2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale: Plenty of gusto on a small plate

Before Alfa Romeo goes all in on electrics, by 2027, the Italian brand is launching its first plug-in hybrid, the Tonale.

A small crossover, slotted below the Stelvio crossover, the Tonale shares a Stellantis platform with the Jeep Compass and Dodge Hornet.

It is the brand's third model in the U.S. after the Stelvio and Giulia sedan, and will be its last new vehicle with an internal combustion engine.

The Tonale, similar in size to the Audi Q3 and BMW X1, comes in three trim levels, with the base Sprint version starting at $44,590 including shipping. The Ti is priced from $46,590 and the top-of-the-line Veloce begins at $49,090, both including shipping.

The Tonale blends a 15.5-kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery with a 90-kilowatt electric motor and 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine to produce 285 hp, 347 pound-feet of torque and an electric range of more than 30 miles. It zips from 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. Plans to sell the Tonale in the U.S. with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine were dropped because of regulatory rules covering carbon dioxide emissions in California and other states.

The cabin is equipped with a 10.25-inch center touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Safety features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, a high-resolution surround-view camera system and monitoring system that warns drowsy or distracted drivers to pay attention or pull over. Advanced driver assistance technology includes adaptive cruise control and lane centering to control and maintain vehicle speed and direction when traffic is heavy.

Journalists recently drove the Tonale in Italy and we've rounded up some early reviews.

"By default the Tonale starts in hybrid mode, and there's no setting for an EV default like the Volvo T8 offers. Driving in and out of the many small towns, we were impressed by how seldom the engine starts while scooting smartly out of roundabouts. The powertrain 'sail' when you lift the throttle, and the only way to boost regenerative braking is to press 'e-save.'

"This button can be programmed to prioritize recharging the battery or simply to refrain from depleting it. In either case, you lose the aft motor's 121 horses and 184 torques and get a lot more regen braking, but in recharge mode it also feels a little like you're dragging an anchor under acceleration. This can be minimized by setting a lower target battery-charge level (choices are 40, 60, and 80 percent).

"In both modes the electronically adjustable frequency-selective dampers (standard on Veloce) provide a surprisingly supple ride on the optional 20-inch wheels. That's because they're programmed not to sweat the small (amplitude, high-frequency, chatter-bumpy) stuff while firming up to prevent bottoming out on the less frequent big bumps. Comfort apparently counts big with the fairer sex."

— Frank Markus, Motor Trend

"The Alfa Romeo Tonale makes a good first impression. It earns major street cred for its styling, which oozes italianità, and its cabin is a tasty mix of old-school analog dials and clever Uconnect 5 digital tech. But when you push the starter button to summon the puny 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine, slide the gear lever into drive, and hit the throttle, sober reality sets in. Fans hoping for a junior version of the vivacious, sharp-driving Stelvio will be disappointed. The Tonale is built for a different mission.

"Alfa's compact crossover is carved from the same components set as the Dodge Hornet and the Jeep Compass. Welcome to the world of Stellantis, where mandatory synergies and compulsory differentiation are battling it out 24/7.

"Unlike its siblings, the Alfa in our market is offered solely as a plug-in hybrid. The powertrain combines a small 180-hp turbocharged 1.3-liter engine and a 121-hp electric motor for a total output of 285 hp and 347 pound-feet of torque. The Q4 suffix confirms that the Tonale is all-wheel drive, but there is no physical connection between the engine and the motor powering the rear axle. Although Alfa claims a commendably brisk 60-mph time of 5.6 seconds, there's not enough high-end grunt, and the unexciting top speed of 125 mph takes forever to materialize. The sotto voce liftoff exhaust note in Dynamic mode raises goose pimples, but then the noise at high revs kills the acoustic joy."

— Georg Kacher, Car and Driver

"Tonale is the only plug-in hybrid in segment along with NX. That means that, under a loophole in federal law, the $44,590 plug-in is eligible for $7,500 tax credit if leased, giving it a huge sticker price advantage over its competitors. And, ahem, Alfa expects 80% of Tonales will be leased.

"The plug-in powertrain also means best-in-class power with horsepower and torque numbers that put big brother Stelvio to shame. Exiting Alfa's Proving Grounds into SP230 (SP stands for Stada Provinciali, aka, provincial road) north to Candelo, Tonale gulped highway as if shot out of a cannon. Thank the 15.5-kWh battery that brings seamless torque before the turbo-4 engine spools up.

"I first experienced this concept on the E-Ray Corvette. Chevy engineers call it 'torque-fill' (as if the 6.2-liter V-8 needs more low-end torque). Tonale's mere 1.3-liter mill, on the other hand, is transformed by the additional e-torque. Compared to Tonale, the non-hybrid, 2.0-liter turbo-4 in, say, the Giulia Competition, takes all morning before the turbo wakes up.

"The Alfa ute's torque comes on, like — NOW!"

