Introduction
What Car? says...
The Alfa Romeo Tonale has a tough task on its hands: to keep existing Alfa fans happy while appealing to a new breed of buyers looking for an intriguing alternative to the familiar family SUVs.
The first part could be tricky, because very few SUVs are anywhere near sporty enough to satisfy the 'Alfisti' (die-hard fans of the Italian car maker). Still the Tonale does have a lot to offer in other respects.
There's also something called 'non-fungible-token blockchain technology' for servicing records. It's supposed to make it easier for owners to prove that the car has been well looked after (at resale time, for example), but most manufacturers have offered a similar facility for years in the form of digital service records.
So, is the Alfa Romeo Tonale one of the best family SUVs you get, and does it live up to Alfa’s sporting heritage, despite the use of economy-minded hybrid engines?
Well, we've driven it, and that's what we'll tell you over the next few pages of this review, covering performance, practicality, running costs and more. We'll also tell you how the Tonale compares with its main rivals, including the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Volvo XC40.
When you've decided which car to buy, you can find the lowest price by searching our free What Car? New Car Deals pages. They feature some of the best new family SUV deals.
FAQs
The Tonale was too new to feature in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey but Alfa Romeo itself didn’t fare all that well, finishing 29th out of the 32 manufacturers.
The Tonale looks a tad expensive, with starting prices far higher than even premium cars such as the BMW X1 but it comes with a lot of equipment you'd have to pay extra for on some family SUVs. Even so, it’s hard to ignore that difference, given that lower-spec rivals are just as good.
The quickest version, the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) can sprint from 0-62mph in 6.2sec, while the mild-hybrid Tonale is a little more casual, doing the same acceleration test in 8.8sec.
The Tonale is available as mild hybrid or a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) but not an electric car. The first Alfa Romeo electric car is due in 2024.
Every Tonale comes with a 10.25in touchscreen infotainment system which is easy to use and quick to respond to your prods. It’s a shame Alfa Romeo has removed the physical rotary controller, though.
| RRP price range | £38,595 - £48,495 |
|---|---|
| Number of trims (see all) | 3 |
| Number of engines (see all) | 2 |
| Available fuel types (which is best for you?) | hybrid, petrol |
| MPG range across all versions | 217.3 - 49.6 |
| Available doors options | 5 |
| Warranty | 3 years / No mileage cap |
| Company car tax at 20% (min/max) | £2,299 / £2,533 |
| Company car tax at 40% (min/max) | £4,598 / £5,066 |
| Available colours |
