Maserati Levante vs. Alfa Stelvio

Italian stallions: The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, left, and Maserati Levante have become their brand's best-selling vehicles. But the Levante's big V-8 makes it feel more like an American muscle car than the fine-tuned Alfa.

Quad-piped hellions. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, right, and Maserati Levante look like any other 5-door utes from the rear — but those quad tailpipes hint at the 500-plus horsepower in the bow.

Once planned on a Jeep chassis, the Maserati Levante GTS is based on the same large sedan, rear-drive platform as the Maserati Ghibli. But it's the twin-turbo under the hood that makes this thing sing.

Trident. Side gills. Big grille. Yes, the Maserati Levante GTS ute is unmistakably a Maserati in the rear-view mirror.

With a big C-pillar, rear visibility in the Maserati Levante GTS is not optimal — not that many people will be passing you in this 550-horsepower beast.

Side hood vents and big rear haunches define the side view of the Levante GTS, Maserati's first entry in the SUV market.

That's Italian? The rear quarters of the Maserati Levante GTS could be any luxury, five-door SUV.

Where's the starter button? Like Porsche, Maserati locates its starter on the left side of the steering wheel.

The interior of the Maserati Levante GTS feels Jeep-like with its vertical vented-console and UConnect infotainment system. The Alfa Stelvio, by contrast, ignored parts sharing with its American brothers.

The Maserati Levante GTS comes equipped with 360-degree surround view to better park the big, mid-size ute.

The Maserati Levante GTS is defined by its twin-turbo engines — a V-6 in the foreground, standard car — and the 550-horse monster in The Detroit News tester, background. The latter will gulp a 0-60 run in just 4 seconds despite weighing north of 5,000 pounds.

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio features Alfa's signature Trilobo grille, with larger lower air scoops than the standard Stelvio to feed its big engine.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is the Italian brand's first five-door SUV.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is the Italian automaker's third performance car in the U.S. market following the 4C sports car and Giulia Quadrifoglio. All three have set lap records in their class at Germany's Nurburgring.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio debuted to the media at Circuit of the Americas race track in Texas where Detroit News auto critic Henry Payne took it for a spin.