Name: New Alfa Romeo Tonale models and Specifications
Brand: Alfa Romeo

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1.3 PHEV

The mild-hybrid engine is fine for the most part, but can be a little buzzy when thrashed and isn’t particularly sprightly. There are family SUV hybrids that have stronger electric motors and bigger batteries to keep them in EV mode for longer, whereas the Tonale has to rely heavily on its engine if you want decent acceleration.

1.5 MHEV

Sprint

Tributo Italiano

Aside from the slightly sportier styling, the main attraction of upgrading to Veloce trim will be the electronic suspension. However, given how well the Tonale rides on its standard suspension, we don’t think it’s worth the extra investment. 

Veloce

Hatchback

Alfa Romeo now has one of its strongest-ever model line-ups, after years of living off past glories.

The BMW 3 Series-rivalling Giulia executive saloon is one of the best cars in its class to drive, while the closely related Stelvio and smaller Tonale both competes in the booming SUV class.

It’s all a long way from the days when Alfa Romeo just had a couple of dated hatchbacks (the Mito and Giulietta) and the niche 4C sports car in its range.

ALFA ROMEO

TONALE

1.3 PHEV Tributo Italiano 5dr Auto

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1.5 MHEV Sprint 5dr Auto

1.5 MHEV Veloce 5dr Auto

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1.3 PHEV Sprint 5dr Auto

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1.5 MHEV Tributo Italiano 5dr Auto

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1.3 PHEV Veloce 5dr Auto

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Alfa Romeo Tonale

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The Alfa Romeo Tonale’s starting price seems expensive, even compared with premium rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q3/4x4/review/n43">Audi Q3</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x1/estate/review/n25006">BMW X1</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc40/estate/review/n119">Volvo XC40</a>. Granted, every version of the Tonale comes well-equipped and aligns itself with higher trim levels of those rivals, but when you’re paying the same as an X1 M Sport, it’s hard to ignore the price tag. The plug-in hybrid (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">PHEV</a>) version is even more pricey, commanding a 15-20% premium over the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-mild-hybrid-and-should-you-buy-one/n22776">mild hybrid</a>&nbsp;and is limited to the top two trim levels.

The official <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/truempg/mpg-calculator">fuel economy</a> figures for the mild-hybrid Tonale – close to 50mpg – suggest that it should match the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/tucson/4x4/review/n103">Hyundai Tucson</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/review/n17352">Kia Sportage</a> hybrids. That would probably require a lot of low-speed town driving in electric mode&nbsp;though, and our mixed test route yielded a figure in the mid-30s. The PHEV looks more impressive on paper, with an official figure of up to 217mpg, but you’ll need to keep the battery charged up to get near that. When the 15.5kWh battery is depleted and the petrol engine is doing all the work, we saw an average of 32.5mpg on our real-world test route.&nbsp;

Emissions for the mild-hybrid are lower than a similar-priced petrol Q3, X1 and XC40, which should make the Tonale a more affordable <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-company-cars/n22605">company car</a>. The PHEV emits more CO2 than the X1 xDrive25e PHEV, but its longer electric range of more than 40 miles puts it in the same 8% benefit-in-kind tax bracket. A full battery charge matches the X1 as well, requiring around two and a half hours.

When it comes to depreciation, the Tonale is predicted to lose its value more quickly&nbsp;than most rivals, including the Q3, X1 and Evoque. It doesn’t come close to the best in class for low depreciation, the XC40.&nbsp;

We reckon entry-level Ti trim makes the most sense because it has a good level of standard equipment, including matrix LED headlights, keyless ignition, rear air vents, dual-zone air-con, a powered electric tailgate and wireless phone-charging. A launch trim called Edizione Speciale has 20in diamond-cut wheels, privacy glass, shift paddles for the automatic gearbox and Speciale badges. Veloce has&nbsp;19in alloy wheels, aluminium pedals and adaptive suspension.

The experts at <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a> gave the Tonale the full five stars for safety – the same as all the rivals. It comes with adaptive cruise control that can read road signs and alter your speed accordingly, and lane-keep assist with lane centring that’s said to work even at low speeds in traffic.

In terms of reliability, the Tonale is too new to have featured in the 2022 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2022-what-car-reliability-survey/n23397">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>. As a brand, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/alfa-romeo">Alfa Romeo</a> did badly, coming 29th out of the 32 manufacturers included. That’s below all the rivals, and only Fiat, Land Rover and Jeep did worse.

