A lot of people do not realize that Alfa Romeo has been building automobiles since 1910. The 2024 Tonale is the first new entry in a number of years, and it is the first plug-in hybrid in the company’s history. By the way, Tonale correctly pronounced rhymes with Denali. My test vehicle is the top-of-the-line Veloce trim, but there are two trim levels below this.
Powertrain
The Tonale powers the front wheels via a mild hybrid 1.3-liter turbo four-cylinder good for 180-horses and 199 lb.-ft. of torque, while a secondary 121-hp/184-lb.-ft. electric motor powers the rear wheels, drawing energy from a 15.5-kWh battery pack. Altogether, they deliver 285 hp and 347 lb.-ft. of torque. This configuration also provides the power of all-wheel drive and is mounted to a six-speed automatic transmission.
Exterior
Outside, the Tonale is an attractive compact SUV with the classic Alfa triangular grill, tri-LED headlights and taillights.
Always proud of its emblem, designers built the hood around the emblem. It has beautiful 20” five-hole wheels, a rear spoiler, and dual exhaust.
Interior
The surprise came with the interior, it is truly luxurious with comfortable leather seats that are heated and cooled, and power on both sides. Like all Alfas, the start button is attached to the left side of the flat-bottomed steering wheel. As you start the car, you’ll see a huge 12.3” digital gauge cluster that is easy to read and quite colorful.
Center dash up high is a 10.25” infotainment screen that operates the sound system, climate controls, navigation system, Bluetooth, and vehicle settings. This is also where you operate the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There are also performance pages, and pages to monitor the power to the drive train and gives you stats on the hybrid battery use.
The center console has a built-in phone charger, and this is where you check the DNA drive modes, and each one changes the Tonale noticeably. The D is for dynamic, of course my favorite, N is for neutral which is normal driving, and A is for Advanced Efficiency if you want a less responsive feel but want to maximize fuel economy.
Back seat room is fairly small but headroom is good for all occupants, even with a panoramic moon roof. Rear seat occupants get air conditioning vents and USB ports, along with a fold down armrest. Cargo area is actually quite good and has a retractable cover.
Standard Equipment
The Tonale trim comes completely loaded with the power moonroof, ambient lighting, a power tailgate, aluminum pedals, a Harman-Kardon sound system, and a heated steering wheel.
Safety
On the safety front, my test vehicle has forward collision warning, lane keep assist, blind-spot warning, front and rear parking system, active driving assist, park assist, and a surround-view camera with good definition.
Ride and Drive
The Tonale has terrific handling and a nice ride. Acceleration is very good on this 4,150-pound SUV, with a 0-to-60 speed of six-seconds.
You get 30+ miles of electric range on a full charge before the SUV kicks over to gasoline. Twice I ran all the battery range out, and using my Level 2 charger, was able to get the battery full in under two hours. As always, the plus of plug-in hybrids is if you have a short commute, you’ll never use any gasoline, but unlike an all-electric car, you head across the country on the gas engine.
The Italians did a nice job with this SUV. The only complaint I had after a week of driving was the infotainment screen was at times very slow to react to the touch. Otherwise, this is a very enjoyable SUV.
Fuel Economy
Fuel economy is not officially rated yet, but Alfa Romeo estimates it at 75-MPGe. Total range on the battery and the gas engine combined is 320-miles, a great number for a compact SUV.
What You'll Pay
Total MSRP on this luxury SUV is $57,450, which was a surprise to me, I expected it to be higher than that based on the plug-in hybrid competition. If you lease it, the Tonale qualifies for the $7,500 Federal tax credit.
- What I liked most: The driving characteristics and fuel economy.
- What I would change: Speed up that infotainment screen.
- MSRP: $47,495 base price/as equipped $57,450 with transportation.
- Fuel Economy: Rated at an estimated 75-MPGe.
- Odometer reading when tested: 1,800 miles.
- Weight: 4,150 pounds/5,355 pound GVWR.
- Spare Tire: Inflator Kit.
- Length-Width-Height: 178” long/72” wide/63” high.
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 12 gallons with the filler on the driver's side.
- Official Color: Grigio Ascari Metallic.
- Towing Capacity: 2,000 pounds.
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2024 Tonale in a few words: A real sleeper in the compact luxury SUV segment, and very well priced versus its competition.
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Warranty: 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper, 8-year/100,000 mile hybrid battery warranty.
- Final Assembly Location: Pomigliano, Italy.
- Manufacturer's website: Alfa Romeo
