Alfa Romeo Tonale plug-in hybrid (2023)

Introduction

The Tonale is a very important car for Alfa Romeo.

That might seem odd to say, given it's so out of kilter with just about anything it has built before.

But, with the rise of the small SUV still skyrocketing, the Italian manufacturer is predicting that the Tonale will become its most popular car before too long.

The last time we reviewed the Tonale, it wasn't available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain - but it is now. And Alfa is expecting half of the Tonale’s sales to be the PHEV variant that we’ve got our hands on today.

So, the stakes appear to be relatively high.

And, of course, the Italians are known for their passionate love of cars and fashion, with some manufacturers boasting an army of die-hard fans.

Will they accept this new direction?

Mind you, both Italian heavyweights Lamborghini and Ferrari have launched SUVs in recent years in the form of the Urus and the Purosangue, respectively.

So, if they can get away with it, surely Alfa Romeo can, too?

At A Glance

First impressions matter on an Alfa Romeo - and it’s reasonably good here.

The Tonale has an angry frown with thin triple LED headlights on each side, flanking alongside Alfa’s iconic trefoil grille.

We are starting our test drive in town, but the Tonale looks like it's ready to hunt down and gobble up sheep on a Norfolk backroad.

The lower grille is extensive, too, with small slits on each side for air intakes.

Despite the aggression, there's also a lot of roundedness to the shape when viewed from some angles, which some may feel is at odds with the combative front end.

This is especially noticeable at the side, which looks more family-friendly than meat-eater-hungry, with a modest, softened crease along the doors, thick side skirts and little else.

The design of the rear end is a halfway house between these two contrasts, with a light bar spanning the width of the boot, only interrupted in the middle to accommodate the badge.

A roof spoiler is above the rear window, while the lower bumper extends upwards to accommodate the number plate.

Indeed, from the side, there’s nothing to hint at the level of aggression found at the front. But, despite seemingly having a split personality, the Tonale is still beautiful, as every Alfa must be.

Key Features

The Tonale is available in a trio of trims.

Ti grade offers 18-inch diamond cut alloys, a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a DAB radio, voice control and SatNav. It also boasts a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and gloss black painted body kit, along with automatic headlights, high beam and automatic windscreen wipers.

You also get dual-zone conditioning with an air quality filter, wireless phone charger, keyless entry/go, sports leather steering wheel with a start button, a powered tailgate, rear-view camera, and a four-way electric driver’s seat with lumbar support.

The mid-range Veloce trim offers much the same but gets upgraded 19-inch alloys, privacy glass, red-painted brake callipers, adaptive suspension and aluminium gearshift paddles. Plus, it gets some extra styling elements.

There is also a third edition called Edizione Speciale which, although it’s positioned as the top-of-the-range model, in reality, it costs less than the entry-level trim.

It includes everything that the Ti offers but gets 20-inch alloys, aluminium door sills, dual exhaust tips and various styling touches.

You can lease the plug-in hybrid Alfa Romeo Tonale Speciale from around £449 per month with Select. 

In terms of powertrains, the PHEV only has one on offer.

It is a 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine which combines with an electric motor to produce power of 280PS, offering all-wheel drive.

That is what we’re driving, although there is a mild hybrid comprising a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol which produces 160PS, but it’s only front-wheel drive.

Both powertrains are turbocharged with automatic gearboxes, although the mild-hybrid is a seven-speed while the plug-in version has a six-speed ‘box.

Range & Batteries

The Tonale PHEV has a 15.5kWh battery.

That is good enough for up to 42 miles of all-electric driving without the engine.

In the real world, though, expect a bit less than that.

Performance & Drive

Alfa Romeos are supposed to be about drivability, so we’re intrigued by the Tonale, as SUVs have obvious drawbacks when it comes to handling.

Traditional petrolheads will likely be appeased by choosing the plug-in hybrid, given the power on offer.

Zero to 62mph is dealt with in 6.2 seconds. That figure isn’t amazing, but it’s not bad for a motor that weighs nearly two tonnes – and reasonable by any SUV's standards.

The petrol unit powers the front wheels, while the electric motor picks up the task of driving the rear wheels.

Despite 280PS, the powerplant does roar, but the note is somewhat disappointing.

Mind you; there’s no getting away from the fact that the present-day combination of small four-cylinders and electric motors is hardly cut out for replicating the growl of bigger V6s or V8s.

Choosing the mild-hybrid, by comparison, gets you to 62mph a full 2.6 seconds slower, even though it's got a bigger engine and is over 300kg lighter.

It feels sluggish compared with the PHEV, which makes good progress in all driving situations. However, the vehicle provides an instant burst of torque from a standing start and effortless acceleration at higher speeds, making overtaking on motorways a doddle.

