- More than two years after showing the concept, Alfa Romeo has finally unveiled the 2023 Tonale SUV.
- The Tonale is the first Alfa Romeo that will be offered with a plug-in-hybrid powertrain. It will also come with a nonhybrid 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four.
- The Tonale goes on sale in the first quarter of 2023, with order books opening late this year and pricing information still to come.
The 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale is finally here. We first saw the Tonale as a concept back in 2019, but extra development for its gas-electric drivetrain and the chip shortage in 2021 delayed its debut. Now Alfa Romeo has finally presented the production version of its second SUV, which slots in below the Stelvio and becomes the first Alfa Romeo to feature a plug-in-hybrid powertrain.
The 2023 Tonale will be offered with two powertrains. The headlining act is the new plug-in-hybrid setup, which pairs a 180-horsepower turbocharged 1.3-liter inline-four powering the front wheels with a 121-hp electric motor mounted on the rear axle. The system sends a combined output of 272 horsepower to all four wheels, and the electric motor draws its juice from a 15.5-kWh lithium-ion battery. The Tonale PHEV uses a six-speed automatic transmission and Alfa Romeo promises over 30 miles of electric driving range.
The Tonale PHEV will feature three driving modes: Natural, which blends the engine and electric motor for everyday driving; Advanced Efficiency, meant for pure electric travel; and Dynamic, for maximum performance from both the engine and e-motor.
Along with the plug-in model, Tonale buyers will be able to choose a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. This engine produces a healthy 256 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The nonhybrid Tonale will also come standard with all-wheel drive.
Alfa Romeo promises that the Tonale will have the athletic driving dynamics that we’ve come to expect from the brand. Along with a quick 13.6:1 steering ratio, the Tonale features an independent suspension front and rear with optional adaptive dampers that can be set to Comfort or Sport.
Stylistically, the Tonale stays true to the concept, with thin headlights featuring three U-shaped LED elements framing the traditional Alfa Romeo grille. The rear features a trendy full-width taillight that echoes the three-piece lightning motif from the front. The Tonale measures 178.3 inches long, making it a few inches longer than a BMW X1 but still over six inches shorter than an X3.
Inside, the Tonale features a 10.3-inch center touchscreen running Stellantis’ Uconnect 5 infotainment system and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless phone charging will be standard, and Uconnect 5 includes Amazon’s Alexa virtual assistant. The Alfa Connect app will allow owners to start and stop the engine and lock and unlock the doors remotely, among other functions, and the Tonale will also be able to receive over-the-air updates.
Alfa Romeo says the Tonale will be the first vehicle to come with a NFT digital certificate, which will record vehicle data throughout the car’s life cycle and act as a certificate that the Tonale has been correctly maintained and serviced. Alfa Romeo claims it will benefit the car’s residual value and help future owners buying on the used market know what they’re getting into. Alfa Romeo did acknowledge that that NFT will not keep a record if you decide to do maintenance yourself.
The Tonale is also equipped with standard safety tech including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency braking. A Traffic Jam Assist feature will be able to steer and adjust the speed of the vehicle on the highway.
The Tonale will come in three trim levels—Sprint, Ti, and Veloce—and will go on sale in the first quarter of 2023. Order books open in the fourth quarter of this year, and we expect it to start around $38,000. The Tonale is the first of many electrified Alfa Romeos, with the Italian automaker announcing a car with hybrid and full-electric powertrains coming in 2024 before a dedicated EV arrives in 2025.
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
