUV on a list of best SUVs that Car and Driver compiled produces over 500 horsepower.

Compact luxury SUVs boast impressive power outputs

An orange 2023 Porsche Macan compact luxury SUV is parked.
The Porsche Macan | Porsche

Car and Driver listed six different compact luxury SUVs on its list of best SUVs for 2023. The compact luxury SUVs listed include the Porsche Macan, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class AMG, Genesis GV70, BMW X3, Volvo XC60, and the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio.

The best compact luxury SUV of the models listed is up for debate, but the most powerful option is clear. Only one of the models listed produces over 500 horsepower, putting it in a league of its own.

The Porsche Macan has a max horsepower output of 434 horsepower. Close, but no cigar. The most powerful version of the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class makes 385 horsepower. That’s incredible for its size, but it isn’t the most impressive model in its segment.

The Genesis GV70 has a maximum horsepower output of 375. The GV70 is a well-rounded compact luxury SUV, but HP isn’t its best characteristic. The BMW X3 M40i’s turbocharged inline six-cylinder makes a mighty 382 horsepower. Great, but not the number we’re looking for. The Volvo XC60 B6 model makes 295 horsepower. All the models listed by Car and Driver are incredible in their own right, but when it comes to power, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio isn’t to be trifled with.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is a magnificent beast

The 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio produces a mind-blowing 505 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. That’s a lot of power for any vehicle, but the Stelvio is compact. So, this thing is a rocket.

Alfa Romeo is an Italian luxury brand that Stellantis owns. The brand is known for producing impressive luxury automobiles. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio is the small SUV’s final trim level.

If you’re looking for the best compact luxury SUV on the market, many automotive publications favor the Genesis GV70 and BMW X3, respectively, over competitors in their segment. If you want the model with the most horsepower, it’s tough to overlook the Stelvio Quadrifoglio.

How much is a 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio?

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio | Alfa Romeo

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio starts at $85,675. Car and Driver praises the small SUV’s powertrain and engaging driving dynamics. The automotive publication calls it “an SUV that makes your heart pound.”

The Stelvio is also available in two more affordable trim levels: the Stelvio Sprint and Stelvio Ti. They start at $46,575 and $51,525, respectively. Can any compact luxury SUV compete with the Stelvio Quadrifoglio when it comes to horsepower?

Let us know what your dream compact luxury SUV is in the comment section below.

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