The gearbox on the mild hybrid is marginally better, not necessarily because it’s a seven-speed compared with the plug-in variant’s six, but because it’s more responsive to change-downs.

The plug-in hybrid still provides better acceleration; however, it tends to rely more on sucking power from the batteries via the electric motor, resisting the change-down more aggressively than its mild hybrid counterpart.

Nevertheless, the paddle shifters behind the steering wheel provide a useful get-around if you wish to take more control of the process.

In terms of handling, the Tonale PHEV feels athletic to drive, accounting for its size and weight.

The body roll in the corners is well-controlled, and it doesn't lean much around bends taken at speed.

As a result, it's far more entertaining to drive than some of its premium rivals, and you'd struggle to remember you're driving an SUV when tackling twisty country roads.

You get even keener handling in the mild hybrid thanks to its lighter weight, and Alfa has done a fine job here.

You are hardly losing out by choosing the PHEV – a feeling that is satisfyingly confirmed once the road straightens out again, enabling you to floor the throttle.

The steering firms up in the bends, although we’d like this effect amplified a little more as the feedback through the wheel is a tad limited, but it’s by no means a deal-breaker.

Various driving modes can be selected that impact the weight of the steering, too, with Dynamic, Natural and 'Added Efficiency' selections available.

Engaging the latter mode enables all-electric driving, too.

Despite the firm suspension setup, the ride comfort is alright. And the suspension setup can be adjusted independently of the driving modes, which is appreciated.

Although we’re on 19-inch alloys in our Veloce-trimmed test car, the 18-inch rims offered on the entry-level Ti model are the ones to go for if comfort is a priority.

One advantage the Veloce trim has is the adaptive suspension, known as DSV (dual-stage valve suspension), which adds a further layer of comfort. But it’s not available on the Ti trim, even as an optional extra.

There is not much wind or tyre noise in the cabin, but you’ll likely notice it a lot more if you’re driving without the engine.

Nevertheless, Alfa has done an excellent job with soundproofing.

It has also done a fine job with the regenerative braking, which puts some charge back into the batteries under deceleration.

You can adjust the extent of the regeneration, but regardless, the brakes are predictable and consistent.

Charging

The PHEV takes under two-and-a-half hours to charge from empty to full using a 7.4kW home wall box.

Like many plug-in hybrids, though, it can’t manage a higher charging speed than that, even if you plug it into a public charging point capable of faster top-ups. Make sure you're getting the most you can out of every charge by taking a look through our guide to picking your ideal EV charger.

Running Costs & Emissions

The PHEV we’re testing manages a superb 217mpg, producing just 29-33g/km of CO2 depending on trim and wheel size.

By comparison, the mild hybrid manages up to 49.6mpg, emitting 130-142g/km of CO2.

The plug-in hybrid is the variant of choice for company car drivers, then, thanks to the minimal Benefit In Kind (BIK) tax applied to low-emissions vehicles.

Nevertheless, fully electric cars will get an even smaller bill from the chancellor.

The PHEV will revert to something in the region of 40 to 50mpg if the battery is drained, so you’ll want to keep it charged up to maximise savings.

Interior & Technology

The interior is nice, if a little lacking with the razzamatazz we expected.

The circular jet engine-shaped air vents and bulbous upholstery above the digital dials add some personality, and there’s a patterned effect on the dashboard in front of the passenger’s seat.

It is certainly not bad, but we felt a tad underwhelmed when we climbed inside.

The steering wheel is inviting to hold, but the colour scheme is very dark. It lacks a premium feel, and the quality of materials isn't on par with the brands Alfa is hoping to take on.

Still, it could be a lot worse – and the large metal paddle-shifters on our Veloce-trimmed test car look impressive.

The touchscreen is friendly, clear, crisp, and responsive, while the menu layout is straightforward, making it easy to use. Plus, it receives automatic over-the-air updates to its software.

However, unlike on other Alfa Romeos, there’s no rotary dial, which is disappointing. But you can use Amazon Alexa as a voice control, which works reasonably well.

There are shortcut buttons, although they could be bigger to avoid taking too much focus away from driving. But at least physical controls for the air conditioning are retained beneath the screen, just above the gear lever.

The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is as sharp and clear as the infotainment screen.

Its layout is customisable, too, but not to the same extent as some of its rivals, although it at least offers plenty of helpful information and looks nice.

Overall, we were left to conclude that Alfa Romeo needs to give the interior design a re-think to establish more of the sense of occasion that every Alfa should generate.

It is not a bad effort, but it didn’t quite do it for us and left us feeling a bit short-changed, especially given it exceeded expectations on the road.

Practicality & Boot Space

The seats are comfortable in the Tonale, and it's easy enough to find a suitable driving position, helped by the four-way electric adjustment.

