Episode six of Top Gear’s series 25 will feature a review of the Alpine A110, as well as an SUV comparison test between the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, all-new Volvo XC60 and the Range Rover Velar.
Based on this short trailer, it would appear that two of the three compact executive crossovers will be put through a grueling off-road test at the hands of Matt LeBlanc (in the Stelvio) and Chris Harris (XC60).
The race took place in a field, and the surface was definitely not as smooth as it looked. We can’t help but cringe at the thought of what this type of “exercise” can mean for vehicles that are essentially family cars with raised ground clearance and all-wheel drive systems.
So unless we’re dealing with a Baja racer, we can easily see any regular SUV take on underbody damage or suspension damage under these circumstances, followed of course by the appearance of all sorts of annoying squeaks and rattles inside – you know the type.
In the end, it seems like Harris got the upper hand in his diesel-powered XC60 (D5). The Stelvio was probably a diesel too, and clearly not the high-powered Quadrifoglio version with its 505 HP (512 PS) and 443 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque.
As for why the Velar didn’t partake in the race, we’ll have to wait until Sunday, April 1, to find out.