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Alfa Romeo Stelvio


Kia EV6

Summary

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

This week I’ve taken the recently updated Alfa Romeo Stelvio Veloce on a massive road trip and after the first few hours of driving it, I thought this is the sort of car you get when you need some extra boot space but still want that sports car vibe.

It helps that our test model is finished in the classic 'Alfa Red' but while its on-road performance can't be ignored, it has some tough medium SUV competition from the likes of the BMW X3, Genesis GV70 and Lexus NX.

So, is it just a fun car to drive or will it suit the family, too? I've been cruising around in it for the last week with my family of three to find out for you!

Safety rating
Engine Type2.0L turbo
Fuel Type
Fuel Efficiency7L/100km
Seating5 seats

Kia EV6

Sometimes I think the present is nowhere near as futuristic as I thought it would be when pondering things 20 years ago.

And then there are times when the two cars you’re comparing are an electric Mustang SUV and a 580 horsepower Kia that accelerates faster than a Ferrari Enzo. 

Yep, this comparison of the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT and Kia EV6 GT is one of those times when we’re reminded how much things have changed and how quickly we need to accept the changes electric cars introduce as the new normal.

Supercar-like acceleration, the dilemma of charging and the premium price they command are key EV attributes. But they are still cars. Still the way we get around.

If they’re SUVs like the Mach-E GT and EV6 GT we need to compare more than just their EV credentials. Practicality, driveability, value-for-money, safety and ownership costs are also hugely important.

And this is what we’ve done here, comparing them not just as electric cars but in all the ways you’ll use them, too. 

Safety rating
Engine Type
Fuel TypeElectric
Fuel Efficiency—L/100km
Seating5 seats

Verdict

Alfa Romeo Stelvio7.1/10

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Veloce is the car you get when you want a sports car but happen to have a kid or two. Its ride comfort is on the lower end but it has heaps of power and enough features that it manages to slide into its price tag without feeling too cheeky. The back seat’s size will limit this to smaller families, though. And I would prefer to see better tech at this grade level, so this gets a 7.1/10 from me.

My son didn’t spend much time in this one but he liked the red paintwork. My mum, however, loved the power and sexy packaging. She gives it an 8/10.


Kia EV6/10

The Ford Mustang Mach-E GT wins this comparison with the Kia EV6 GT by a small margin, mainly due to its better practicality, its styling and its lower ownership costs. The Kia EV6 GT is also brilliant in its sporty handling, value-for-money and great battery tech. But if there was one that’s the best all-rounder to live with daily, it’s the Mustang Mach-E GT.

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

Price and Features

7

8

Design

9

8

Practicality

8

7

Under the bonnet

9

9

Efficiency

8

8

Driving

8

8

Safety 

9

9

Ownership

8

7

TOTAL

8.3

8

Design

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

While the Veloce has had a facelift, the changes are so minor I would dare to ask, why bother?

The daytime running light signature has been tweaked but only die-hard Stelvio fans will notice it. I do like the larger 12.3-inch digital instrument display but surprisingly the multimedia screen remains on the smaller side at 8.8 inches.

Otherwise, there’s no denying the Veloce looks like an Alfa Romeo, staying true to its Italian heritage. It’s solid, with a 1903mm wide stance, but so robust that it moves away from words like 'sleek' or 'sexy'.

The black grille, 20-inch alloy wheels and red brake calipers make it look sports car mean and hint at what's under the bonnet.

The interior looks well made and it's got a bat cave element with the black headliner and panoramic sunroof. There's a plethora of soft touchpoints throughout and the circular air-vents found in both rows add some flair.

Overall, though, the interior is understated and if you’re looking for something as flashy as the exterior, you may be disappointed.


Kia EV6

Two more different looking SUVs you could not find. Actually, the EV6 GT barely even looks like an SUV although that’s what Kia calls it and the industry classifies it as such.

Have a look at the images, or better still watch the video we made above, to take in the stark comparison between the styling of these vehicles.