— Henry Payne, The Detroit News

"During a brief stint on the roads of northern Italy, I found myself at first indifferent to the Tonale. From the driver's seat, it's a simple crossover. The steering is light, though it tightens up slightly in the vehicle's 'Dynamic' mode. Its ride — without that stiffest mode engaged — is firm but fair, what one might and should expect from an Alfa Romeo. Its plug-in hybrid system, which produces 285 horses from its 1.3-liter 4-cylinder and batteries, engages and disengages electric thrust seamlessly. The electric power feels hidden away enough, so as to not distract from an otherwise straightforward driving experience. The Tonale is peppy, but not fast.

"The hybrid part is exciting, though. We are proponents of hybrids, particularly plug-ins. In this car, efficiency gains come with no noticeable drawbacks. If you told me that the car I drove didn't have a PHEV system, I would have believed you. It felt so un-intrusive, so inoffensive that it didn't dampen any of this car's performance feel. Unfortunately during a short stint at the Tonale's wheel, I didn't have time to fuss much with the Tonale's EV-only mode. Rather, I spent more time exploring how the two power systems integrated in the car's performance-forward Dynamic setting. And in that mode, gas and electric power blended well.

"Aside from a hint of Italian flair — the side-view mirror caps have il Tricolore pasted on — there's not much theater to the Tonale. That's just fine."

— Aaron Brown, Road & Track

"The Tonale's front to rear weight distribution is 50/50, a balance that contributes to stability around curves and in quick maneuvers. That's unusual in vehicles with front-wheel-drive-type platforms, but the Tonale's battery and electric rear axle add rear weight, offsetting the engine and six-speed automatic transmission up front.

"The Tonale has four drive modes:

• D – dynamic — for sporty driving.
• N – natural — which combines gasoline and electric power for efficiency.
• A – advanced efficiency — which uses only electric power.
• ESC off — which shuts off electronic stability control for occasions like rocking a vehicle stuck in snow.

"The Tonale is easy to drive. I found N mode fine for everyday driving on a combination of country roads and suburban streets. The A mode is also amenable. The engine revs immediately if the accelerator pedal demands more power than the rear e-axle can provide.

"If I owned a Tonale, I'd probably spend most of my time in D, which increases regenerative braking and acceleration, also stiffening steering and the shocks.

"The Tonale's power and performance compare well to small luxury SUVs like the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Cadillac XT4, Lexus NX and Mercedes GLC.

"The interior has plenty of leg- and headroom. The rear seat is very accommodating and there's plenty of cargo space for shopping trips or weekend getaways."

— Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press

"On the highways and byways around Milan, the unibody Tonale in top-line Veloce trim is well suited for negotiating the narrow roads twisting through small towns in northern Italy, while the combined 285 hp and 347 lb-ft of torque are more than adequate for passing on expressways and the occasional wide-open sprint between roundabouts on two-lane country roads.
"The exhaust even sounds throaty when switched into 'Dynamic' mode with the DNA dial near the driver's right knee, as shift points with the six-speed automatic transmission are delayed, allowing for higher revs and maximum output. 'Natural' mode is for everyday use, balancing both the engine and electric motor, while 'Advanced' mode is for maximum efficiency, running in electric mode until the high-voltage battery is depleted (about 30 miles).
"By today's standards, the horsepower and torque numbers look a bit ho-hum on paper, but they actually stack up well to the competition, thanks to the 90-kW e-motor attached to the rear axle, enabling standard all-wheel drive.

"The plug-in hybrid setup allows the engine to cycle on and off without much noise. But the same can't be said for this powertrain at cold start, as the engine sounds coarse as it warms up. Even when the engine is fully warm, popping open the hood reveals a black plastic engine cover — bearing the Alfa Romeo brand name — visibly shaking at idle. It is unclear whether this can be addressed before the first US cars are delivered.
"At parent company Stellantis' Balocco Proving Grounds near Milan, the 4,133-lb. Tonale is at home on the undulating handling track as Sport mode stiffens up the fully independent MacPherson suspension (with frequency selective damping shocks) and allows easy weaving through chicanes and tight corners.
"With the transversely mounted combustion engine driving the front wheels, the electric motor in back sends more power to the outside rear wheel in corners, helping to mitigate understeer and allowing more speed along the way. The electric power steering is well tuned for these dynamic situations (although U.S.-spec cars will have firmer steering, we're told), and the chunky, fixed aluminum shift paddles certainly come in handy."

— Tom Murphy, Autoweek

"Inside, the Tonale takes inspiration from its [Dodge] siblings with a two-barrel digital gauge display, thick steering wheel with integrated start button, and a pair of well-bolstered front bucket seats. But in place of the Stelvio's well-integrated infotainment display, the Tonale's 10.3-inch unit sprouts up from the center stack. The dash design has a horizontal, rather than slanted, motif that helps the Tonale feel airier up front than the intimate (some would say claustrophobic) Stelvio. Unfortunately, the Tonale's dashboard is done up in soft plastic that feels nice but has a high-gloss finish and unnatural grain that make it look cheap.

"In fact, materials as a whole feel a bit disappointing. There's way too much hard stuff, trimming most of the rear door panels and the entirety of the center tunnel. And the color choices are dour and un-Alfalike. While the Giulia and Stelvio have offered red, saddle brown, and tan interiors before, the Tonale gets a mostly black cabin, with red or tan stitching depending on trim level and exterior color."

— Brett T. Evans, motor1.com