Italian brand aims to bring its trademark driver appeal to the family SUV arena On sale Late 2022 Price from £36,000 (est)
Max Adams Max.Adams@haymarket.com
ITALY HAS A long history with batteries; native inventor Alessandro Volta created the first usable one in 1799 and named it the Voltaic pile. Of course, battery technology has come a long way since then, and Alfa Romeo has made full use of this in the all-new Tonale family SUV, in which some form of battery assistance features on all models.
The first version to arrive will be a regular hybrid with 158bhp, followed by a 273bhp plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The latter promises an official electric range of 37 miles; that’s enough to beat PHEV rivals such as the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Volvo XC40, although the equivalent Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage can go farther.
In terms of performance, the regular hybrid Tonale’s combination of a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine and an electric motor fails to impress. A 0-62mph time of 8.8sec is hardly rapid, especially in comparison with the more powerful Sportage hybrid’s 7.7sec time. The Tonale also has a smaller battery than the Tucson and Sportage, so it can’t travel as far on pure electric power. If you want more than sedate acceleration, the petrol engine has to chime in, but the transition can be abrupt and the engine sounds buzzy when you start to work it hard.
At least you can maintain your hard-earned momentum on twisty roads, thanks to the Tonale’s neat handling. On the optional 20in wheels (18s are standard) and sticky Pirelli P-Zero tyres of our test car, grip levels are high, body lean is well controlled and there’s little of the floaty feeling that SUVs can be plagued by. Overall, the Tonale feels like a tall family hatchback and tackles corners just as well as the X1, but with quicker, more responsive steering that requires less input. The car would be still more engaging if the steering had a bit more weight, though.
Despite those big wheels, the ride is pretty good on the Tonale’s standard suspension. Low-speed shocks from potholes are absorbed quite well. We’d still stick with the smaller wheels in order to maximise comfort, but you don’t need to upgrade to high-spec Veloce trim, which comes with adaptive suspension as standard.
With such comfort on offer, it’s a pity the Tonale doesn’t feel a bit more special inside. Although the dashboard design is attractive, the quality of the materials isn’t up to premium standards, with far too many hard, unappealing plastics on display. And while the 10.3in infotainment touchscreen responds swiftly enough to your commands
