Plug-in hybrid version of this new family SUV aims to combine efficiency with driver appeal On sale Now Price from £44,595
Lawrence Cheung Lawrence.Cheung@haymarket.com
AS TOUGH TASKS go, the Alfa Romeo Tonale’s is a doozy. To succeed, this family SUV needs to have all the eye-catching looks and driveability that existing Alfa fans expect, but it also has to appeal to a new breed of buyers looking for an intriguing alternative to more established premium rivals, including the BMW X1 and Range Rover Evoque.
With no hot Quadrifoglio version to tempt performance fans into the driver’s seat, it’s up to this 276bhp plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version to tick all the right boxes for driving entertainment. It teams a 1.3-litre petrol engine that powers the front wheels with an electric motor to turn the back ones, making it four-wheel drive and boosting power output by 118bhp compared with the rather tepid mild hybrid version we’ve driven previously. That’s enough to drop the 0-62mph time down from 8.8sec to 6.2sec, and while the power delivery feels brisk rather than thrilling, the Tonale PHEV covers ground effortlessly.
It easily keeps up with traffic in electric-only mode, too, and the 15.5kWh battery officially provides up to 42 miles of range on a charge. That beats the figures of the rival Evoque P300e and Volvo XC40 Recharge T4, but trails the 55 miles that the X1 xDrive25e can manage. However, the Tonale PHEV is in the same 8% company car tax bracket as the X1, rather than the pricier 12% band of the other two.
Even with a heavier battery on board than in the mild hybrid version, the PHEV feels sharp and agile on winding roads. Body control is excellent, with minimal lean through corners and very little forward pitching under braking. There’s plenty of grip, too. In fact, the Tonale is more composed when you push it hard than the X1.
The steering could do with a bit more weight to make for a more engaging experience, though, because there isn’t a strong sense of connection with the front wheels. What’s more, while the Tonale’s brakes are strong enough, their inconsistent pedal response takes some getting used to and doesn’t inspire much confidence.
To cope with the added weight, the Tonale PHEV is fitted with slightly firmer suspension than the regular version. Although it feels a bit more fidgety around town than its cheaper sibling (which is very impressive for ride comfort) and rivals such as the DS 4 and Evoque, sp