The Mustang Mach-E GT looks reassuringly like a Mustang SUV with its vertical bar tail-lights, the muscular rear haunches, blade headlights, shark nose bonnet and big grille.

Well, it’s not a real grille but if you look closely you’ll see the faint outline of honeycomb mesh behind the semi-transparent plastic.

The Kia EV6 GT looks more like a bloated hatchback than an SUV, but you could argue that’s all an SUV is, anyway, I guess.

Still, it’s a stunning design with its pinched in nose, bulbous and smooth panels, looking low, wide and intimidating like a venomous insect complete with lime green brake calipers.

Despite the obvious exterior differences their dimensions aren’t wildly different as you can see in the table below, only the height sets them apart.

If all you had to go with were these figures I’m sure you’d never imagine they’d belong to two very different looking SUVs. The extra height gives the Mustang GT Mach-E a more upright and boxy design, and this affects practicality as you’ll read about further on. For now let's look at their insides on purely stylistic merits.

Of course they have completely different interiors. The Mustang Mach-E GT has a more macho, serious but sporty cabin with high quality feeling fabrics adorning the dashboard and synthetic leather seats. Only the gigantic portrait media display makes this feel like a modern Ford product.

The EV6 GT’s cabin feels dark, like a cave but one filled with expansive screens and tech. There are intriguing patterns etched into the dashboard and deep seats that wrap around their occupants.

Its innards are as alien as its exterior and I’m here for it. And so are many people. Probably not those who like the Mustang Mach-E GT’s cabin, though.

I think the Mustang Mach-E GT pulls off a better look, especially considering the pressure it’s designers would have been under to create an SUV version of one of the most iconic cars on Earth.  

Dimensions

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

Length

4743mm

4695mm

Height

1623mm

1545mm

Width

1881mm

1890mm

Wheelbase

2984mm

2900mm

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

9

8

Practicality

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

The front row benefits the most in terms of space and features. I have stacks of headroom and legroom in the front seat and didn’t feel like I was too close to my passenger this week.

I like the comfortable electric seats and the fact you can adjust the side bolsters and under-thigh support.

Individual storage options are on the slim side throughout the car and it was something my mum and I found annoying on our road trip because there aren’t a lot of spots to put your little items up front. Think snacks, sunglasses, lip balm etc.

The two cupholders are really drink bottle holders because they’re too large to fit a small takeaway cup without popping the lid off but I like the large storage bins in each front door.

It's a tight squeeze in the back seat for my 168cm (5'6") height and that’s behind my driving position! It could feel a tad cramped back there for those with longer legs.

It’s also a bit awkward getting in and out of the back seat because of the large wheel arches.

The storage bins in the doors are too small to hold a drink bottle but the middle armrest has two cupholders and a phone holder.

Charging options are fantastic up front with two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, a 12-volt socket and a wireless charging pad to choose from. You even get an 'aux' jack, too.

The amenities in the back seat are okay and you get a couple of net map pockets, reading lights, a USB-A and C port, as well as directional air vents.

This Alfa has a no-nonsense approach with the other tech, though. I usually don’t mind that but the touchscreen multimedia system is a little too no-nonsense for this spec-level.

I found it to be laggy and too small. It also regularly turned itself off and rebooted. This happened a few times while needing satellite navigation directions, which was annoying.

Also on the sat nav, you can’t search for a general name of something, like a business, you have to input an address which meant using my iPhone anyway. It’s great that you get wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though.

The digital instrument panel looks upmarket but isn’t properly customisable and I was disappointed the ambient lighting package only meant that there are lights in the footwells and a tiny overhead light. Adding some extra lighting would have transformed the night-time driving experience.

The boot is the highlight for me because you get a decent capacity at 499L. The load space is level and I like the back row's 40/20/40 split-fold. We had plenty of room on our road trip for luggage and shopping.

You get a temporary spare tyre and a retractable cargo blind. The latter is stiff enough to double as a shelf which is handy and a handsfree powered tailgate comes standard, as well.


