Ahead of driving the new Tonale, the Alfa Romeo team was keen to highlight its sporting prowess. They discussed roll axis angles, variable-geometry turbochargers, dynamic torque vectoring, and dual-stage valve electronic suspension. Given that the underpinnings are shared with the somewhat less sporty Jeep Compass, this focus on performance was surprising. However, extensive work has been carried out on the chassis to separate the two similarly sized crossover-SUV models.
The Tonale is not only Alfa Romeo’s first SUV, but also its first proper hybrid model — the UK won’t be getting the diesel model or the 2.0-litre petrol variant. Instead, a 156hp 1.5-litre petrol-engined model with a 20hp electric motor is what we’ll be getting, with a more potent plug-in hybrid arriving later in the year.
A small 0.8kWh battery pack enables the Tonale to edge forward gently in traffic without using the engine, but it can’t cruise for miles on battery power alone. The engine will shut down when coasting, though, and it seems eager to utilise battery power whenever possible, boosting efficiency. There are other upsides, too, including the ability to start the car and move off without firing up the engine, as well as providing some extra oomph under acceleration.
The result is a 0-62mph sprint time of 8.8 seconds, which is perfectly acceptable, and more than enough to keep up with most traffic. Sporting, though? Perhaps not.
The driver-focused nature of an Alfa Romeo is also hindered by a seven-speed automatic gearbox that can become confused, shuffling between gears and causing significant pauses when power is needed. The transition between electric, petrol, or hybrid power is also clunky, but since the car won’t arrive for another four months, there’s still time for Alfa Romeo to tweak the software in the Tonale and improve performance.
Handling and ride quality are impressive — for a crossover SUV. For an Alfa Romeo? Well, it’s no 4C Coupe, but the front end feels sharp, and the steering, at just 2.3 turns lock to lock, is as direct as you’ll find.
The Alfa Romeo Tonale is enjoyable enough on open roads but can be a bit jiggly over urban imperfections, partly due to the optional 20-inch alloy wheels on our test car. Apart from the top-spec Speciale models, UK cars will feature 18- or 19-inch wheels with more compliant tires, potentially making the Tonale more appealing to British drivers.
Inside, there’s a Jekyll and Hyde character. The dashboard is stylish, with a digital instrument panel hidden in the depths of the twin tunnel ‘cannocchiale’ binnacle and a sizeable 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment panel in the centre of the car. The screen is a modern bit of kit, reacting quickly to touches. It’s relatively easy to use and has all of the facilities you would expect; DAB radio, a navigation system, Android Auto, and so on. The software is built around Google’s Android OS, so it seems odd that Amazon’s Alexa is built-in to the car, and personal experience suggests that the Google ecosystem will perform better — Alexa’s repeated failures to understand what was going on during our drive hammered home that view.
The cabin looks great, is unusually quiet at low speeds, and the build quality is impressive. There’s been significant investment in the factory to ensure the cars come off the line correctly, including hugely expensive measuring equipment that fires lasers at randomly selected vehicles to check that every panel is as it should be. It’s a shame, therefore, that some of the materials used are so disappointingly cheap. It’s not just hidden bits that you’ll never spot either but includes the hard plastic around the gear lever, door handles and window switches, and even on the steering wheel. Yes, there’s some Alcantara and vegan leather dotted around the cabin, but after spending pounds on building it right, it’s a shame that Alfa Romeo has been pinching for pennies on some of the raw materials.
Still, it’s comfortable and spacious enough. Those in the rear won’t be overwhelmed with space, but legroom and headroom are sufficient, while the boot offers a decent amount of cargo-carrying capacity at 500 litres. There’s a false floor, too, extending load space a little more or leaving a flat floor and hidden compartment. As a family SUV required to shift parents, children, and all the associated detritus that comes with that, it’s competitive enough.
And that sums up the Tonale. In isolation, Alfa Romeo’s work has paid dividends, although perhaps not quite as much as they might have hoped for. It ends up being competitive, but no more than that. The glorious styling will be enough for many, while the on-road manners will keep another tranche of buyers interested. It’s reasonably frugal (up to 49.6mpg is the official figure) and practical enough for most families. That’s enough to keep sales ticking over, but it won’t reinvent the Italian brand. That could, should, happen when the plug-in hybrid arrives, packed with batteries for extended range, 275 horses under the bonnet, and four-wheel drive.
Now that could be an attractive Alfa Romeo.
