The first gas/electric hybrid vehicle from Alfa Romeo will soon be on its way to North American showrooms. The 2024 Tonale is a subcompact-class SUV that will compete with the likes of the Audi Q3, BMW X1/X2, Mercedes-Benz GLA, and Volvo XC40.
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Styling wise, Tonale looks like cut-down version of Alfa Romeo’s compact Stelvio SUV. The front end bears the brand’s signature three-sided grille outline, flanked by a row of LED headlights. The SUV also sports its own variation of the five circle wheels found on the Stelvio as well as the Giulia small sedan. The interior will also be familiar to anyone who has driven a recent Alfa, with large gauges surrounded by a thin-spoke steering wheel containing the engine start button and chunky metal paddle shifters.
Parent-company Stellantis’ well-integrated Uconnect 5 suite handles infotainment duties, including the ability to store up to five custom user profiles. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, along with Amazon Alexa and support for over-the-air software updates. Alfa Romeo is also attempting to leverage non-fungible tokens (NFTs) with this vehicle. Tonale will use what the company calls a “blockchain card” concept to, with the owner’s consent, “record vehicle data, generating a certificate that can be used to assure the car has been properly maintained,” which could have, “…a positive impact on its residual value.”
On the powertrain front, Tonale is a plug-in hybrid that has standard all-wheel drive and uses a 15.5-kWh battery pack that powers a 90-kW motor. Alfa claims more than 30 miles of all-electric driving. Combined with a 1.3-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, the SUV will produce a total of 285 horsepower.
The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale starts at $42,995 for the base Sprint trim. The mid-line Ti and flagship Veloce carry base prices of $44,995 and $47,495, respectively. The mandatory destination fee adds $1,595, and all models are currently eligible to receive a $7,500 federal EV tax credit. Interested customers can pre-order the Ti and Veloce now, with the Sprint following later this spring.
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CG Says:
Tonale marks Alfa Romeo’s pivot to electrification, and this SUV looks like a solid first step in a plan that will eventually see the brand phase out internal combustion engines. The promise of 285 horsepower in such a small package is enticing, as is its aggressive price structure. Alfa loyalists will certainly love it, but time will tell if there’s enough substance (and reliability) to make it a viable option for those who might be more inclined to shop other premium brands.
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2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale Gallery
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