2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale Turbo review: Italian charm that cuts both ways do sex sex to

don't mention the dodge hornet 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale Turbo review: Italian charm that cuts both ways Lighter and cheaper than the PHEV, engaging to drive—some rough edges, though. Bradley Iger – May 6, 2025 12:48 pm | 15 It might have an unfortunate-sounding name, but the Alfa Romeo Tonale is an attractive crossover. Credit: Alfa Romeo It might have an unfortunate-sounding name, but the Alfa Romeo Tonale is an attractive crossover. Credit: Alfa Romeo Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more Minimize to nav They say that with age comes wisdom, so it should come as no surprise that on the eve of Alfa Romeo’s 115th anniversary, the company that originally made its name competing in endurance races like the Targa Florio and Mille Miglia with flame-spitting sportscars is currently looking to increase its market share with a sensible, high-riding crossover. Produced in Stellantis’ Pomigliano d'Arco assembly plant near Naples, Italy, alongside its mechanical twin, the Dodge Hornet, the Tonale plug-in hybrid introduced last year helped the Italian automaker find a foothold at a time when many of the auto conglomerate’s brands have been struggling. Now, a non-hybrid version of Alfa’s answer to models like the BMW X1 and Audi Q3 has joined the fray, sporting turbocharged power, standard all-wheel drive, and the same sharp styling at a significantly lower base price. But old habits die hard, and as I discovered over the course of a few days with the latest iteration of the Tonale, even Alfa Romeo’s most pragmatic offerings have their fair share of quirks. The new base model comes with a double overhead-cam 2.0 L inline four-cylinder engine producing 268 hp (200 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque. The turbocharged mill is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system that can send up to 50 percent of the available torque to the rear wheels. While those numbers are down a bit compared to the Tonale Hybrid, at 3,715 lbs (1,685 kg), the 2.0 L Turbo is more than 400 lbs (181 kg) lighter than the PHEV model. Alfa's iconic goofy tooth-grin. Alfa Romeo Alfa's iconic goofy tooth-grin. Alfa Romeo A long drive to Palm Springs revealed that the moonroof gets in the way for taller drivers. Alfa Romeo A long drive to Palm Springs revealed that the moonroof gets in the way for taller drivers. Alfa Romeo The Tonale's 2.0 L 268 hp turbocharged engine. Alfa Romeo The Tonale's 2.0 L 268 hp turbocharged engine. Alfa Romeo A long drive to Palm Springs revealed that the moonroof gets in the way for taller drivers. Alfa Romeo The Tonale's 2.0 L 268 hp turbocharged engine. Alfa Romeo The 2.0 L Turbo offers more precise handling as a result, while its mid-five-second sprint to 60 mph (98 km/h) is similar to the hybrid’s, despite the latter’s power advantage. EPA fuel economy figures of 21 mpg city (11.2 L/100 km), 29 mpg highway (8.11 L/100 km), and 24 mpg combined (9.8 L/100 km) indicate that the 2.0 L Turbo is thirstier, though. On a drive from LA to Palm Springs and back—which included a bit of canyon driving along the way—I saw an average of about 26 mpg (9 L/100 km). Taller drivers, beware Lengthy stints behind the wheel have a way of revealing things about a car that might not be as obvious during a quick jaunt around town and some spirited driving out in the hills. For example, I was surprised to discover that even with the driver’s seat in its lowest position, there’s limited headroom for folks over 6 feet, 3 inches (1.9 m). My tester had a power moonroof, and skipping this extra could win you back some space, but I also never landed on a seating position I was entirely happy with. I think this has to do with the limited range of adjustability offered by the steering column, which essentially forces you to make your seat adjustments based on the column’s position rather than the other way around. Steering column aside, the cabin is a nice place to do the business of driving. Customizable ambient lighting and big aluminum shift paddles (which come as part of the $2,000 Premium Package and $1,000 Veloce Package, respectively) help