Audi RS6 Avant vs BMW M4 vs Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio

This new three-way comparison test from Carwow is a bit different than usual. Rather than take three cars in the same segment to see which is best, Mat Watson assembles his favorite vehicle in three different segments, to see which is fastest. It’s an unusual comparison but one that’s surprisingly fun, as the wagon (Audi RS6 Avant) takes on a coupe (BMW M4 Competition), and an SUV (Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio).

All three cars are obviously quite different. The Audi RS6 Avant uses a 4.0 liter twin-turbocharged V8 that makes 591 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. The BMW M4 Competition sports a 3.0 liter twin-turbo inline-six, which puts out 503 horsepower and 479 lb-ft. While the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio has a 2.9 liter twin-turbo V6, pumping out its own 503 horsepower and 442 lb-ft. Both the Audi and Alfa use all-wheel drive, while the BMW makes do with rear-wheel drive. All three cars have eight-speed ZF automatic transmissions as-standard, though.

If you thought the Audi RS6 Avant would be best off the line, due to its power advantage and all-wheel drive grip, you’d actually be wrong. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio was fastest off the line and held its lead over the Audi until the very end, when the RS6 pulled ahead and won the race. Interestingly, the BMW M4 Competition was on the verge of beating both and would have done had the race been a few feet longer.

Things got interesting in the rolling drag races as well. Despite having quite a bit more power, the Audi wasn’t ahead of its competition in many areas. That’s likely due to the fact that the RS6 Avant is significantly heavier than the other two cars. So while it has more power, its power-to-weight ratio isn’t much better, if at all.

No one will ever compare these three cars with their wallets, as they’re three entirely different machines for entirely different customers. However, it is interesting to see how they compete. Check it out.