2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale | First Drive

For the latest Alfa Romeo Tonale pricing and information:
www.kbb.com/alfa-romeo/tonale/
The Alfa Romeo Tonale starts out in the compact luxury crossover segment with a huge advantage. It’s gorgeous. But it also gets brains to go with its stunner good looks.
Right off the bat you’re looking at a base price of $42,995 for the Tonale Sprint. And here’s what you get for the money.
The PHEV powertrain, the only one that’s available in the US incidentally, pairs a 1.5-liter inline 4-cylinder turbo engine with a 90 kW motor that uses a 15.5 kWh battery.
That combination is good for a pure electric range of 30 miles, which will get most drivers where they need to go and back every day. Replenishing they charge will take about 5 or 6 hours, the Italians were a bit vague on which, on a level 2 charger.
But if you’re commute is far or you’re a road tripper you’re looking at 320 miles of range on a full tank. Combined horsepower is a robust 285 horses with 347 lb-ft of torque. For a compact SUV those are solid numbers.
Basically, in Dynamic mode, this little thing is a rocket. It gets a 6-speed transmission that’s tuned to be pretty sporty in my opinion. Shifts are smooth and the gears, especially the lower ones feel long so you can really get good torque out of them. Paddle shifters are an option on the Ti, which is the middle trim level , so you can downshift if you’re looking for even more of that low end torque, and on the top Tonale Veloce you get the paddles standard.
The Tonale is only coming to the US as an AWD vehicle. I’m not thrilled about the lack of choice, but that’s what it is. As far as its turning ability, the steering makes for precise turns even if it does feel a bit light and heavy on the electronic assistance. It feels planted and stable, with only a little bit of lateral back and forth and body roll if you’re really digging into turns. Torque vectoring differentials do their best to mitigate understeer if you’re accelerating into turns too quick. For more performance driving, upgrade your tires.
The brakes feel sure-footed at the top of the pedal and you’ can adjust regen how you like it. You get more in efficiency mode, naturally. They’re not terribly natural feeling as they’re brake by wire, but they are very confidence inspiring.
Whichever trim you get it has a 10.25-inch infotainment screen comes standard. That screen comes with the Stellantis Uconnect system, which has long been one of the best for its ease of use. It’s customizable, you can pick which apps are most used and put them close to you. Graphics are sharp. The processor is quick. And the layers are not vast.
You get plenty of buttons for oft used functions. Of course, you’ve got standard wireless AppleCarPlay, Android Auto and Alexa available to interface your phone with.
One thing that drove me nuts all day was the wireless phone charging cradle. If you drive aggressively around turns and the phone shifts position once it settles in it tells you it’s charging again. If you’re trying to follow nav instructions, through narrow Italian streets, it’s very distracting.
There’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel that gives the driver a ton of helpful information and looks great pulling from Alfa’s history from cars like the Tipo 33 gauges.
If you move up to the Ti trim, ($45,655) you have to add the High Performance Driving Package: $1500, to get paddle shifters and gloss red brake calipers, the Premium interior + sound package ($2500) which gets you memory seat position, Harmon Kardon audio system, and heated and ventilated front seats, the Premium Interior package by itself without the sound bits, ($1500) gets you perforated leather, ventilated front seats and the Active Assist Package ($1850) with Active driving assist, park sense front, rear, side and surround view camera system.
The Veloce trim, that’s the highest one comes in around $50,000 and that gets you 19-inch wheels and a 9-way adjustable seat, but you still have to purchase some of those additional packages, so my recommendation is to get the Ti and add on what’s important to you.
A lot of safety features also come standard and include adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, intelligent speed assist, and lane departure warnings with lane keeping assist. Now, remember, this is an Alfa Romeo, but it’s still from the Stellantis group so all of those systems are shared among the flock.
Alfa’s betting a lot on this little firecracker and hoping to double their NA sales, so they’ve put a lot into making sure it delivers. Do I think they were successful. Well, if a great looking luxury car that’s also fuel efficient and gets some excellent features even on the base model, then yes. Or should I say, si?
00:00 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale
0:32 Powertrain
1:46 Driving Impressions
6:33 Interior
10:57 Exterior
12:36 Competitors

[@Gerberbaby922]

KBB has been killing it lately. Another great review from Lyn.