This is only on the driver’s seat, though, which also gets adjustable lumbar support.

Those leasing a Tonale for its high driving position will be disappointed, as you feel pretty low by SUV standards – and you’d swear you were driving any other Alfa.

The effect is amplified by the interior layout, where the dashboard is relatively high up, making you feel like you’re lower to the ground.

Mind you, that’s certainly a deliberate touch by the manufacturer – who wouldn’t want to be sat low down behind the wheel of an Alfa Romeo, after all?

The visibility out of the front is sweet, with average-sized pillars. But they're incredibly thick at the rear because of the tapered shape of the side windows, so the reversing camera is welcome.

Front and rear parking sensors are also included as standard across the range.

There is a load of space in the front, even for taller drivers, with lots of headroom and legroom on offer.

In the rear, despite the slight slope in the roofline, it still offers plenty of headroom, although legroom is more limited than on some of its challengers - and fitting three in the back is a tight squeeze.

There is plenty of storage inside, although the door bins aren’t huge.

Boot space in our plug-in hybrid is limited due to the electric motor and batteries, measuring just 385 litres.

This expands to 1,430 litres with the rear seats folded down in a 60:40 arrangement, which is less convenient than the 40:20:40 configuration you'll find on some challengers.

At least the middle seat has a ski hatch, so you can put longer items into the boot while leaving the two outer rear seats unobstructed.

Leasing the mild hybrid gets you the same configuration but more space, with 500 litres, expanding to 1,550 litres if you fold the seats down.

Safety

The Tonale was put through its paces by Euro NCAP and earned a five-star rating, scoring 83% for adults, 85% for children and 85% for safety assists.

A generous amount of standard safety equipment is included across the range, too.

Automatic emergency braking, drowsy driver detection, forward collision warning, intelligent adaptive cruise control, intelligent speed assist, lane support system, tyre pressure monitoring system and traffic sign recognition feature on all versions.

A 360-degree camera, blind spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert, park assist, and Level 2 autonomous driving can all be added as an optional extra pack.

Options

There are plenty of extras to choose from, with each version available with leather interior trim if you’re happy to pay a bit more.

The ‘packs’ we mentioned a minute ago include the winter bundle that provides a heated steering wheel and front seats, a pack for a leather interior and an upgraded Harman Kardon sound system. Plus, there’s a standalone leather pack which includes eight-way electrically adjustable ventilated front seats.

The handling pack adds the DSV suspension – included as standard on the Veloce trim – though this can’t be added to the Ti trim, sadly.

Alternatively, there’s an autonomous driving bundle, which contains the additional safety features we mentioned earlier. Meanwhile, the performance pack adds aluminium gearshift paddles and red brake callipers to the entry-level Ti edition.

You can access those packs when leasing an Alfa Romeo Tonale plug-in hybrid with Select by clicking the 'Choose colour, trim and options' button when you're looking at a particular model. 

Rival Cars

There is no shortage of alternatives in the small SUV market nowadays.

Just about every manufacturer is in on the act, with the BMW X1, Audi Q3 and Volvo XC40 providing stiff competition alongside the Mercedes-Benz GLA (below).

If you're not set on a premium brand, you should look at leasing the Kia Sportage or the Hyundai Tucson, which have many plus points without bruising your wallet as much.

The DS 4 E-Tense (below) is also worth a gander.

The Alfa manages to undercut most of its premium-brand rivals while offering more standard kit, but the price difference is minimal.

You can also get plug-in hybrid versions of the Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, Volvo XC40, BMW X1 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA. 

Verdict & Next Steps

Overall, the Alfa Romeo Tonale is an impressive car with plenty to offer.

It is superbly equipped as standard and offers a decent amount of power in plug-in hybrid form while also enjoying excellent fuel economy and low emissions, making it even more attractive – and it handles well, too.

The Veloce trim we tested is, in all honesty, overkill.

The entry-level Ti is more than adequate to meet your needs, although it won’t come with the DSV suspension.

But, given it has smaller wheels, you won’t feel you’re missing much when it comes to ride comfort.

On the downside, the interior lacks the fashion we’ve come to expect from Alfas over the years. And, while the plug-in hybrid makes the most sense compared with the mild hybrid, it has a significantly smaller boot.

The price difference between the Tonale and an equivalent BMW X1 is negligible, too.

Therefore, on balance, leasing a more accomplished German rival might make more sense, despite the more generous equipment offering with the Alfa. 

Where to next?

View latest Alfa Romeo Tonale leasing deals - from just £441 per month inc VAT**.

Call us on 0118 3048 688 or hit the green 'Enquire' button for more details.

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Alfa Romeo Tonale  

**Correct as of 05/06/2023. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments or £3,970.53 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.