Kia EV6

Electric vehicles have changed practicality for the better. Not being constrained by big engines, transmissions and driveshafts means the packaging can be designed for good storage and people room.

Flat floors open up space, front boots are handy and even the ability to use their colossal battery to power campsites or other appliances is a big plus.

Below is a table comparing boot sizes and power outlets. On the face of it the EV6 GT appears to have the bigger rear boot but the stacking height is lower than the Mustang Mach-E GT’s taller space.

The EV6 GT also has next to no front boot, while the Mustang Mach-E GT has a large storage space under the bonnet.

As for rear legroom, the EV6 GT and Mustang Mach E GT have plenty of space for me at 189cm to sit behind my driving position and headroom is excellent in both.

Entering and exiting the Mustang Mach-E GT is easier due it’s more traditional SUV shape with tall doors and elevated ride height. The EV6 GT is almost 10cm lower overall and I hit my head swinging into the back seat while doing my legroom test.

Both cars have directional air vents in the second row, cupholders, door pockets and USB ports.

Talking of power outlets, only the EV6 GT has a vehicle-to-load (V2L) power outlet which will take a regular household appliance plug.

It’s a tough call as to which is more practical, and while the Kia has the versatile V2L and plenty of space, the Mustang's front boot and ease of entry and exit makes it the winner here.   

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

Seats

5

5

Boot capacity (five seats up)

402L

480L

Frunk capacity

134L

20L

Wireless phone charging

Yes

Yes

USB Ports

4

5

V2L socket

0

1

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

8

7

Price and features

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

There are three models for the Stelvio and ours is the mid-spec Veloce grade, which will cost you $82,950, before on-road costs. The pricing should make it competitive compared to its rivals but the features list isn’t as robust as it could be.

The interior gets most of the big-ticket items with leather upholstered sports front seats, extended leather trim on the doors and dashboard as well as a heated steering wheel.

Both front seats are electric with six-way power adjustment, powered side bolsters and four-way adjustable lumbar support. They also feature a heat function and extendable under-thigh support.

The luxury items continue with the panoramic sunroof, real aluminium accents throughout and a premium Harman Kardon sound system that boasts 14 speakers.

Other standard features include full LED adaptive 'Matrix' headlights, aluminium sports pedals, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, push-button start and a handsfree powered tailgate.

It's the technology that lets the Stelvio down but I'll go into that later.


Kia EV6

Electric cars are more expensive than their petrol counterparts and generally will be until the cost of EV batteries comes down. This is what drives the manufacturing price up with the extra cost passed onto the consumer. But the good news is the price is coming down. 

That news doesn’t really help you much here because the Kia EV6 GT has come down in price and lists for $99,590, before on-road costs. Still, that’s less than the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT which lists for $104,990.

The EV6 GT and Mustang Mach-E GT sit at the top of their respective ranges and have large batteries. That’s the reason for the $100K MSRP. They both come with a lot of equipment and you can see a side-by-side comparison of their standard features in the table below.

What stands out is the lack of powered front seats in the EV6 GT, and also the absence of leather upholstery in both cars.

Both still come with heated seats, excellent sound systems and sunroofs - although the Mustang Mach-E’s is a large panoramic glass version, while the Kia’s is smaller and opens.

The EV6 GT’s head-up display is brilliant, while the Mustang Mach-E doesn’t have one.

The Mustang comes with 20-inch alloys which offer a better ride than the EV6 GT’s 21-inch alloys - but more on that in the driving section further down.    

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

MSRP

$104,990

$99,590

Media Display

15.2-inch

12.3-inch 

Instrument cluster

10.2-inch

12.3-inch

Head-up display

No

Yes

Climate control

Dual-zone

dual-zone

Auto parking

Yes - in-car

Yes - remote

Keyless entry/push start

Yes

Yes

Sound system

B&O 10 speakers

Meridian - 14 speakers

Sat nav

Yes

Yes

Sunroof

Panoramic

Slide opening

Privacy glass

Rear side

Rear side

Upholstery

Artificial leather

Artificial leather

Seats

Front: Powered/heated

Front: heated; Rear: heated

Wheel size

20-inch alloys

21-inch

LED Headlights

Yes

Yes

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

7

8

Under the bonnet

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

The Veloce has a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that gives a maximum power output of 206kW and 400Nm of torque. It’s an all-wheel drive and has an eight-speed auto transmission which is very smooth. 

