Alfa Romeo Tonale (2022 - )

Alfa Romeo has made a kind of comeback in recent years. Of course, it never went away, but its cars had become a bit run-of-the-mill, unlike some of the legendary vehicles it’s famous for.

However, the likes of the Stelvio and the gorgeous Giulia sports saloon reignited the spark for the much-loved Italian marque.

Now it’s ushered in another – the Tonale – which looks like the Stelvio but is marginally smaller and cheaper.

It is an SUV crossover, then, and comes with ‘mild’ hybridity.

Basic spec Ti comes with 18-inch alloys, a 10.25-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a DAB Radio, SatNav, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. You also get a wireless phone charger, voice control, keyless entry/go, a leather sports steering wheel, dual-zone climate control and four-way electric driver lumbar support.

Veloce trim adds 19-inch alloys, privacy glass, red brake callipers, dual-stage valve suspension and aluminium gear shift paddles.

A third trim, called ‘Speciale’, features the Ti trim's spec but with 20-inch rims. Plus, it comes with the red brake callipers and aluminium gear shift paddles of the Veloce trim, although curiously, this is the cheapest variant in the range.

There is only one engine to choose from – a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol producing 160PS.
 

The outside looks lovely – as Alfas tend to, with its iconic V-shaped grille and mean, frowning headlights, while a wider lower grille with hexagonal mesh adds to the aggression.

The side skirts stick out, emphasised by the doors curving inwards, while the rear has a horizontal light bar across the boot, giving a nod to the iconic SZ sports car.

Unfortunately, the inside is a little less successful. While it appears well-designed, it lacks the exalted style and pizazz we expect from a modern-day Alfa Romeo.

Still, it’s nice enough, with our Veloce test car sporting massive paddle shifters, a bit of silver on the steering wheel, and the centre console's top edges.

The air vents almost resemble a work of art, while the infotainment screen sits on top of a mid-tier shelf on the dashboard.

But it seems dumbed-down, with cheap and harder plastics on show. The quality isn't on par with premium brand competitors.

The infotainment system is an improvement on Alfa’s old one, but the loss of the rotary dial of its predecessor is a drawback. Yes, there’s now voice control, but the dial made it simpler to use on the move.

Nevertheless, the screen’s graphics are sharp, while the menu layout is intuitive.

Overall, the interior is okay. We just expected a little more, given the Italians generally steer clear of anything that isn’t oozing mega-stylishness.
 

If Alfa Romeo hoped to reawaken enthusiasm for its marque using its sporting heritage, it doesn’t look like the designers of the Tonale quite got the memo. Okay, maybe that’s a bit harsh – but hopefully you know what we mean.
Zero to 62mph takes 8.8-seconds, which is fine for a family SUV, but will it appeal to the sort of customer Alfas are bound to attract?

The top speed is 132mph, although the throttle response lacks urgency and even flooring it doesn’t produce the thrust into orbit we’d hoped for.

The Tonale can go short distances on electric power alone, but you need to feather the throttle to avoid causing the engine to kick in.

It excels in the corners, though - especially with the dual-stage valve suspension on our Veloce-trimmed car, maximising grip in the bends while limiting body lean. It is helped by the steering, which is consistent and responsive, but it doesn’t weight up around faster bends as much as we’d like.

Despite the reasonably sharp handling, the ride isn't uncomfortable and is well-refined.
 

You won't struggle to find a comfy driving position in the Tonale, as there's plenty of steering wheel, seat adjustment, and lumbar support.

You don’t feel that high up, but visibility out of the front is still pretty good.

It is a different story at the rear, though, where the pillars on either side of the back window are much thicker, compromising your view.

Thankfully, all models have a reversing camera, plus front and rear parking sensors.

Taller front seat occupants won’t struggle for room, while the rear is reasonably spacious, albeit not as accommodating as some challengers.

But at least there's good headroom thanks to the ceiling's concave shape, raising the roof inside, despite sloping downward on the outside.

You can fit three grownups in the back at a push, but a couple is the maximum you’d want for anything other than reasonably short journeys.

Boot space is 500 litres, which is a competitive size and more extensive than a Volvo XC40, expanding to 1,550 litres with the rear seats folded down in a 60/40 split. The boot floor is also adjustable, meaning you can configure it in a raised position so there's no boot lip, creating underfloor storage in the process.
 

The Tonale can do 47.9mpg in Veloce trim and produces 135g/km of CO2, beating many of its opponents. However, it's unattractive as a company car, as plug-in hybrids get significant discounts in Benefit-In-Kind tax.

While the Tonale’s minuscule 0.8kWh battery can enable very short distances of all-electric driving, the forthcoming plug-in hybrid version can do 35 miles emissions-free.

As for reliability, Alfa Romeo models are not historically renowned for this, but things are improving – and you get a three-year unlimited mileage warranty.
 

Overall, the Alfa Romeo Tonale is a wholesome contender but also a slightly frustrating one.

With its lovely looks and hearty handling, it had the potential to be so much more.

But an interior with little wow factor and lacklustre engine options means it fails to live up to its promise when you consider it’s more expensive than a Volvo XC40 and BMW X1.

It is comfortable, well-equipped, and practical, too. But some cheaper rivals are even more functional, while the performance doesn’t really justify the price tag.

The forthcoming more powerful plug-in hybrid may offer the solution, but it’ll likely cost significantly more.

As such, Alfa Romeo will need to show improvements in other areas to be competitive.

Taken in isolation, the Tonale isn’t bad at all. But if Alfa Romeo really wants to challenge the premium brands, it'll have to do a touch better than this.

That said, if your heart is set on this latest Alfa, – go for it – because life is too short not to!