Alfa Romeo has shown us how it interprets what a small SUV should be, with the Tonale. It blends together performance, Italian panache, and a splash of SUV practicality. But in 2024, it pushes the efficiency piece by adding a plug-in hybrid variant to the lineup.
Sales for the Tonale are relatively low, with 162 units sold so far in 2024 to the end of June, according to VFACTS figures. But a more efficient variant could only boost sales, right? We spent a week with one to see what it’s like.
2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV Veloce: Specifications
Engine: 1.3-litre turbo four-cylinder plug-in hybrid
Electrical: 15.5kWh battery, 90kW/250Nm rear e-motor
Output (combined): 208kW
Gearbox: Six-speed auto
Drive type: All-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 19×8.0, 235/45
ANCAP: Five stars
Tare weight: 1811kg
Power-to-weight: 8.70:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 1.5L/100km
Our consumption: 6.8L/100kmFuel tank/Fuel type: 42.5L/95 RON
Power efficiency: 138.6kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 2.92 seconds*
0-100km/h: 6.13 seconds*
60-110km/h: 4.25 seconds*
1/4 mile: 14.41 seconds at 155.4km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.871g*
100-0km/h braking: 38.53m in 3.04 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.304g*
Decibel at idle: 36*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 75*
Starting price: $78,500
*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different
2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV Veloce: How much does it cost?
Offered in top-spec Veloce trim only, the PHEV does not come cheap. It’s priced from $78,500 excluding on-road costs. The Tonale Veloce non-PHEV retails from $58,900. So, you’re paying about $20k for the plug-in function.
The cheapest Tonale retails for $50,900, placing it into the luxury small SUV category above $45k. This puts it side-by-side with the Audi Q2 and Q3, BMW X1 and X2, Genesis GV60, Jaguar E-PACE, and Lexus UX and so on. All of which do not yet offer plug-in hybrid options.
Which has us zooming out further into the auto-sphere to get a price comparison. The plug-in hybrid Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross medium SUV ranges from $47,790 to $56,490. Or, the outgoing and larger Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid kicks off from $92,990. So, we think the Tonale PHEV could be fairly priced when compared to others with the same technology. But the cost of the technology itself is questionable when compared to other power sources.
Fans would also argue that Alfa has a reputation for producing vehicles like artwork – unique for their performance and style, which justifies the cost. They are also built in Alfa’s Giambattista Vico plant in Pomigliano d’Arco, Italy, where labour is more expensive than other countries.
All Alfas are offered with the industry standard five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, and five years of free road-side assistance. The EV batteries are covered by an eight-year, 160,000km warranty. Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km. If services are conducted at an Alfa dealership, the first five services cost $500, $600, $500, $1000, then $500. Not the cheapest, but not as precipitous as we were imagining from an Italian-made vehicle. The services are also fractionally cheaper than the non-plug-in Tonale variants.
2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV Veloce: Interior & packaging
Sitting yourself down inside, you’ll notice a rather contemporary design with a touch of Italian flair. For the asking price, the feel and quality of some surfaces could be better. For instance, the feel of the steering wheel buttons is a bit cheap, and some brushed metal look areas feel fake. Though, the legacy Alfa style comes through with circular air vents and instrument panel gauges, and distinct stitching.
Tech gear is the forefront of the interior with a vivid 12.3-inch centre touch-screen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. The layouts and on-screen menus are aesthetically pleasing and easy to navigate. Though, some switches need some sort of feedback message or indication that they have changed state. For example, the wiper setting chosen, or the suspension adjust button.
Notably, the layout sustains a driving buff’s experience by duplicating a driver-centric analogue cockpit of yesteryear with all the relevant gauges. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 3D TomTom navigation, digital radio, and a wireless charging pad are all included as standard.
Being an SUV, the Tonale also has an element of practicality and space. For a small SUV, there is a praiseworthy amount of breathing space in both the front and rear. Front passengers get a slidable centre armrest, generously-sized cup holders, and storage compartments. Rear passengers score generous legroom, air vents, and a USB-A and USB-C charging port.
At the rear, the boot size is reasonable and able to fit a couple of medium-sized suitcases. It is narrower than some due to side walls that do not shape around the wheel cavities. There is no official volume listed for the plug-in hybrid’s boot, but the non-PHEV Tonale measures 500L. A 12-volt outlet has not been forgotten back here, and the non-slip boot floor is handy.
All Veloces are upgraded with 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, a body kit, Brembo red brake calipers, interior trim upgrades, active dual stage valve suspension, a 360-degree camera, side parking sensors, active blind-spot assist with rear cross-traffic alert, and autonomous driving cruising control functions.
Then the Veloce PHEV adds more interior trim highlights, eight-way power driver and passenger seat adjustment, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, heated washer nozzle, a 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and a sunroof. But a space-saving spare wheel is lost and replaced with a tyre repair kit.
Looking at the exterior, the Tonale hits the right notes with its sophisticated and sporty design. It also embodies some legacy Alfa design traits, like the angry front-end frown with strong bonnet lines and thin headlights, the triangular grille, and large alloys with a large circular design.
