2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale

The look along the sides also employs the rounded lines that are typical of Alfa Romeo. A curved shoulder line runs from front to rear where it flows into an inset greenhouse with a fast rear roofline. The side windows cutouts take an ovoid shape, and the curvy lines are accented by available 20-inch wheels with a circular spoke pattern.

Inside, the Tonale has circular air vents that bookend the dash, an instrument panel hood with a pair of rounded ends, and various other circular controls. The low-profile 10.3-inch center touchscreen perches atop the lower portion of a dash that cascades downward in two curved layers. Mostly black, it’s a dark cabin, broken up only by an available aluminum trim piece that bisects the dash and some other silver trim.

How fast is the Alfa Romeo Tonale?

It’s no slouch. Alfa Romeo offers only one powertrain in the United States. The plug-in hybrid system teams a 1.3-liter turbo-4 that makes 180 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque and an electric motor that produces 121 hp and 184 lb-ft. They combine for 285 hp and 347 lb-ft. The engine uses a 48-volt starter/generator that provides a small shot of torque from a start and smooths over the stop/start feature. The transmission is a 6-speed automatic.

How the power arrives depends on the selected driving mode. The Tonale has the traditional Alfa Romeo DNA drive mode selector, but its modes take on different meanings. The D stands for Dual power and Dynamic. It provides maximum output from both the engine and the rear motor. The engine and motor aren’t connected mechanically, but they are well integrated. In this mode, the transmission holds gears longer, the throttle livens up, and the Tonale can hit 60 mph from a stop in a quoted 5.6 seconds. It’s not a jolt of power, but it’s plenty for everyday needs.

N stands for Natural, and it aims for a balance of power without compromise. Drivers have to go harder on the throttle to get up to speed, but it’s the more efficient choice.

A mode, or Advanced efficiency, aims to run the Tonale on electric power at all times. However, heavy throttle application or exceeding 85 mph will turn on the engine. The little turbo-4 is pretty smooth, but it’s still coarse in comparison to the placid electric power. The Tonale has only decent power in this mode, though it can be driven exclusively on electric power for its roughly 30 miles of range. A separate e-Save button maintains the state of battery charge for drivers who may need to drive on electric power alone in some situations.

Alfa Romeo aims to make the Tonale the sportiest vehicle in the class, and adds some hardware to get there. That includes standard 4-piston front calipers that clamp 13.5-inch rotors and optional adjustable dampers. The vehicle uses independent suspension with MacPherson struts front and rear, and has a rather quick 13.6:1 steering ratio.

A small size also contributes to a sporty demeanor. Light steering sends the Tonale quickly in a new direction. The agility is aided by a relatively low ground clearance of 5.6 inches, which is about the same as a Toyota Camry. The available adjustable dampers have only comfort and sport settings, and while the firmer setting further limits the already controlled body lean, the ride still doesn’t get too harsh. The short 103.8-inch wheelbase can make the ride busy, though. The brakes are more than up to the task of hauling this 4,133-pound crossover to a stop.

The back seat has surprisingly good space, better than the larger Stelvio, which is more than six inches longer. The reason is the design of each vehicle. The Tonale’s front transverse engine layout takes up less space up front than the Stelvio’s longitudinal design and a MacPherson strut rear suspension robs less space than the Stelvio’s multi-link setup. That gives the Tonale a roomy 38.0 inches of legroom, which is enough for a 6-footer to sit behind another 6-footer, but not much more. The seat bottoms also sit high enough to provide decent comfort for long trips.

The hatch area also has a fairly useful 20.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 50.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. That’s on the small side for a crossover, but so is the Tonale itself.

Which Alfa Romeo Tonale should I buy?

We recommend moving up to the $46,590 Ti model for its adjustable dampers. It also adds a hands-free power tailgate and aluminum interior trim.

How much is a fully loaded Alfa Romeo Tonale?

The Veloce costs $49,090 and comes with paddle shifters, Alcantara upholstery, 8-way power front seats, and 19-inch wheels.

Tonale infotainment

The Tonale has a decent-size 10.3-inch touchscreen that runs parent company Stellantis’ Uconnect5 software, which reacts quickly to driver inputs and presents an easy-to-use interface. Up to five drivers can customize their homescreens, as well as their radio stations, temperature settings, and seating positions. While 10.3 inches is a decent size, the screen’s low profile makes it feel smaller. 

An E-Hybrid screen has power flow and driving history screens to help drivers monitor the powertrain and aim for better efficiency. A Performance screen also displays several gauge readouts.