“Alfa Romeo ~ Racing and Successful Since 1910” – that was the sticker that adorned the rear window of my gray-market 1967 Alfa Romeo GT Junior for years. I fell in love with Alfa within the early 2000s, and discovered the which means of the alternate acronym, “All the time Wanting For One other.”
What I beloved most about that Junior — and all the opposite Alfas I owned and drove — was the sense of soul. An Alfa is not only every other automobile; it’s a relationship. And that’s not a well mannered manner of claiming it’s a must to continuously tinker to maintain one operating. They had been at all times (effectively, more often than not) dependable for me. It’s saying that with an Alfa, you get again what you place into the automobile, whether or not that’s love or neglect.
Overview
The Alfa Romeo Tonale is the smaller of the 2 SUVs provided by the model; a compact two-row five-seat car. It’s a sibling mannequin to the Dodge Hornet by means of the Stellantis company guardian of each manufacturers. The Tonale is a plug-in hybrid; there isn’t any different drivetrain obtainable, and it comes with all-wheel drive. In and out, you get a distinctly Italian tackle luxurious and efficiency.
Exterior
Any Alfa begins with the grille. The distinctive heart-shaped signal that the automobile coming as much as move you is from Milan’s historic automaker. The front-end remedy varies a bit based mostly in your trim stage, however that grille is at all times there. The remainder of the Tonale seems to be like a properly designed compact SUV. Type follows perform on this class, so the styling occurs on the margins. The Tonale seems to be good, not frumpy.
Inside
The sameness of the Tonale extends to the inside. Like all fashionable autos, issues are specified by a typical manner that doesn’t differ a lot from model to model. Nevertheless, there are touches that talk to Alfa’s heritage, like the beginning button positioned on the steering wheel, and handy controls to alter from regular drive mode to dynamic on the contact of a dial on the console.
One space during which Alfa ranks among the many prime automakers on the planet is the consolation of the seats. I received into the Alfa after an extended airplane experience with my decrease again complaining, and the seat was like a visit to the chiropractor. It’s supportive, and it holds you comfortably in place for any type of driving. High marks there, even earlier than you activate the seat heater.
Powertrain
The Tonale is pushed by a 1.3-liter turbocharged engine mated to a plug-in hybrid electrical system, and the rear axle is pushed by its personal electrical motor. You’ll get about 32 miles of all-electric driving out of the Tonale, then it drives like an everyday hybrid. The cost port is Stage 2, so no DC quick charging, however it’s going to cost up totally in about 4 hours. So it’s a straightforward in a single day cost for a wall-mounted 240-Volt system, and that can deal with most individuals’s on a regular basis driving with out utilizing any fuel in any respect.
The engine, with its 6-speed automated transmission, and hybrid system supply greater than satisfactory energy. Alfa was at all times extra about momentum than uncooked energy, and that holds true within the Tonale.
Security and Expertise
Like all fashionable autos, the Tonale comes with a laundry listing of superior options. Notably, there’s adaptive cruise, assisted steering, blind spot monitor, site visitors signal recognition, and a 360-degree digital camera system that comes as a part of an add-on possibility package deal. Suffice it to say, in order for you a specific characteristic, it’s both commonplace, or a part of a package deal.
The Tonale makes use of a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, paired with a ten.25-inch infotainment touchscreen. Apple and Android telephone integration is commonplace, and within the prime Veloce trim, there’s a cellular gadget charging pad.
Driving Impressions
With 285 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque on faucet, the Tonale will hit 60 mph in 6 seconds. However acceleration is just not the explanation to think about this SUV. What at all times units an Alfa aside is suspension tuning, and that’s the place the Tonale actually excels.
The experience is agency but compliant, and the Tonale is communicative, predictable, and reassuring in corners. This can be a automobile that’s straightforward to drive effectively, and responds to a assured contact on the accelerator, brake and steering.
Then, the Tonale is equally at house in around-town driving. It’s crisp and exact in its motions. The one fault I can discover is a less-than-predictable accelerator response because the system transitions from electrical to gasoline energy and again once more. Generally the Tonale feels prefer it’s bogging down, or can’t fairly determine what to do. Additional tuning of the system ought to relieve that tendency, and total the Tonale is worthy of the Alfa badge on the grille.
2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale Specs
| Dimension | Dimensions: L: 178.3 inches/W: 72.4 inches/H: 63.2 inches/Wheelbase: 103.8 inches |
| Weight | 4,133 kilos |
| Powertrain | 1.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and a everlasting magnet synchronous motor, 6-speed automated transmission and electrical all-wheel drive |
| Gas Economic system | 29 mpg mixed metropolis/freeway; 77 mpg-e/32 miles vary |
| Efficiency Specs | 285 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque |
| Value | Base worth: $42,995; As examined: $57,450, together with $1,595 vacation spot cost |
| On-Sale Date | Accessible now |
Wrap Up
You may get the Tonale in three totally different trims, all with conventional Alfa names: Dash, TI and Veloce. There’s about $7,000 distinction between the trims, with Dash beginning at $42,995 for the 2024 fashions which might be on sale now.
The highest Veloce trim begins at $49,695 and the TI splits the distinction. Actually, there’s little or no draw back to selecting the Veloce, and the tools distinction greater than justifies the value. Including on, there are some tech and luxurious packages you may select, and our totally loaded check car stickered out at $57,450.
2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale — Continuously Requested Questions
Is the Alfa Tonale promoting effectively?
The Tonale accounts for 50% of Alfa gross sales within the U.S..
Is the Tonale greater than the Stelvio?
Ideally, it might price you $3,000 to $5,000 to exchange your Camry Hybrid battery. So, when you’re contemplating a substitute, take note of elements just like the make, the capability, the compatibility together with your car, and some extra parameters.
How far will Camry Hybrid go on electrical solely?
Nevertheless, the Camry is able to travelling quick distances — not more than two miles — underneath electrical energy alone, which ought to make it very environment friendly in cities and cities.
