Road Test: 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV

With an Alfa Romeo, there are two things you can always count on: a sporty driving experience and stylish Italian design. It matters not if it’s a sports car, sedan or SUV because the company places driving dynamics on a pedestal and the all-new Tonale, a sub-compact SUV that shares a platform with the Dodge Hornet carries on this tradition.

The Tonale is the third model in Alfa’s relatively young lineup that consists of the Giulia sedan and the larger Stelvio SUV. The Stelvio is one of the few SUVs that’s actually fun to drive. With a lightning-quick steering ratio and a rear-biased all-wheel drive system it feels more like a tall sportscar than a crossover.

It’s immediately apparent that Alfa’s designers are masters at making anything look pretty, even a crossover. From the slim triple lens headlights to the trademark Scudetto triangle grille, and an arcing character line running from the headlights to the rear, meant to evoke the styling of Giulia GT Junior, the Tonale features that same sporting but elegant character that has been an Alfa hallmark for decades. Car design is a subjective thing, but the Alfa breaks the monotonous mold of monotone globular shapes and even adds proper colours like Misano blue and vivid Verde Fangio (pictured here).

Two powertrains are offered in the Tonale in Canada, gas and plug-in hybrid. The gas version is fitted with a 2-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder that puts out 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque to drive all four wheels via a mechanical all-wheel drive system.

The plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and the focus of this review, is certainly the more interesting choice with its 1.3-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder metered by a 6-speed automatic transmission providing torque to the front wheels. A 15.5 kWh battery pack and 90 kW electric motor power the rears. An integrated belt starter-generator also provides seamless stop/start capability. The plug-in Tonale is the most powerful version with a combined rating of 285 hp and 347 lb-ft of torque

The large battery pack means the plug-in is substantially heavier than the gas version and would naturally fare slightly worse in the corners and while it isn’t as nimble, Alfa’s suspension wizards have nevertheless coaxed what it could from the chassis and made the Tonale PHEV just as fun to drive.

There are two available trims: Sprint and Veloce. Veloce adds gorgeous “phone dial” 19-inch wheels, upgraded Brembo brakes and adaptive dampers among other items.

In traditional Alfa fashion the steering wheel is the perfect size and thickness and behind it are the largest paddle shifters this side of a Ferrari, fixed in place of course because that’s how the Italians do things. Also, like Ferrari, which owes its existence to Alfa Romeo, the engine start button is on the steering wheel. You quickly see where the brand’s priorities lie before you start the car. Except, pushing the start button here doesn’t actually fire up the engine.

The Tonale PHEV is designed to run in electric mode even at highway speeds until the battery charge passes a certain threshold, at which time the gas engine fires up. Cycling through the different drive modes has a big effect on how the plug-in behaves. N is the default mode and blends gas and electric propulsion for the most efficient drive. A is the efficiency mode and forces the Tonale to use only the electric motors for up to 50 km or until the battery depletes at which point it runs as a conventional hybrid.

Unsurprisingly, D or dynamic is the most interesting. The dampers stiffen up along with the quick ratio steering, and both gas and electric powertrains combine forces to provide not just maximum forward thrust but also a significant amount of regenerative braking when lifting off the gas pedal. You can also adjust the dampers back to their softer setting by pushing the button in the middle of the drive mode selector, perfect for rougher roads.

Alfa’s dynamic drive mode transforms the Tonale. Finding a rhythmic flow on twisty roads is easy, aided by precise steering and a front end that feels planted and secure. With both engine and motor working together, the Tonale positively pounces out of corners and will pass slower cars with ease.

Typical Alfa bugaboos all seem part of the charm here, and while there’s a certain style and flair to the interior, some of the materials and plastics are of lesser quality than you might expect when factoring that its price tag in Veloce trim with options rang in at just over $70,000. Add faulty window switches and rattling trim to the list of anomalies, and you get a sense that Alfa’s main concern was to deliver on the driving experience first while assuming the driver and passengers would prefer to focus their attention on the road ahead.

As a plug-in hybrid the Tonale is surprisingly adept. It’s efficient, and a depleted battery can be fully charged in about 8 hours when plugged into a standard 110-volt outlet or 2.5 hours with a Level 2 home charger. Even in cooler spring temperatures 50 kilometres of electric range was the norm, and there’s enough torque that it doesn’t feel slow. The gas engine will kick in, if the accelerator is pushed beyond a certain point but it won’t do that in the efficiency drive mode. In electric mode the Tonale is smooth, quiet, and perfect for driving around the city.

Competitors include the BMW X1, Lexus NX, Volvo XC40 and others. The Lexus is the only other plug-in and has slightly more range and a much nicer interior, but the Tonale is much better to drive. Even the BMW isn’t as entertaining on a back road. The Tonale PHEV has its foibles but if you value the driving experience, it’s the best choice.

VEHICLE TYPE: Front engine/ rear electric motor/All-wheel drive, 5-passenger, 5-door SUV
PRICE AS TEST: $73,030 CAD
POWERTRAIN: 1.3-litre turbo 4-cylinder + 90 kW electric motor
POWER: 285 hp TORQUE: 347 lb-ft
FUEL CAPACITY: 42 L
COMBINCED FUEL ECONOMY: (L/100 km): 3.1 Le/100 km
WARRANTY: 4-years/80,000 km (basic)
COMPETITORS: Audi Q3, BMW X1, Lexus NX, Mercedes-Benz GLA, Volvo XC40
WEBSITE: Alfa Romeo Canada