For some peace of mind, the Tonale comes with a three-year unlimited mileage warranty, just like the one BMW gives you.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter<a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html"> here</a>

The Alfa Romeo Tonale's entry-level <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/hybrid-cars/n17013">hybrid</a> option is called the Hybrid 160 and combines a 158bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine with a small electric motor to chivvy it along at low speeds. The flagship plug-in hybrid (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">PHEV</a>) delivers a more potent 276bhp by teaming up a 1.3-litre petrol engine that powers the front wheels with a beefier electric motor to propel the back ones.

Although it's our pick of the range, the Hybrid 160 is quite a bit slower than the PHEV, and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/tucson/4x4/review/n103">Hyundai Tucson</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/review/n17352">Kia Sportage</a>&nbsp;have a lot more power and bigger batteries. Both can accelerate up to 62mph from rest in well under 8sec, while the Alfa takes a comparatively lengthy&nbsp;8.8sec. Even the dynamically underwhelming&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/ux/hatchback/review/n17871">Lexus UX</a> hybrid feels peppier.&nbsp;

The PHEV version drops the 0-62mph time down to 6.2sec, and while its forward momentum is not accompanied by a particularly thrilling soundtrack, it does cover ground effortlessly. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/alfa-romeo">Alfa Romeo</a> gives a predicted electric range of&nbsp;40 miles, but on our real-world test loop, the engine cut in after just 28.2 miles. Still, that's better than the 25.3 miles we got from the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-evoque/4x4/review/n109">Range Rover Evoque</a> P300e.&nbsp;

Both versions of the Tonale have an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/automatic-gearboxes-everything-you-need-to-know/n17022">automatic gearbox</a>&nbsp;with seven speeds on the Hybrid 160 and six&nbsp;on the PHEV. They shift gears quickly and smoothly, but the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-mild-hybrid-and-should-you-buy-one/n22776">mild-hybrid</a>&nbsp;is a little more responsive and eager to shift down a gear when you need a burst of acceleration. The PHEV tends to use the electric motor to build momentum before swapping down a cog.

In terms of driving dynamics, Alfa has sought to inject some dynamism into the Tonale, but it hasn't quite worked. The steering is quick and alert like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alfa-romeo/giulia/saloon/review/n159">Alfa Romeo Giulia</a> saloon, but unlike the Giulia it doesn't have enough weighting. As a result, you're constantly making little corrections on country roads. Combined with suspension that tends to lurch with every steering input, there's not much joy to be had from driving quickly. If you want a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">family SUV</a> that is fun to drive, take a look at the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/macan/4x4/review/n52">Porsche Macan</a>.

More positively, the Hybrid 160's ride quality on 20in wheels&nbsp;and standard suspension is impressive, with low-speed shocks from potholes being absorbed well. However, if you want the best ride comfort, the smaller 19in wheels are even better at isolating bumps and the adaptive suspension (available as standard on Veloce models) is superb. We also&nbsp;love that you can ramp the driving mode dial up to Dynamic (giving you firmer steering and a more assertive gearbox) while leaving the suspension in comfort.&nbsp;

Wind and road noise is relatively well contained at motorway speeds, but an Evoque is even more hushed.&nbsp;You also have to put up with a&nbsp;bit of whistling from the turbo and the engine note sounds rather&nbsp;gruff.&nbsp;

The brakes are good, with a firm and progressive feel. In the PHEV version, flicking from Normal or Advanced efficiency modes to Dynamic quickens up the response of the brake pedal as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-regenerative-braking-and-how-does-it-work/n25212">regenerative braking</a> effect becomes stronger. It takes bit of getting used to but feels natural once you're familiar with it.

OUR PICK

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

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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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">family SUV</a>&nbsp;lineup.

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.

As well as having eye-catching looks, a large dose of practicality and the promise of being fun to drive, both versions have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/hybrid-cars/n17013">hybrid</a>&nbsp;tech of some sort, so it benefits from&nbsp;electrical assistance, which can&nbsp;help reduce running costs.

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1nvCHPTsO8o" width="560"></iframe>

The entry-level&nbsp;Tonale has&nbsp;a 0.8kWh battery pack, so unlike many other <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-mild-hybrid-and-should-you-buy-one/n22776">mild&nbsp;hybrids</a> (MHEVs) it can travel short distances at low speeds on electric power alone.

