The first-ever Alfa Romeo Tonale is the Italian car brand's smallest and least-expensive offering in the United States. The subcompact crossover SUV is also the first Alfa Romeo available on these shores with a gas-electric plug-in hybrid powertrain. The Tonale has an EPA-estimated 33-mile electric-only range, key to Alfa Romeo's transition to an electrified model lineup.
Sharing the corporate Stellantis platform first used for the 2017 Jeep Compass, the 2024 Tonale shares most of its chassis and powertrain architecture with the new Dodge Hornet.
The Tonale is an important extension of the Alfa Romeo brand beyond its enthusiast-oriented performance offerings into the fast-growing small SUV segment, which, according to JD Power research, has a high percentage of female buyers.
The 2024 Tonale joins the existing Giulia sedan and larger Stelvio SUV in Alfa Romeo's U.S. lineup. All Tonale SUVs feature standard all-wheel drive (AWD). The Tonale is available in three trim levels, priced as follows, including the $1,595 destination charge:
Photo: Ron Sessions
The Alfa Romeo Tonale competes in the Small Premium SUV market segment. According to data collected from verified new-vehicle buyers for the JD Power 2023 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, 52 percent of new Small Premium SUV segment buyers are female (vs. 39 percent for the industry), and the median age of a new Small Premium SUV segment buyer is 58 years (vs. 56).
As part of the APEAL Study, owners rated the Small Premium SUV segment in 10 primary categories. Listed below in descending order, you'll find their preferences, from their most favorite thing about the vehicle to their least favorite:
Photo: Ron Sessions
In the sections that follow, our independent expert analyzes a 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale Ti EAWD equipped with the following options:
The test vehicle's price was $51,790, including the $1,595 destination charge.
Photo: Ron Sessions
Alfa Romeo has a proud 113-year history, and the new Tonale flashes a few exterior design details that recall some memorable Alfa Romeo models of recent years. Most of the younger, small premium SUV buyers Alfa are courting with the Tonale probably won't notice, but squint a bit and car buffs may be able to see wisps of the beltline of the Giulia GT coupe of the mid-1960s and early 1970s, the side windows of the 8C supercar, and the front-end appearance of the SZ Zagato.
In profile, the Tonale looks a bit stubby. Small Premium SUV buyers may prefer a slightly elevated driving position. Still, this writer thinks Alfa Romeo's newest offering would be more fetching (and more appealing to hot-hatch buyers) with about 2 inches less daylight showing above the tires in the Tonale's wheel wells.
Inside, the Tonale has its share of hard plastic bits. But overall, it presents an upscale mix of aluminum trim, durable-looking cloth with contrasting-color accent stitching, and in top trims, leather, and velour seat coverings. The standard heated front seats, with 8-way power adjustment and power lumbar control, are comfortable for many body types during the daily commute. However, enthusiasts might prefer more pronounced lateral bolstering for thighs and the lower torso for quick blasts down curvy back roads. A heated, leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel is also standard fare.
The driver faces a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster that you can customize in various formats ranging from a traditional-looking faux-analog setup with a large speedometer and tachometer to one with the navigation map and instructions centered on the screen. Adding some drama is a configurable ambient light package that livens the dashboard with a splash of red color or other selectable hues.
Overall, the Tonale offers a nice mix of physical hard switchgear and screen-based controls. The dual-zone automatic climate control features a row of easy-to-find-and-use hard toggle buttons on the center stack. A console-mounted selector dial enables quick access to the Tonale's DNA drive modes without diving through multiple screen menus. One quirk, however, is the steering wheel-mounted start/stop push button. It's located just under the left steering wheel spoke, but it can take a moment or two to find if the front wheels are not pointing straight ahead.
Storage for front-seaters includes a small, covered bin under the center armrest, two front cupholders, a deep glovebox on the dash, and ample pockets and beverage holders in the doors. Ahead of the shifter is an open storage tray with an available, generously sized wireless charging pad.
