Yahoo Autos 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale Review: A fun compact SUV with a green spin
Pros: Fun to drive with great steering; potent power and torque; usable electric range; beautiful design
Cons: Cramped back seat and tiny cargo area; some chintzy interior bits; other PHEVs are more efficient
While there plenty of choices within the small luxury SUV segment, there are some niches that have not been well-explored. The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale manages to fit two of them. It is one of the few plug-in hybrids, while also catering to those who love to drive (and look good doing it). Nothing else manages that one-two-three punch of delivering fuel economy, fun and style.
In terms of size, the Tonale is on the smallest end of the luxury SUV world, joining the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Mercedes GLA-Class and Volvo XC40, but offers substantially more power along with the unique characteristic (for the segment) of electric driving range, all for just a couple thousand more than the base models of those options. There are a couple larger and more efficient plug-in hybrid options from Lincoln and Lexus, but they're not nearly as engaging to drive. The sporty Mini Countryman plug-in hybrid, meanwhile, isn’t quite a luxury model. As such, the Alfa is a unique offering well worth your attention.
Interior & Technology | Passenger & Cargo Space | Performance & Fuel Economy
What it's like to drive | Pricing & Trim Levels | Crash Ratings & Safety Features
What's new for 2024?
The Alfa Romeo Tonale is a completely new model for 2024.
What are the Tonale interior and in-car technology like?
The Tonale's interior design is clearly in the vein of the Stelvio and Giulia. The dash is curvy with big round air vents and a double-barrel instrument cowl. It has sporty details like the starter button on the dash, and when optioned, beautiful and satisfying aluminum shift paddles that wouldn't be out of place in a Ferrari or Lamborghini. We love the pops of color provided by the exterior-matching dash panel in the Ti and Veloce, or even better, by the optional configurable multi-color panel that can replace it. Some of the materials around the cabin look and feel too budget-oriented for a luxury vehicle, but on the whole, it's a solid cabin.
Fortunately, the Tonale does not take its infotainment inspiration from the Stelvio and Giulia. Instead it gets a Uconnect system like its twin, the Dodge Hornet, as well as other newer Chrysler vehicles. It's displayed on a 10.25-inch screen that's crisp and responsive, and the system leans heavily on easily tapped icons as well as the ability to customize the system with your preferred apps. It also supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as a wireless phone charger. Supporting the infotainment system is a large 12.3-inch instrument display.
How big is the Tonale?
The Tonale’s exterior dimensions straddle the line between compact and subcompact crossovers. For instance, it slides right between two of the other few plug-in hybrid premium crossovers, the Mini Cooper SE Countryman and the Lincoln Corsair PHEV, in regards to length and width. It's also very close in size to gas-only options such as the BMW X1 and Audi Q3.
Inside, however, the Tonale is pure subcompact and even then, not a very big one. There's a comfortable amount of head and legroom up front, though the feel is a bit narrow. The back seat is quite simply cramped – longer-legged drivers won’t leave much room for those in back, and you’ll struggle to fit a rear-facing child seat inside without moving the front passenger seat up to a near-useless position. Kids in front-facing child seats are also bound to be kicking the seat
We have not had the chance to perform our usual cargo area luggage test on the Tonale, but its Hornet R/T plug-in hybrid twin has the exact same 22.9-cubic-foot cargo number behind the back seat. In short, it performed poorly, even by subcompact SUV standards. We have little reason to believe the Tonale would do any better.