There's also a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">plug-in hybrid</a> (PHEV), which has a much bigger (15.5kWh) battery and a predicted electric-only range of up to 42 miles. Emissions figures are competitive, and running costs should be low, especially if you run one as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-company-cars/n22605">company car</a>.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/alfa-romeo">Alfa Romeo</a> has injected a lot of other technical wizardry into the Tonale. For example, it can accept over-the-air updates to keep the infotainment system up to date, while an Amazon Alexa voice assistant makes interacting with your car much easier.

There's also something called 'non-fungible-token blockchain technology' (NFT) 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&nbsp;similar facility for years in the form of digital service records.

So, is the Alfa Romeo Tonale one of the best family SUVs&nbsp;you get, and does it live up to Alfa’s sporting heritage, despite using a range of&nbsp;frugal hybrid engines?

Well,&nbsp;over the next few pages of this review, we'll tell you.&nbsp;We'll also investigate how the Tonale compares with its main rivals, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q3/4x4/review/n43">Audi Q3</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x1/estate/review/n25006">BMW X1</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/tucson/4x4/review/n103">Hyundai Tucson</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/review/n17352">Kia Sportage</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc40/estate/review/n119">Volvo XC40</a>.

Remember, when you've decided which car to buy, you can find the lowest prices by searching our free What Car?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals&nbsp;pages</a>. They feature some of the best&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/family-suv">new family SUV deals</a>.

Behind the wheel of the Alfa Romeo Tonale you get a comfortable driving position with plenty of adjustment in the steering wheel and seat. Regardless of which trim you go for, that includes adjustable lumbar support, firm seat padding that’s supportive over long journeys and a generous amount of side bolstering to hold you in place.

The driving position can’t match the lofty heights of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-evoque/4x4/review/n109">Range Rover Evoque</a> or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc40/estate/review/n119">Volvo XC40</a>&nbsp;and the tall dashboard tricks you into thinking you’re sitting lower than you would in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x1/estate/review/n25006">BMW X1</a> (even though the Tonale is a smidge&nbsp;taller).

Forward visibility is fine, but the chunky side and rear pillars, and tall rear headrests obscure what you can see behind you. Fortunately, you get parking sensors all round and a rear-view camera as standard (a 360-degree camera system is on the options list).

It’s a pity the interior isn’t a bit more special. The dashboard looks smart from a distance, and the presence of easy-to-use physical controls for the air-con is commendable, but you won't be mistaking this for an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q3/4x4/review/n43">Audi Q3</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;Evoque when you look at material quality. The grainy soft-touch plastics aren’t as smart as those used in rivals, and there are hard, unappealing plastics lower down. Non-premium <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">family SUVs</a> – including the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/qashqai/hatchback/review/n7">Nissan Qashqai</a> – disguise them much more.

Every Tonale has a 10.3in infotainment screen with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> and wireless <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> connectivity. Unlike the older system used in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alfa-romeo/giulia/saloon/review/n159">Alfa Romeo Giulia</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alfa-romeo/stelvio/estate/review/n113">Alfa Romeo Stelvio</a>&nbsp;the Tonale doesn’t have a handy rotary controller to interact with it, hurting its ease of use on the move. You can use the Alexa voice recognition software to handle some basic commands.

The operating system is quick to respond, with sharp graphics and a simple menu structure. There are shortcut buttons, but they run down the left of the screen and are a bit&nbsp;small, so the driver has to lean over and aim&nbsp;carefully to get to certain functions. That's not the case in the Q3 and other rivals.&nbsp;

The driver gets a 12.3 digital instrument panel, which is sharp to look at and has plenty of information available, but with fewer layout options than the Virtual Cockpit in the Q3. You can upgrade the sound system to a 14-speaker Harman Kardon system, which sounds very good, but the standard system performs well anyway, so we wouldn't pay the extra.

Family SUV has hatchback-like handling but there are plenty of better rivals

Head and leg room up front in the Alfa Romeo Tonale are fine for six-footers, but shoulder room is tight compared with its major rivals. Storage wise, it doesn't have the cavernous hollowed-out door cards of our favourite&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">family SUV</a>&nbsp;of 2022 – the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc40/estate/review/n119">Volvo XC40</a> – which can handle big&nbsp;bottles of water and a laptop, for example.

