 | Positives: EV mode nets 33 miles of range, fun-sized but still roomy, slick exterior styling, good physical controls. |
 | Negatives: Not as rewarding to drive as other Alfas, in-car tech is just okay, some cheap interior bits. |
 | Bottom Line: The Tonale is a unique flavor in the luxury compact crossover segment. Aside from the electric-only range, style, and comfort, it's just not as rewarding to drive we would've hoped. |
Driving Experience
Alfa Romeo is known for providing excellent driving dynamics. The current Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV are remarkably rewarding behind the wheel. The Tonale, however, is the outlier. Even the potent 285-hp plug-in hybrid that combines a turbo 1.3-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor to the rear wheels can't rescue its disconnected handling and steering characteristics.
Ride Quality: The ride quality is on the firm side just like all Alfas, but it's not upsetting or uncomfortable. Fully-independent suspension at all four wheels is standard, but the top trim Tonale Veloce includes an adaptive suspension system that's optional on other trim levels.
Acceleration: 0-60 comes in 5.5 seconds, which is pretty quick for this segment. Off the line, it feels potent, but it seems to lose its breath when you get on the gas at highway speeds.
Braking: Our Veloce trim came with Brembo brakes, which work well for short stopping distances but the regen feature makes the brakes feel artificial. Modulation is not great.
Steering: The steering is accurate and has some heft, but there's not much feedback coming through.
Handling: The handling feels weird and not particularly confidence-inspiring. The Tonale goes into corners with some unpredictability and poor transitions.
Technology
The Tonale's touchscreen infotainment system isn't a lot of real estate. Overall, it works fine, but there are better systems out there in terms of graphics and responsiveness. We do love the presence of many physical switchgear controls that make the Tonale better to operate while driving.
Infotainment System: 10.3 inches of screen size means there's not a lot of space in which to cram in the menu and icons. BMW's X1 has the same-sized screen, but the graphics nad operation are better.
Controls: Everything about the physical controls is excellent. The traditional shift knob, the climate control switches, the start/stop button on the steering wheel... it all comes together nicely and more automakers should do it this way.
Styling
The Tonale carries the modern Alfa design language well, although not as well as its siblings. It looks stubbier and less elegant, but it manages to be more distinct than most of the competition. We laud the continued presence of the classic triangular Alfa Romeo "Trefoil" and those iconic five-hole QV-style wheels.
Front: The triple-beam light cluster looks great when flanking the triangular grille. The black mesh in the lower fascia matches the pattern in the grille. We don't think it looks as menacing as the Stelvio's maw, probably because the light clusters aren't angled down toward the center of the front fascia.
Rear: The back end is handsome thanks to the same brake lens pattern as the front light clusters. The large round exhaust ports look great, too.
Profile: The Tonale keeps things simple and sporty. The simple contours, short overhangs, and the black window and body trim lend to a sporty aesthetic. We love those wheels, too.
Cabin: The cabin remains consistent with the rest of the Alfa lineup. It's not opulent, but it is nicely sporty. We like the horizontal stitching on the Alcantara seat inserts, but our favorite might just be the enormous paddle shifters.
Comfort
The Tonale is quite large inside for a vehicle of this size. The overall volume is impressive, given the fact that the exterior dimensions are noticeably smaller than the larger Stelvio's. Materials quality is good, but there are some noticeable low points where hard, cheap plastic is present.
Front Seats: The seats are wide, very well-bolstered, and quite comfortable even for larger occupants. There are some hard plastics along the center console.
Rear Seats: Legroom is an impressive 38.0 inches, which is significantly more than the Stelvio's 35.9. It's also more than the Lexus NX but matches the Mercedes GLA. The cushion and seatbacks on the flat side, but there's enough cushioning to make sitting in the back pretty accommodating.
NVH (noise/vibration/harshness): copy text
Visibility: Visibility is pretty good, but the thick and quite triangular C-pillar makes rear side visibility very compromised.
Climate: The climate system responded well to inputs, and the airflow managed the comfort levels more than adequately.
Safety
The Tonale has yet to be tested by other the IIHS or the NHTSA. It does come with an excellent set of standard safety features that should keep it more than competitive with other luxury models.
IIHS Rating: Not tested.
NHTSA Rating: Not tested.
Standard Tech: The Tonale comes with Forward Collision Warning with Full Stop, Adaptive Cruise Control, Driver Attention Alert, Rear Seat Reminder, Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Highway and Traffic Jam Assist, Intelligent Speed Control, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Path Detection, Rearview Camera, and a 360-Degree Camera.
Optional Tech: No Monroney provided.
Storage/Cargo
The luxury compact crossover segment isn't known for huge capacity, but there are some outstanding models like the Volvo XC40. The Tonale is smaller inside, but it's still quite practical for its size. Interior storage options are also good.
Storage Space: There's a nice open cubby in front of the shifter, big cupholders, and medium-sized door pockets and armrest compartment.
Cargo Room: The Tonale has 22.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 50.5 cubes with the seats folded flat. That's about average for the segment. That's about the same as the Mercedes-Benz GA for the latte figure.
Fuel Economy
The Tonale does pretty well in the efficiency department for a relatively powerful crossover. We drove primarily in Sport mode, so our numbers were not as good as EPA estimates. That said, we were pleased by the results. We didn't drive in EV mode, so we weren't able to test its stated 33-mile range.
Observed: 24.3 mpg.
Distance Driven: 98 miles.
Audio
Our tester came with the optional Harman Kardon premium audio system as part of the Premium Interior and Sound Package which costs $2,500 and comes with Driver-Seat Memory Function, Perforated Leather Seats, and Ventilated Front Seats. The sound system is good with decent bass and clarity. It's not mindblowing, but it is a good system. Frankly, the added features do a lot to sweeten the pot.
Final Thoughts
The Tonale is stylish, roomy, and comfortable. It certainly looks the part of an Italian crossover. It's just too bad that it's not great to drive the way you'd expect an Alfa Romeo to be. The 33 miles of EV range is the biggest benefit, along with the unique styling. Just don't look to be as engaged in the driving dynamics as anything from BMW or Audi.