Next June, the Alfa Romeo Tonale will launch into the deep end of premium compact SUVs. A highly competitive world with the Audi Q3 Sportback, BMW X2, Mercedes GLA and Volvo XC40 competing. What are the strengths of the new Italian entrant? Discover them on video with L’argus.
Remember. In the spring of 2019, during the Geneva Motor Show (the latest to date), the Milanese brand created a surprise by unveiling the Alfa Romeo Tonale Concept. Here is today (finally!) the serial version. Orders for the Alfa Romeo Tonale will open in April, and the marketing of the vehicle will take place from June 2022.
A larger than average SUV?
With a format of 4.52 m, this model, technically derived from the Jeep Compass – from which it takes the chassis and the wheelbase of 2.63 m – is a bit larger than its rivals. For these last ones, the length varies between 4.36 m and 4.50 m. Among the competitors, there are obviously those from across the Rhine: Audi Q3 Sportback, BMW X2 and Mercedes GLA. But also the Range Rover Evoque, Volvo XC40, Jaguar e-Pace and Lexus UX clique.
“As with Stelvio on the floor above, the name Tonale refers to a mountain pass. “
As you will have understood, this little brother of the Stelvio – whose surname refers to the passo del Tonale, an alpine pass linking the Italian provinces of Trentino-Alto Adige and Lombardy – is venturing into a highly competitive segment. So how does he intend to win?
Tonale: a very Alfa style
The Tonale will first seduce with its style, Alfa Romeo designers had the good idea not to distort the lines of the 2019 concept car. It is certainly a little narrower, but we won’t complain when maneuvering in town. And, for convenience, it adopted conventional door handles. At the front, of course, but also at the rear, thus turning the back on the compact sedan Alfa Romeo Giulietta, which concealed its own in its pyxes.
The single line between the headlights and taillights clearly evokes the flanks of the Giulia GT coupé, better known as the Bertone coupé. The muzzle with the famous trilobo, composed of a triangular grille whose lower tip rests on two horizontal air intakes, features sober high-tech optics operating in trios and incorporating turn signals. No fangs or bright zigzagging hooks on the program, the Tonale does not need to impress. On the contrary, it must hide its somewhat bulky overhangs and, for this, horizontally stretches its optics which are not too many three per block. At the rear, the sloping bezel that ends in a point allows the Tonale to also venture into the SUV coupe niche without having to duplicate its offer as most German rivals do.
Just below is the light signature of the Tonale, described as sinusoidal. Barring the entire stern, she “ will make a date we are told at Alfa Romeo. Finally, the so-called “Telefono” five-hole rims catch the eye particularly when they are, as here, offered in 20 inches.
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The essential digital update
On board the SUV, the brand is in turn taking the digital turn. Audi introduced its Virtual Cockpit in 2014. For Alfa, it was high time to follow suit! Finished then the beautiful needle counters housed at the bottom of barrels? Not quite since in front of the driver the slab of a standard format of 12.3 inches – certainly deeply sunk under a cap baptized Cannocchial – offers three display modes, including one called “Legacy”. For the latter, the layout of the numbers as well as the fine and high graphics clearly evoke those of the Alfas of yesteryear. The brand does not cut itself off from its roots, and that’s good!
Added to the top of the dashboard, a very responsive 10.25-inch panoramic touch screen. Customizable at will, it offers live updates (“over the air” technology – OTA) without having to go to the dealership and the Amazon Alexa voice assistant. To reassure customers, the Alfa Romeo Tonale is introducing NFT traceability so that the history is clear and tamper-proof throughout the life of the vehicle. “ It is essential for the residual value declared Jean-Philippe Imparato, the boss of Alfa Romeo. The vehicle also benefits from level 2 autonomous driving and the brand’s typical DNA mode selector. This affects the steering, suspension and throttle response.
The Segment Vault
The perceived quality seems correct, the docking and the assemblies between the parts seemed precise and rewarding to us. But so far we’ve only seen models with black interiors, in a dimly lit presentation studio. So we still have to put things into perspective. We hope that, as usual, the cloverleaf brand will then offer us more colorful Alcantara or leather upholstery (now “ecological”). Access to the rear seats is easy, in particular by means of the exterior handle on the door which we mentioned above. Note also that the side window, pointed at its end, is however well protected by a thick rubber seal and presents no risk of injury. Premium attention.
The headroom and legroom are generous, but the central square is somewhat penalized by a small service tunnel through which the exhaust line passes. Passengers have air vents, two USB type sockets, one standard and the other USB-C, as well as a 12 V socket.
With a volume of 500 l with a double bottom at floor level and straight sides, the trunk of the Tonale loses 100 l on the plug-in hybrid version (PHEV). Question modularity, it is a 60/40 division with a ski hatch. Unfortunately, the pull tabs to fold down the backrests from the trunk are lacking. That’s a shame.
Simple and rechargeable hybridization
In order to stay in the race against its rivals all electrified at more or less high doses, the Alfa Romeo Tonale has no choice but to hybridize too. Its petrol offer includes two classic versions and, at the top of the range, a rechargeable variant. The Tonale hybrids are designed on the basis of the four-cylinder engine with direct petrol injection cubant 1.5 l and equipped with 48 V technology. The latter is associated with an electric motor (named P2 internally) delivering a power of 20 hp for a torque value of 55 Nm. According to Alfa Romeo, this coupling would allow driving 50% of the time in electric mode in town. The entry-level combines 130 hp. Topped with a variable geometry turbo – which the cloverleaf brand has the prerogative of in the Stellantis group – the heart of the range displays 160 hp. In both cases, power is distilled to the front wheels through a seven-speed TCT dual-clutch gearbox.
275 hp and four-wheel drive for the Tonale PHEV
No GTA version at the top of the catalog – at least for now – but a Tonale Plug-in Hybrid e-Q4 with 275 hp and all-wheel drive. At the front, we find an old acquaintance, the 1.3 l MultiAir engine of 180 hp, while at the rear takes place a strong electric motor of 122 hp; it is that of the electric Fiat 500. The set is tuned by means of an automatic gearbox with torque converter equipped with six gears. The electric machine is powered by a 15.5 kWh battery and offers a range of 80 km. In order to consolidate its position as a premium brand, Alfa Romeo therefore benefits from greater power than Jeep for its plug-in models, whose 4xe versions are only available in 190 and 240 hp. Note that the French market will also benefit from the 1.6 l diesel engine of 130 c. For the United States, Alfa Romeo concocted a Tonale combining a large 2.0 petrol engine of 256 hp with a mechanical four-wheel drive via a nine-speed automatic transmission. Finally, regarding the Chinese market, the brand is still thinking about the engine that will be the most relevant.
Alfa Romeo Tonale review
In total aesthetic continuity of the eponymous concept car, the standard Alfa Romeo Tonale made a good impression on us. This essential SUV to boost sales puts the brand up to date in terms of digital, connectivity and electrification of its range. So it ticks all the right boxes. Made in Italy, in the historic factory of Pomigliano d’Arco (that of Alfasud), not far from Naples, the Tonale rationalizes its offer around two finishes: Super and Ti, supplemented by the two packs Sprint and Veloce. A Germanic logic, a source of savings. Beyond the Alfistes already won over to its cause, the Tonale will have to convince premium customers with adapted prices and dynamic services that we will evaluate during the road tests in April. Case to follow.
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