Trying to fit three passengers across the back seats would be a challenge. There's enough head room for a 6ft 2in tall adult but not much more, so it might be wise to leave the option box for the panoramic roof unticked. There's also less rear leg room than in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x1/estate/review/n25006">BMW X1</a> and the XC40, but at least there’s some space to tuck your feet under the front seats.&nbsp;

The back seats split 60/40 to fold down to extend the boot space, rather than the more useful 40/20/40 split found in the X1 and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-evoque/4x4/review/n109">Range Rover Evoque</a>. There's a ski hatch behind the fold-down centre armrest that allows you to thread longer items through and keep the two outer seats in use.

The boot in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-mild-hybrid-and-should-you-buy-one/n22776">mild-hybrid</a> Tonale&nbsp;is a reasonable size for the class, with a volume of 500 litres (more than the XC40 and a similar size to the X1 and Evoque). It's also a useful square shape and has a height-adjustable boot floor to boost versatility. In its highest position, you end up with the floor being level with the load lip to ease loading, as well as a generous storage area underneath.

The plug-in hybrid&nbsp;(<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">PHEV</a>) has a smaller boot (385 litres) and the boot floor sits at a fixed height, with the batteries below it. There’s a storage space under the floor that's big enough for the charging cables. We managed to fit five suitcases below its parcel shelf – the same as the Evoque P300e.&nbsp;

sprint

veloce

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The Tonale offers fun hatchback-like handling, but that's not enough to make it stand out over its more accomplished family SUV rivals, especially when it’s priced to compete with premium rivals that have plusher and more spacious interiors.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Comfortable ride </li> <li>Feature-filled infotainment </li> <li>Space for child seats </li> <li>Robust build quality </li> <li>Practical storage spaces </li> <li>A boot fit for a family holiday </li> <li>Fuel-efficient engines</li></ul>

While we define a small SUV&nbsp;as something&nbsp;less than 4.3 metres long and a large SUV as measuring more than 4.5 metres, family SUVs tread the middle ground.

As the name suggests, the vast majority are&nbsp;designed for family duties rather than serious off-roading, so practicality is paramount. However, that&nbsp;shouldn't come at the expense of a decent drive; the best examples combine tidy handling with smooth engines&nbsp;and a ride that's comfortable&nbsp;enough to ensure the kids aren't left feeling queasy.

&nbsp;

Family SUV

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Low running costs compared with solely petrol or diesel equivalents</li> <li>Very low official CO2 emissions to benefit company car drivers</li> <li>The same usability as a regular car</li> <li>Smooth transition between electric and engine power</li> <li>Small practicality compromise over conventional models</li></ul>

Not so long ago, hybrids were the preserve of Hollywood stars, environmentally conscious 'early adopters' and the odd&nbsp;minicab driver looking to save a bit of money on fuel.

Since the collapse in demand for diesel, however, they have become&nbsp;much more popular, and it's easy to see why, with&nbsp;low tax bills and&nbsp;impressive MPG figures&nbsp;just a couple of the perks they offer.

There are two types of hybrid: 'self-charging'&nbsp;models, which mix petrol&nbsp;and electric power in an effort to maximise&nbsp;efficiency, and&nbsp;plug-in hybrids that can travel many miles purely on electricity before their engines need to cut in. This category is for the former type of cars.

Hybrid

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Usefully long electric-only range</li> <li>Exceedingly frugal</li> <li>Cheap company car tax rates</li> <li>Smooth switching between electric and petrol power</li></ul>

If you're not ready to commit to a fully electric vehicle&nbsp;but have the capacity to charge your car at home or at work, a plug-in hybrid could be the perfect compromise. Electric batteries paired with a petrol or diesel&nbsp;engine means you'll never be left short of charge&nbsp;but can capitalise on cheap running costs, thanks to a surprisingly long electric-only range.

There's plenty of choice, too, whether you're after a sporty saloon like the BMW 3 Series, the 330e variant of which providing up to 36 miles of electric-only driving on a full charge, or a large load-lugging large SUV, including the Volvo XC90 T8, which claims an extraordinary&nbsp;113mpg.

Throw in competent handling and driving prowess, despite the added weight of the electric batteries, and a plug-in hybrid&nbsp;makes a compelling case for frugal buyers.&nbsp;

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