In the aft section, passengers sit on a three-across 60/40 bench seat; Alfa Romeo nicely contoured the outboard sections to provide a modicum of support. I could slide my 6-foot, 2-inch frame back there without being jammed—something I can't say for some competitive entries such as the Lexus UX. The rear seatback includes a fold-down center armrest with cupholders and a center pass-through for skis.
Photo: Ron Sessions
The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale uses the company's latest Uconnect 5 infotainment system with an Android operating system. Elements include:
The Uconnect 5 system offers bright screen graphics and fast input response times. It is one of the most straightforward infotainment systems to learn and use. The layout of the screen is logical. There are shortcut tabs for navigation, media, phone, climate control, vehicle settings, and an all-important Home button on the left, with favorite tabs at the bottom.
Alfa Romeo does not include simple analog rotary volume and tuning knobs with this system. However, the driver can easily access the steering wheel up or down hard buttons for these tasks. There is also a redundant console-mounted roller for volume control that's reachable by both the driver and front passenger, plus onscreen arrows for tuning. The native navigation system also includes turn-by-turn instructions displayed in the driver's cluster.
The setup and pairing of my Samsung Galaxy S21 phone was quick and seamless. You can pair two mobile phones with Uconnect 5, keeping one dedicated to calls and the other for audio streaming. Speaking of audio, the fidelity was clear and full-spectrum when streaming music from my phone's Pandora app.
Native voice assistance was spot on for searching for and navigating to some points of interest without giving a street address, such as a local restaurant. Still, it could not achieve a successful result for others, such as a local computer electronics store. After enabling Android Auto, the system could locate the computer store and navigate to it on the first try.
Photo: Ron Sessions
All three 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale trims feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a net system output of 285 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. Elements of the plug-in gas-electric powertrain include a 180-hp, MultiAir, turbocharged 1.3-liter 4-cylinder gas engine, a 44-hp belt-drive electric starter/generator attached to the engine, and a 121-hp (90-kilowatt) rear axle electric motor. The Tonale features standard Q4 AWD. The gas engine and electric belt starter/generator power the front wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission; the electric motor drives the rear wheels.
Acceleration is ample, with Alfa Romeo estimating maximum zero-to-60-mph performance at about 6 seconds. Acceleration performance is dependent on the DNA driving mode selected. The D (Dual power/Dynamic) setting delivers maximum output from the gas engine and electric motor. In the N (Natural) setting, the hybrid system balances fuel efficiency and power output. The A setting (Advanced efficiency) prioritizes pure electric operation running solely off the 121-hp rear electric motor unless the driver floors the accelerator, at which point the engine kicks in for a burst of additional power. However, there isn't a Custom setting enabling the driver to pick and choose steering effort, damper settings, throttle response, and transmission shift characteristics.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates the Tonale is capable of up to 33 miles of driver-selectable all-electric range from the 15.5-kWh lithium-ion battery. The agency gives the Tonale a 77-MPGe efficiency rating.
Alfa Romeo says you can fully charge the plug-in battery from empty in about 2.5 hours using a Level 2, 240-volt AC power source, the onboard 7.4-kilowatt charging module, and the included cord. The same charging procedure can take as much as 8 hours when using a standard household 120-volt outlet.
On the road, the Tonale Ti with optional 235/40R19 all-season tires delivers an agreeable balance of ride quality and grip. The standard Ti suspension in the test vehicle utilizes frequency-selective damping shock absorbers, which allow some float over minor road irregularities but firm up for more significant events. The Tonale Veloce features an adaptive damping system that Alfa Romeo says individually adjusts the damping of each wheel in real time to maximize comfort and control.
The Tonale corners with little or no body roll, and the chassis feels tight and well put together. Its quick-ratio steering makes it feel responsive and easy to place the vehicle where you want it, although feedback could be more organic. Understeer is well controlled, directional stability is spot on, and the Tonale feels well-balanced, courtesy of a near-ideal 52 percent front/48 percent rear weight distribution.
Stopping ability is confidence-inspiring with the Tonale's generously sized standard Brembo brakes and brake-by-wire setup that delivers a firm pedal and quick, easy-to-modulate response.
