Looks like an Alfa. Feels like one. But is Tonale an Alfa?
Alfa Romeo is at the crossroads. Already committed to become an EV brand, the iconic badge is set to dump what always set it apart from the rest. A walk through its Arese museum will convince you why. Which is why we pray every night that Alfa Romeo reconsiders its incredible history to still include combustion in its long term plans.
But wait. It’s not there yet. While they tell us that the Tonale marks the Brand’s metamorphosis, this new Alfa Romeo still mostly a combustion car. Sure, it’s a hybrid too, so does that electric gubbins steal any of that combustion magic? Let’s take a closer look.
One thing is for sure, Tonale is definitely an Alfa Romeo to look at. An evolution of its pioneering, bigger brother Stelvio, this smaller new SUV remains true to its Italian heritage and that classic Alfa Romeo DNA. Compact, yet spacious, the 4.53 meter long, 1.84 m wide and 1.6 m tall Tonale comes in a forward-looking design aimed at dynamic young urbanites.
A bold take on the classic Scudetto grille
Set immediately apart by Alfa’s bold latest take on that classic Scudetto shield grille, its wacky 3+3 headlights deliver a unique feel. Featuring a distinctive triple daylight design and dynamic turn signals, these sine-curve glare-free high beam full-LED Adaptive Matrix units look forward as they call back the past.
The taillights take their distinctive cue from those headlights. They wrap around the rear, linked by a GT beltline along its flanks. That also separates Tonale’s full and elegant volumes. All punctuated by 5-hole wheels that can only be on an Alfa.
Alfa Romeo tells us that Tonale’s spacious, quality cabin is just as inspired by its racing history. A driver-oriented space, it evokes passion through dynamic and powerful forms in a prestigious blend of solid aluminium and soft leather. A diamond theme spreads across the seats to slim central vents. 12.3” telescopic dials offer Evolved, Relax and a classic, analogue-look Heritage layouts.
The completely revamped 10.2” CarPlay and Auto-rich Human Machine Interface infotainment has screens for the console-mounted Alfa DNA drive mode selector, radio, media, phone, satnav, aircon, and the rest. It’s worked via the multifunction steering, a rotary knob, or the touchscreen.
Cabin arouses like only an Alfa can
The system is not as oversimplified as some rivals and the cabin has enough sensible buttons. But it’s still difficult to, say tune the radio. Ours also needed an update while we had it, and that kept on bugging us and interfering with its main functions. Which was annoying. So much so that we felt that the infotainment distracted more than helped.
While it offers decent technology in a comfortable and connected environment, Tonale’s cabin advantages are more its great style and fine attention to detail. It all serves to arouse the emotions as only an Alfa Romeo can.
Digging under the skin, the Tonale debuts a new 118 kW 240 Nm 1.5-litre Alfa Romeo Variable-Geometry Turbo Hybrid driveline. It couples its Miller cycle 350-bar direct petrol injection combustion engine to a 15 kW 55 Nm 48-volt P2 electric motor via Alfa Romeo’s seven-speed fixed aluminium paddle shifted TCT dual-clutch transmission.
Tonale can in fact be driven short distances on its 48-volt Hybrid system’s electric power only at low speeds and when parking. Its electric motor e-Boosting supports the combustion engine with electric drive is to enable what Alfa calls e-Creeping, e-Launch, e-Queueing, and e-Parking.
Hybrid Tonale can drive electric only
A belt starter generator enables quick, silent restarting, while auto-charge intelligent braking maximises kinetic energy recovery when decelerating or braking. Tonale’s Integrated Brake System combines electrical and mechanical retardation. Level 2 autonomous Advanced Driver Assistance Systems include everything from Lane Centring, Traffic Jam Assist and Autonomous Emergency Braking to Drowsy, Blind Spot and Rear Cross Path Detection.
Alfa Romeo claims perfect weight distribution for unparalleled handling. Electronic Active Suspension features frequency selective dampers on Dynamics optimised MacPherson front axle and exclusive three-arm rear geometry. Brembo 4 piston fixed callipers clamp ventilated disc brakes up front. An electronic self-locking differential brings improved control. It reduces understeer as it transfers torque from the inner to the outer driven wheel.
Now before we go any further, a little background. Schooled on Alfa Romeo’s glorious all-aluminium twin overhead cam twin-choke Weber fed engines, this writer prided himself on tuning those chokes by ear. And revelling in the incredible immediate torque and instant power that those great engines delivered to an eager driver.
Now we have already established that Tonale derives its looks, passion and feel from those great cars of yore. To be honest it really reminded us of a 1750 or 2000 GTV. The lines, the feel, the cabin, and all. So expectations were raised. And then we drove it.
Tonale derives passion from great Alfas of yore
Well, Alfa Romeo, you need to go back and do your homework better. This car has so much potential, but it is let down by an abstract lack of dynamic finesse and class. Where you could drive those old Alfas on the tip of your toe, be it in the highway glut or heeling and toeing into Clubhouse Corner at Kyalami, that is sadly not the case with this car.
The throttle seems to do its own thing. Not sure why, but what you do with your foot has very little to do with how the car responds. Yes, after a big delay, there’s a sufficient power to make it relatively easy to overtake. But that’s only after you’ve waited foot flat on the pedal for about a second and a half.
There is also a disconnect between car and driver that totally defies Tonale’s promise, and that makes it so disappointing from a dynamic point of view. Steering is too assisted and provides very little feedback. Light steering is welcome at slow speed, but it really feels like nothing on the open road.
The gearbox is also indecisive at low speed. It too doesn’t do very much that you are expecting it to. Look, once it’s mobile, it goes well enough. Even if it’s hard to gauge exactly what the road is telling you through your hands, it handles as well as we’d expect from and Alfa thanks to a great suspension setup. The car feels planted and reacts kindly to bumps, giving it a comfortable but sure footing. And man, it’s classy!
Is Tonale the twilight Alfa Romeo?
Perhaps the point is that were this a Toyota, a Volkswagen, a Ford or a Kia, we’d have glossed over a lot of what we discuss above. But this is an Alfa Romeo. And based on our lifelong love affair with the brand, we we expect more, and better from Alfa Romeo.
This twilight Alfa Romeo sits between that glorious combustion past and a dubious EV future. It is as confused as the brand itself. Yes, it looks like and Alfa, feels like an Alfa and it certainly pretends it’s an Alfa. But is it? Because Alfa Romeo is far more than just looks, feel and the show.
Dài, Alfa Romeo. Metti insieme il tuo atto. – Michele Lupini
Images & Testing: Giordano Lupini
ROAD TESTED: Alfa Romeo Tonale Speciale Engine: 118 kW 240 Nm hybrid 1.5-litre turbo petrol I4 Drive: 7-speed Double Clutch FWD TESTED: 0-60 km/h: 4.16 sec 0-100 km/h: 8.49 sec 0-120 km/h: 11.54 sec 0-160 km/h: 20.61 sec 400m: 16.2 sec @ 144 km/h 80-120 km/h: 5.30 sec 120-160 km/h: 9.08 sec CLAIMED: VMax: 210 km/h Fuel: 5.7 l/100 km CO2: 130 g/km Range: 850 km Warranty/Service: 5y 100K/5y 100K km LIST PRICE: R815K RATED: 7