[@ned8249]

I love it. My wife has a Lexus NX which is really nice but the Italians have a way to make a passionate automobile.

[@BradWilson1969]

Agree about PHEV being a great middle ground right now. Until I can reliably find a working charger that's not occupied and is fast enough to get me going in less than 30 minutes, going full electric doesn't appeal to me.

[@jd-py5nm]

wife and I have owned a prius prime phev the last five years and highly recommend it

[@155stw]

I have an EV, just to try. But for now I would go with PHEV. But in 5 years definitively EV.

[@florinvid]

I have a phev and decided to get an ev as well. With a level 2 charger at home, and 270 miles at 80% every morning, it doesn't get more effortless. The ev shares the garage with a 65 dodge, so no, I'm not one of those ev nuts. Got it for the experience and I love the performance and efficiency.

[@blue_lancer_es]

I wonder if some Americans are going to call this toenail. 😅

[@damilolaakanni]

Some people are already calling it that😅😂.

[@Stinger430]

HA!

[@weirdshibainu]

Ain't that how youse says it?😂

[@blue_lancer_es]

@@damilolaakanni the marketing team didn't have a lot of foresight.

[@sgregorybird]

I was just thinking that!

[@sswaffensturm664]

I like the presentation being filmed in location in Italy.

[@RatKing59]

It’s an Alfa. It it were being filmed on location, it would be on a lift at the shop

[@boots_n_coots]

Ooo, I do like it. I would definitely consider this when the time comes to shop. (Great work Lynn, master of the concise yet informative YT review!)

[@denault3985]

If I remember correctly, the Tonale's brother the Dodge Hornet failed immediately in a TFL review with an electronics failure. Looks good though...

[@electrikoptik]

The ol' Stellantis seal of quality

[@epbrown01]

The Hornet! I was trying to remember what the Dodge version was.

[@XvFenixvX]

Yeah it set off every warning light on the dash after 5 seconds of a 3 wheel slip test

[@DarthFurball]

They set up an unrealistic slip test...and to Dodge's credit they updated the software anyway.

[@XvFenixvX]

@@DarthFurball they did the same exact slip test they trialed on all of the awd/4wd systems they test

[@Krieky]

What is it about Italians and design! What a gorgeous car. And that paint is 👏

[@joshuacortes2414]

Its identical to the American Dodge Hornet for $15,000 more lol

[@theolympus1851]

So beautiful car. Those angry lights..wow

[@ryanfrisby7389]

Excellent review Lyn!😸

[@RYk1234100]

I bought a wrangler 4XE, and couldn't agree more on PHEV being the way to go. I need the range, and live in MT with almost no charging infrastructure, but use almost no gas in my day to day life. its also quicker than it has any right to be and is so heavy it makes the wrangler seem pretty planted (for a wrangler.....).

[@justaguy6862]

Agreed. PHEV is the best route to go as battery tech is perfected. Ie: sodium et al

[@brodydeacon4090]

honestly sooo cool. also really wanting a PHEV for the next car i get

[@sak1339]

Thanks for the review _ it seems to be quite roomy inside. I don't know how tall you are but the front and rear seat accommodates you really well. I liked your "road trip" comment: that is what I am looking for. A small road trip CUV that is fun to drive. I wish you had more time to report on the interior materials where Alfa often skimps.

[@adriano8809]

Premium leather, premium aluminum

[@NeedSpeedRC]

Good review. You finally stopped sounding like Tom Voelk doubleganger :)

[@barsaf9989]

I agree that PHEV is the way to go right now, but I still don't believe we will be "transitioning to full electric." I don't believe that will ever happen. Even with politicians pushing super hard for full EV.

[@artokiiskinen1058]

I believe it will happen. Lets see this comment in 5 years time when it has happened.

[@HawkSea]

@@artokiiskinen1058 10 years time.

[@theshowmaster3836]

Can you do any towing with this?

[@77devera]

I 100% agree with you Lynn about PHEV! Great review as always.

[@TravelBreakthrough]

I just did a review and test drive of the blue tonale and amazed at how the Eletric and gas

[@DarthFurball]

Great review. And having owned a full-electric, I have to agree with Lyn that a PHEV is the way to go given the current infrastructure and battery technology.

