The Alfa Romeo Tonale just received its most important engine in the line-up. Alfa is aiming high in efficiency and electrification and the Tonale Plug-In Hybrid is the first step in this. But is it big enough of a step in efficiency whilst retaining the loyal fanbase?

The Tonale was released earlier this year as a smaller SUV below the Stelvio, it’s the first all-new Alfa Romeo in 5 years so it’s got a lot counting on it. It came in earlier this year with mild-hybrid and diesel powertrains but the Plug-In Hybrid is the most important one of the bunch and it has to do with the following strategy:

Zero to zero

Alfa Romeo is on a trajectory to become the fastest brand that will have a full zero-emission line-up, it starts with the Tonale PHEV in 2023, followed by a first BEV model in 2024. This step is then leading to the first BEV-only model in 2025 before having an all BEV line-up in 2027. It’s an ambitious plan for sure but with the new Stellantis fusion, the bar is set high for all the brands inside the group.

The most important thing is that the future of Alfa Romeo pushes its models into the future whilst retaining their loyal fanbase. That’s why the Tonale Plug-In has undergone quite the changes compared to the regular Tonale so let’s find out!

Small design changes

The Tonale is a progressive design step for Alfa Romeo. It’s still classic Alfa Romeo so undeniable beautiful. The biggest change in design with the 3 semi circles in the lights, it’s really sharp and looks serious. The front bumper has these sleek intakes along the side, looking a bit like the Stelvio Quadrifoglio.

The back is nicely finished off with a twin-tailpipe setup. I mean it’s an Alfa Romeo, what’s not to like? And the wheels, even when they’re sticking to a certain identity they make something new out of it that looks amazing.

Finally, a small detail that is really clever from Alfa Romeo is the plug-in Biscione. It’s placed close to the charging port and it works quite well.

Efficiency

This is what was talked about a lot during the presentation so let’s start with some of the details. The Tonale Plug-In has a 1.3L 4 cilinder engine producing 180 hp and 270 Nm of torque in the front. In the back it’s fitted with a 122 hp electric motor meaning you essentially get an all-wheel-drive Tonale. Combined, it produces 280 hp and accelerates from 0-100 in 6.2 seconds with a top speed of 135 km/h in electric mode and 206 km/h in hybrid mode.

In EV mode, you get up to 80 km of electric range thanks to the 15.5 kWh battery. Driving along it’s wonderfully nice, the electric motor has plenty of power to move the Tonale in the city. In hybrid mode the Tonale switches on the ICE without any noticeable vibrations. The two work impressively harmonious together so a job well done by Alfa Romeo. The only thing that is missing, is regenerative braking for a near one-pedal-drive experience.

It’s all great until the electric battery is empty and you’re driving highway kilometers. The 6 speed sits quite high in the rev range at highway speeds meaning consumption is higher than you’d expect.

Dynamics

Alfa Romeo is very proud of what they achieved with the Tonale and they rightfully should. The Italian rides beautifully, even on the optional 20” wheels the ride is surprisingly comfortable. It wafts a bit on bumps but it’s very controlled.
What’s also very noticeable is the lack of bodyroll in the car, the car feels surprisingly light considering the Tonale weighs a hefty 1835 kg. This is due to the Tonale having an exceptionally low center of gravity but also having a light steering wheel with a short steering rack. Now this last one does have a downside as well: Even in dynamic, the steering is still very light and there’s next to no feedback coming from the front wheels which does take away from the sportiness of the whole experience. The car still handles very well but you’re a bit disconnected from the whole thing.

New step

Inside Alfa has pulled out the big guns in terms of screens, where the Giulia and Stelvio used to have analogue clusters (now to be replaced in the MY23), the Tonale has a new all-digital instrument cluster and a large infotainment screen. The lay-out is very intuitive and the resolution is great. And below the screen, there’s very nice and soft buttons to control the climate. Kudos to Alfa for that!

The steering wheel feels wonderful and it has the same wonderful flappy paddles as the Giulia & Stelvio. The Harman Kardon is a must for any music lover. The seats are very nice and comfortable but they do miss a bit of upper body support at times when you’d like to drive a little more spirited.
All materials on the dashboard are very nice but the ones being used lower down in the car are more on the cheaper side of the spectrum.

Worthy premium plug-in?

The Tonale Q4 is a great first step in Alfa Romeo’s Zero to Zero strategy and on the electric side of the car it performs beautifully. In other areas it’s a great car with a few buts here and there considering the price range. At 51.000 € it’s just a tiny bit below its other German competitors. It’s a very close call since the Tonale excels in some areas compared to its competitors but falls a tiny bit short in others which does make up the price difference.
In the end, it’ll mostly depend on which design you personally like and whichever one you choose, the Tonale won’t disappoint.

Alfa Romeo Tonale Plug-In Q4 | A New Chapter?