The rear is dominated by a stark single taillight unit similar to a Porsche or Audi. You can tell every design cue has been methodically measured to exhibit the Tonale’s athletic, chic and prestigious intentions. There are some brilliant paint colours choose from too.
2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV Veloce: Powertrain & handling
The hybrid system is made up of a 1.3-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine that exclusively powers the front wheels, and an electric motor powered by a 15.5kWh 240V battery that solely powers the rear wheels. Although 1.3L does not sound like much, it packs a decent punch, releasing 132kW and 270Nm on its own.
Then the electric motor adds 90kW and 250Nm. It’s the combination of both that has your head jolting into the seat, with an impressive 208kW of combined effort. This allows the Tonale to cover 0-100km/h in a claimed 6.2 seconds; 2.6 seconds quicker than the non-PHEV Tonale. Our tests revealed a 0-100km/h time of 6.13 seconds.
Behind the wheel, the engine is willing to work hard when demanded. The magic happens higher in the rev range, and it feels like it is in its natural habitat hovering up there. But you need to sink your foot down liberally to get it to perform, especially to get it out of a high gear slump. The seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox is dropped for a six-speed conventional auto in the PHEV, that works smoothly with both power sources. You still get Alfa’s three ‘DNA’ preset driving modes.
The electric side enables travel for about 60km on a full charge without assistance from the petrol engine. You can achieve this range in perfect driving conditions, but it may be slightly less for certain journeys. Though, when driving in EV mode, we found power too weak at times. You either need to take off very gently or dodge steep hills to avoid the engine turning on. Charging from empty takes about 2.5 hours, and it plugs into a general-purpose household outlet with a Type 2 socket in the vehicle.
Fuel efficiency is completely variable depending on whether your driving habits allow you to charge the Tonale frequently. You can achieve zero petrol consumption if you charge it every 60km and drive gently. If you don’t plug it in at all, the fuel consumption will be around 6.8L/100km, as we averaged.
This is rather high for a tiny engine, and it needs the more expensive 95 RON petrol. If you don’t get to charge it regularly, the small 42L fuel tank becomes annoying, requiring more frequent fuel stops than you might expect. It is 13L smaller than the non-PHEV variants.
Veering into dynamics, and the Tonale’s suspension is made up of coil springs and independent struts with sway bars on the front and rear. Veloce variants score a unique two-stage valve electronic suspension. Alfa describes it as a way to provide a choice between performance and comfort via an electro-actuated valve within the shock absorber that provides independent damping curves.
And it delivers. It doesn’t feel too sporty to be uncomfortable. Bumps are absorbed effectively, with only a minor initial jolt felt probably due to the low-profile 235/45 tyres. There are two programmed modes: Comfort and Sport. Comfort is the pre-set calibration in the DNA, ‘Advanced efficiency’ and ‘Normal’ modes to provide a softer dampening over bumps. Sport mode activates in the DNA ‘Dynamic’ and ‘ESC off’ driving modes, which increases stiffness and reduces body movement.
There is also a devoted button on the DNA selector so the Sport suspension mode can be activated separately. Though, we could not feel a huge variance between the modes. They both bias toward a performance style.
What makes it feel zippy and sporty the most is the sharp steering. It digs into corners hard from minimal steering input – we wonder how long the front tyres last. It makes it feel extremely agile in the mountains and very sporty, especially for this vehicle category.
The Tonale Plug-In Hybrid is best suited to sealed roads. With 143mm of ground clearance and low-profile tyres, light dirt roads should be as far as you take it. The all-wheel drive that you only get in the plug-in hybrid is a helpful addition for traction though. The towing capacity is poor, with a max rating of 1250kg (braked).
2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV Veloce: Key attractions/reasons to buy
- Attractive styling: That Italian-style external design is hard to beat.
- Zero fuel, if you can: If your lifestyle is compatible, you can average perfect fuel consumption – zero.
- PHEV benefits: The PHEV variant also gains all-wheel drive, a better sound system, heated and ventilated front seats, a sunroof, and more.
- Huge power boost: An increase from 118kW to a brisk 208kW has the 0-100km/h sprint jump from 8.8 seconds to 6.2 seconds.
2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV Veloce: Key considerations before you buy
- Pricey: The price jump is in line with other plug-in hybrid model price jumps, but the cost benefits will only be possible if you recharge every 60km. Otherwise the fuel consumption is not much better than a non-hybrid powertrain.
- Questionable reliability: History tells us that Alfas haven’t had the cleanest track record in the past when it comes to longevity. For instance, none of our test car interior ceiling lights worked. We tried all the buttons and settings.
- Tiny petrol tank: At just 42.5L, you’ll be visiting your local fuel stop regularly. Unless you charge the battery regularly
2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV Veloce: Video
How does it rate against its rivals?
- Price
- Quality look & feel
- Interior tech
- Powertrain performance
- Ride & handling
- X-factor (does it stand out in its class?)
Final word
The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale Veloce Plug-In Hybrid adds the option of zero fuel usage (under specific circumstances) and a huge performance jump to an already premium, stylish, and practical small SUV. Its high price is a difficult figure to swallow, and it will only provide benefit if you can frequently charge it.