Checking out the specs I didn’t think this would be as powerful as it is. But it’s really fun when you need to put your foot down! I mean, it can go from 0-100km/h in just 5.7 seconds.


Kia EV6

Electric motors make massive amounts of power and torque but the outputs of the Mustang Mach E GT and EV6 GT are beyond 'normal' EVs.

The EV6 GT has a motor driving the rear wheels and another driving the front ones. Together they have a combined output of 430kW and 740Nm with 0-100km/h coming in a brutal 3.5 seconds. That is seriously quick and unnecessary and I love it.

The Mustang Mach E GT also has all-wheel drive thanks to a motor at the front and at the rear but together they make a whopping 358kW and 860Nm, although at 100kg heavier it’s a tad slower to 100km/h with a time of 3.7 seconds. Still these times are quicker than almost any production car from the early 1990s.

Who wins here? I’m calling it evenly matched.

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

Combined motor output

358kW/860Nm

430kW/740Nm

Drive wheels

AWD

AWD

0-100km/h 

3.7 seconds

3.5 seconds

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

9

9

Efficiency

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

The official combined cycle fuel economy figure is 7.0L/100km and my real-world usage came to 8.4L/100km.

I drove our test model hard but did A LOT of open road driving - 2051km to be exact - so I was happy with the average but I would expect it to be higher in the city.

Based on the official combined cycle number and 64L fuel tank, you theoretically should be able to get a driving range of around 914km but my real-world tests see that figure come in closer to 700km.

Alfa Romeo recommends a minimum 95 RON petrol be used for the Stelvio.


Kia EV6

There’s so much to tell you here and the table below will help with understanding the capacities, ranges and consumption of the EV6 GT and Mustang Mach-E GT.

The Mustang Mach-E GT has the larger battery and the longer range, but the EV6 GT’s battery has a much faster DC charging rate.

The Kia can make full use of a 350kW fast charger while the Mach-E can’t accept more than 150kW.  You can see the charging times in the table.

Energy efficiency is crucial to an EV’s range and in our test we filled the batteries of the Mustang Mach-E GT and EV6 GT to 100 per cent and drove a 180km route made up of CBD traffic, motorways, suburban streets and country roads.  

At the end of the trip we found both used almost exactly the same amount of electricity at nearly the same rate. The difference being the Mustang had more projected range left because its battery is larger.  

Who wins? Well, this is really about energy efficiency and we found that both were a good match for electricity consumption. So, let’s call it a tie. You could argue the Mustang Mach-E GT has more range, but the rebuttal would be the EV6 GT’s super-fast charging time. 

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

Battery capacity 

91kWh

77.4kWh

Estimated range

490km

424km

Max DC charging speed

150kW

350kW

DC 10-80 percent charge time

45 minutes

18 minutes

Max AC charging speed

10.5kW

10.5kW

Official combined consumption

21.2kWh/100km

20.6kWh/100km

Distance (energy test))

176.5km

178.0km

Electricity used

32.6kWh

32.18

As tested combined consumption

18.5kWh/100km

18.1kWh/100km

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

8

8

Driving

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

The Veloce is downright fun to drive because of how damn responsive it is. There is plenty of power, so much so, that you’ll look forward to hitting the open road. 

The sporty steering makes for sharp handling and the car moves decisively. I have felt confident all week that it would do what I wanted it to do. It's wide stance also makes it hug the road like an old friend.

However, the suspension is also sporty, aka firm! The padded seats help soften the impact when you hit a bump but you’ll still know it when you hit one. There's also a resonating 'ker-thump' in the cabin, in case you didn't feel it.