One thing missing from the new Tonale is a sporty exhaust note, long a hallmark of Alfa Romeo sports cars and sport sedans. With many new whisper-quiet electric cars now taking performance honors, that time-honored exhaust soundtrack is beginning to fade into history. Alfa Romeo declined to add a simulated "performance" soundtrack to the Tonale through its audio speakers.
Photo: Ron Sessions
The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale launches with an extensive roster of standard safety and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) technology. In addition to seven airbags, standard elements include:
Alfa Romeo also equipped the Tonale test vehicle with the optional Active Assist Advanced package, which includes the following:
During a week's driving, all the safety and driver-assistance systems I could test without risking life and limb performed as expected. However, the blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning systems, the surround-view camera, and the rear parking assistance systems got a workout due to the Tonale's below-par rearward visibility. The vehicle's prominent rear-seat head restraints, downward sloping roof at the rear, thick rear roof pillars, and sharply angled rear window all conspire to restrict the view out the back and to the hind quarters.
Several times, the warning beeps of the rear cross-traffic and blind-spot warning systems alerted me to vehicles or pedestrians approaching from the rear. The rear park assistance system's increasingly fervent beeps advised me of obstacles when backing into a parking spot, and the surround-view camera gave me a bird's-eye view of the Tonale and its immediate surroundings. That's all good information to have.
Photo: Ron Sessions
Roughly equivalent to the cargo space in a compact hatchback car, the Tonale offers 22.9 cubic feet of room behind the rear seat and 50.5 cubic feet with both sections of the 60/40 split back seat folded flat. With the rear seat up, there's room for at least three airport roller bags.
The Tonale has an electric inflator and a tire sealant kit instead of a spare tire. The Tonale's plug-in hybrid system takes up most of the space under the cargo floor. Still, a decent amount left over provides room for the AC charge cord and hidden storage for valuables such as a laptop, digital camera, or purse.
Although its EPA-estimated 29 mpg combined city/highway fuel economy pales in comparison to the 39-mpg estimate of another small premium SUV, the 2024 Lexus UX 250h AWD, the Alfa Romeo offers the benefit of up to 33 miles of driver-selectable electric-only operation from the 15.5-kWh lithium-ion battery. The EPA estimates a total driving range with a fully charged hybrid propulsion battery of 360 miles.
During a week of driving the Tonale in brutal 110-degree summer weather, the test vehicle displayed an average of 28.5 mpg of fuel use. With the smallish 11.2-gallon tank and 33 electric-only miles, that equated to roughly a 352-mile maximum driving range.
Alfa Romeo says you can fully charge the Tonale's hybrid propulsion battery in about 2.5 hours using a 240-volt AC charger.
As of this writing, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released test results for the 2024 Tonale.
The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale prices range from $42,995 for the base Sprint trim and $44,495 for the mid-level Ti to $47,495 for the top-of-the-line Veloce. The additional destination charge is $1,595.
In the JD Power 2023 Initial Quality Study (IQS), the Audi Q3 ranks highest in the Small Premium SUV segment. The Lexus UX and the Mercedes-Benz GLA are the next highest-ranked models.
In the 2023 APEAL Study, the Genesis GV60 ranks highest in the Small Premium SUV segment. The Volvo C40 and the BMW X1 are the next highest-ranked models.
Other competitors to the 2024 Tonale include the BMW X2, Jaguar E-Pace, Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, and Volvo XC40.
Photo: Ron Sessions
The all-new Alfa Romeo Tonale offers fun-to-drive dynamics and high style in a new, urban-friendly size and Earth-friendlier plug-in hybrid configuration that nudges the 113-year-old car brand in a new, lower-carbon direction. By offering its most recent entry in the fastest-growing small SUV segment equipped with the latest infotainment, connectivity, and driver-assistive technology, Alfa Romeo is diversifying its previous enthusiast-owner base to one that may attract more female and urban professionals.
Ron Sessions is a seasoned vehicle evaluator with more than three decades of experience. He has penned hundreds of road tests for automotive and consumer websites, enthusiast magazines, newsletters, technical journals, and newspapers.
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