give the interior a premium vibe, while a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10.25-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a wireless charging pad are all standard equipment. Although there are a few low-rent touchpoints (like the flimsy shifter, for example), and despite the audio system stuttering on several occasions, the Tonale feels well put together overall and more upscale than most of its competitors in the segment. It's significantly cheaper than some German rivals. Alfa Romeo It's significantly cheaper than some German rivals. Alfa Romeo The infotainment is Stellantis' uConnect, which uses Android Automotive OS. Alfa Romeo The infotainment is Stellantis' uConnect, which uses Android Automotive OS. Alfa Romeo There's 22.9 cubic feet (649 L) of cargo volume with the rear seats in use, or 50.5 cubic feet (1,430 L ) with the seats flat. Alfa Romeo There's 22.9 cubic feet (649 L) of cargo volume with the rear seats in use, or 50.5 cubic feet (1,430 L ) with the seats flat. Alfa Romeo The infotainment is Stellantis' uConnect, which uses Android Automotive OS. Alfa Romeo There's 22.9 cubic feet (649 L) of cargo volume with the rear seats in use, or 50.5 cubic feet (1,430 L ) with the seats flat. Alfa Romeo Around town, the Tonale 2.0 L offers a solid balance between taut reflexes and compliant ride quality, thanks in part to the dual-mode active dampers that come as part of the Veloce Package, and the cabin is well insulated against both road noise and the four-cylinder’s occasionally buzzy operation. It’s a plucky motor with plenty of passing power, though touchy tip-in throttle response results in more head toss in stop-and-go traffic than I’d prefer, even when adaptive cruise control is running the show. While it’s nice to see that this feature is standard equipment, the ACC system can be a bit overeager to close the gap between you and the car in front of you, and it has a bad habit of braking later than it should. This resulted in several panic stops where the adaptive cruise control’s behavior triggered the forward collision warning system despite the fact that I was plodding along at just 15 mph (24 km/h) stop-and-go traffic. In a canyon with some paddles Out in the canyons, I switched to the Dynamic drive mode, which sharpens the Tonale’s reflexes and adds more urgency to the proceedings. The dampers’ added stiffness in this mode cleaned up the crossover’s body control to a tangible degree, but the transmission’s ongoing search for more efficient gears was only alleviated by switching to manual mode and taking over control of the gearbox with the paddles. While the overall tuning is a bit softer than some enthusiasts will prefer, the Tonale’s performance is buoyed by a gutsy powerplant and the confident stopping power delivered by the four-piston Brembo brakes equipped up front. With a starting price of $36,495 ($48,130 as-tested, with destination fee), the Tonale 2.0 L Turbo is roughly $10,000 cheaper than its hybrid counterpart, and it also undercuts other European premium compact crossovers like the Mercedes-Benz GLA and BMW X1 by thousands. The Tonale’s extroverted character is also a nice change of pace in a segment filled with anonymity, and given the negligible compromise in straight-line performance, the lower curb weight, and the significant cost savings, I’d choose the 2.0 L Turbo over the PHEV model without hesitation. Telephone dial wheels ftw. Alfa Romeo Telephone dial wheels ftw. Alfa Romeo Even the rear lights are attractive. Alfa Romeo Even the rear lights are attractive. Alfa Romeo The large aluminum paddle shifters are very tactile. Alfa Romeo The large aluminum paddle shifters are very tactile. Alfa Romeo Even the rear lights are attractive. Alfa Romeo The large aluminum paddle shifters are very tactile. Alfa Romeo The Tonale 2.0 L Turbo’s biggest rival is arguably the Dodge Hornet GT, which offers a similar driving experience but starts at a base price that’s roughly $6,000 lower. The premium you’ll pay for the Tonale largely comes down to its Italian aesthetic and the sense of occasion that the Alfa Romeo name imparts. Those attributes may seem trivial at first glance, but one should never underestimate the value of style. 15 Comments