The big thing that marred the driving experience for me, at least for a longer trip, is how loud road and wind noise are at higher speeds. It’s loud enough that you need to raise your voice to talk, which I didn’t enjoy.

The Veloce earns back points with how easy it is to park and it handles those stupidly small hotel car parks extremely well.

I don't rate the reversing camera, though. The quality of the image is terrible for this grade-level.


Kia EV6

The way these SUVs feel to drive is as different as their looks. The Mustang Mach-E GT feels more suited to daily driving while the EV6 GT is our pick for the race circuit or sporty blasts on nice country roads with plenty of twists and turns.

Both have drive modes ranging from the hardcore 'Untame' in the Mach-E and 'Sport+' in the EV6 GT to the calmer 'Whisper' and 'Normal' modes in Ford and Kia, respectively. 

Adjustable suspension in both firms up the ride for better handling and softens it for a more comfortable setting.

The Mustang Mach-E has the more comfortable ride overall compared to the EV6 GT which is very firm in its Sport+ drive mode but still overly hard in the Normal setting thanks to the big wheels and low-profile tyres. That said, the Mach-E GT is prone to jiggling too much over minor bumps.

The EV6 GT and Mustang Mach E GT can accelerate incredibly fast and while it's fun, the ability to move quickly is useful in overtaking and at intersections without traffic lights. 

Neither the EV6 GT not Mach-E GT offer exceptional ride comfort but the Mustang delivers a better all around driving experience with good visibility, a more elevated driving height and supportive seats.

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

8

8

Safety

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

The Stelvio has most of the major items that I like to see on a family car and the standard safety features include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, driver attention monitor, traffic sign recognition, lane keeping aids, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a reversing camera, daytime-running lights, front and rear parking sensors, and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

It's important to note though that the safety systems only scored a 60 per cent with ANCAP.

It has autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and car detection and is operational from 7.0 - 200km/h.

The Veloce has a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating but it was done ages ago in 2017, which means it will expire this December. It also only has six airbags, which is low for a family car but the curtain airbags cover the back row.

There are ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard rear seats and three top tethers in the second row but two seats will fit best.

You can just squeeze a 0-4 rearward facing child seat in but it will encroach on front passenger comfort.


Kia EV6

The Mustang Mach-E GT and the EV6 GT have been awarded the maximum five star ANCAP rating but the Kia was tested more recently under 2022 criteria.

Both cars have ISOFIX points for child seats in the outside rear seats, while there are three top tether anchor mounts in the second row, too. The table below compares their advanced safety tech. 

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

ANCAP rating

5 (2021)

5 (2022)

AEB

Pedestrian, vehicle, cyclist

Pedestrian, vehicle, cyclist

Lane Keeping Assist

Yes

Yes

Blind Spot Warning

Yes

Yes

Rear Cross Traffic Alert

Yes with braking

Yes with braking

Airbags

7 (no centre airbag)

6 (no centre airbag)

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

9

9

Ownership

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

The ongoing costs aren’t too shabby on the Stelvio because it comes with a five-year/unlimited km warranty and you also get five years roadside assistance.

It’s a 24/7 complimentary service that covers a host of items but check out the terms and conditions for more information.

There’s capped priced servicing for five years or up to 75,000km, whichever occurs first.

Services cost an average of $573, which is competitive for the class and servicing intervals are good at every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.


Kia EV6

The final piece of this comparison puzzle is the ownership costs. The table below highlights the difference in what you’ll pay to service with the Mustang Mach-E GT proving to be the more affordable. 

The Kia comes with a longer warranty, although Ford’s battery coverage duration is better.

The Mustang Mach-E GT wins here for its more affordable capped price servicing.

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

Warranty

Five-year/unlimited km

Seven-year/unlimited km

Servicing cost total over five years

$780

$1561

Service interval

12 months/15,000km

12 months/15,000km

High-voltage battery warranty

Eight-years/160,000km

Seven-years/150,000km

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

8

7