[@Stinger430]

I wonder if Mike Danger will fit in that. LoL. I know the CX-5 doesn't compete with the Tonale, but I think it's a better value.

[@anthonypipia6990]

Doesn’t look half as good though

[@Stinger430]

@@anthonypipia6990 That's subjective.

[@anthonypipia6990]

@@Stinger430 hard to argue comparing these two, alfa romeo build beautiful great driving cars, Mazda does the same but to a lesser degree of both

[@Stinger430]

@@anthonypipia6990 Good point 👍

[@richardr5888]

Why is no one asking how the US/ state government is going to tax us when we finally go "all" electric? They will need to compensate for all that tax they collect on fuel purchases. Make no mistake, they will find a way.

[@adriano8809]

I have seen a few already here in SoCal

[@HawkSea]

Waiting for the drag races.

[@Rosso488]

I'm aching to drive one.

[@nicholassmith7048]

7:10 roundabouts FTW!

[@rossenmilanov1375]

Is there a bike rack that could be installed on the Tonale? I test drove the car and it looked like the Italians simply forgot to think about attaching anything on the roof of the car?

[@DarthFurball]

There is a roof and hitch option I believe...

[@PeteMarshall-tp3ih]

It's a 1.3 ICE not 1.5 in PHEV

[@gti983]

The engine for PHEV Tonale is 1.3L, not 1.5L

[@kbb]

You are 100% correct. We're bummed we got this one wrong. Thanks for pointing it out.

[@Fools_Requiem]

320 miles max range with a full tank of gas? For a hybrid, that's pretty low. My 2018 Lexus ES with a V6 gets over 400 miles highway and it doesn't have a secondary electric motor...

[@YourMom-vl2sp]

Nice Dodge Hornet 👍

[@wehkfam5680]

Not only is green paint a $2,200 option it isn't available on the Sport. You have to pay another $2,660 to get to the Ti before paying another $2,200 for the color they're pushing. I don't see them winning over twice the clients if the new customers will be told it is an extra $4,860 over the starting price to get the color from the commercial.

[@mikeslechta6607]

Q4 just means 4wd/AWD

[@oscardelarosa8217]

Would not pay for an almost 50k subcompact suv.

[@pt020]

I think it will be the 1.3L engine not the 1.5.

[@MBisFrenchy]

If Alfa continues to suffer in sales hopefully the discounts will be deep enough to bring back those 0 down 299 base trim cars.

[@anthonypipia6990]

They’re not continuing to suffer they are profitable again and tonale sales have been strong in Europe

[@MBisFrenchy]

@@anthonypipia6990 The US discounts and conquest have steadily increased over the months to make their lease prices cheaper

[@anthonypipia6990]

@@MBisFrenchyI'm in the US theyre about 500 a month for a base stelvio or giulia

[@americanparser]

Why are we going to Italy to review cars that aren't even available in the United States?

[@ShafinRehman]

That tiny 1.5L engine is not befitting for an Alfa. Personally think it should have been at least a 2L, also they could have done a bit better on the interior materials, especially at the center console.

[@weirdshibainu]

Exactly. When I drive an alfa, I want performance first. The interior is medicore

[@Mamo878]

You. Know. Nothing. Please. Anyone who knows _anything_ about Alfa history knows that they had small 4-cyl motors with 1300 to 1800cc engines for decades.

[@ShafinRehman]

@@Mamo878 Hey, you are right. They did... when they weighed like 2000 lbs. Vehicles today are extremely heavy. This is almost double at around 3800 lbs depending on equipment. And Alfa certainly didn't make an SUV before their Stelvio in their history. The same goes for its cousin, the Dodge Hornet. Horribly underpowered there.

[@ALMX5DP]

@@ShafinRehman Are you complaining about displacement or power? Because you initially mentioned displacement but the seemed to pivot to weight being part of the picture. This will have sufficient power and especially torque for the segment. So not sure what the displacement concern was for.

[@michaelhoard9548]

Justndint see these selleing here. Its very rare to see an Alpha where I live and with the much cheaper dodge hornet based of this i just dont see them selling

[@JoeStAmand-vj7cw]

It's a 1.3L, not a 1.5L

[@true-liberal2002]

We need at least 50 miles of EV mode while we transition to full EV.

[@CarlosNoedelaTorre]

TonalE

[@Jay-dh9yt]

it is a 1.3l 4 cylinder turbo not a 1.5. it takes 2.5 hours to fully charge from empty, not 5 or 6 hours! I will stop watching before I find more wrong information, which I just did again!!

[@heinedenmark]

It's not a 1.5l.. 🙄

[@Ethan7s]

You know the only thing that’s worse than German electronics? Italian electronics. Have fun 😂

[@sssssneaker]

I assume you haven't had the privilege of owning a French car

[@Ethan7s]

@@sssssneaker pungent citrus isn’t really my kind of fruit.

[@sssssneaker]

Yeah me neither. But I did have a 2002 Alfa 156 for 6 years and the only electrical issue was a bad connector for the passenger airbag. Sure, I fixed it a lot :)) mechanical stuff though, more or less expected for a very high mileage car.

[@The123Now]

big miss on not having a better powertrain, customers will just buy the dodge hornet with the same setup to save money. Alfa Romeo missed the opportunity.

[@mikeslechta6607]

Has nun to do w performance

[@sultanniazi2394]

Will spend lots of time at the service shop ❤

[@shebamut]

actually, alfa's have a high reliability rating...these aren't the alfa's of the 60's....

[@jamesterakazis6624]

Lyn....1.3 Liter petrol engine

[@Deetroiter]

If this Alfa Romeo is like anything else Italian, it's going to have some...'character'..to the ownership experience. But I guarantee, this thing is going to be a hell of a driving experience and in serious style. Italians don't do wimpy and boring driving experiences (except for the base Fiat 500 lol)

[@jamesterakazis6624]

Have you ever owned a BMW, Merc, Audi, Porsche or VW ? Want to talk about "character" ? Don't drink the German Kool Aid....Hans and Franz are pouring... FORZA ALFA BABY !!!! THE KING IS BACK !!!!

[@boots_n_coots]

Looks plus brains, what a great reviewer… uh, I mean great car… oh you know what I mean 😊

[@ned8249]

Yes. We all love her.

[@Kiss__Kiss]

While I'm Sicilian and should be for this brand, or the Tonale for that matter. I just don't see it becoming a thing. And more to the point, I don't see this EV craze being mainstream, the way ICE vehicles came about. At least not for another 15-20 years... At least. But, nice to see you Lyn. Happy Memorial Day, KBB.

[@rustbeltrobclassic2512]

is the color called Green toe fungus?

[@AJ67901]

So can I call it the toenail or the tamale?

[@andrewcairo6299]

PHEV is not the future at all. Hybrid cars are still the best out there for range. The future is Hydrogen.

[@brianfru1025]

Omg it looks just like the dodge hornet, did they even try to make it look different

[@rl720]

It was originally an Alfa Romeo design. Hornet is a rebadged version.

[@DarthFurball]

@@rl720 Yup the Dodge is built at the same plant in Italy...

[@clagCA]

Dodge Hornet

[@weirdshibainu]

I ain't never goin' to drive one of them electrical cars.

[@preoksaha4504]

The fact that this looks like the hornet makes it less desirable 💀

[@rl720]

Or does the Hornet look better because it's made from an Alfa?

[@MilkaSingh-rt6zp]

I had no idea they still exist and still make whatever they call as "cars"

[@MotorTorq_ZA]

But what is the point when I can buy a dodge hornet for cheaper

[@rl720]

Comparing the content between them, with similar content they are very close in price.

[@christopher1298]

Alfa just shot themselves in the foot. It cheapens the brand, knowing it's a dodge hornet. Too bad 👎.

[@rl720]

It was designed to be an Alfa first. Dodge needed to be in the segment and it will increase platform sales overall.

[@RellupNorth]

Alfa's interiors all look cheap. Can't convince me otherwise

[@oscardelarosa8217]

No thanks .

[@Chase-simba1]

The Italians can't even get a gasoline engine reliably right, now we're throwing electric hybrid drive trains into the mix? This is going to be a nightmare

[@kkp4297]

yuck. FWD based.

[@roadrendezvous1127]

Buy a Dodge Hornet. Same thing. Save money.

[@Acc0rd79]

It will fall apart right off the lot, no thanks!!

[@dp2world23]

I cannot wait until EV'S fail..