Overview

The Alfa Romeo Tonale is a lot of firsts for the Italian brand. It’s Alfa’s first mid-size SUV, giving the firm a second entrant into the incredibly competitive premium SUV sector beneath the larger Stelvio and putting it up against some of the best SUVs available.

The Tonale is also the first model in the Alfa range to embrace electrification. It comes exclusively with hybrid power, something that should give it broad appeal in today’s eco-conscious motoring market. But traditional Alfa Romeo buyers will also expect it to have tidy handling and a bit of soul to go with its attractive looks – suggesting it needs to be an SUV that also delivers enjoyment for enthusiastic drivers.

All models are petrol-powered – there’s no Tonale diesel – but the level of hybrid assistance varies. The entry-level front-wheel drive mild-hybrid model has 160hp, and even this can run on electric power alone (albeit for very short periods). Alternatively you can choose the 280hp plug-in hybrid or PHEV variant, which has four-wheel drive and a theoretical electric range of up to 48 miles.

The mid-sized SUV market is booming, and rivals for the Tonale are plentiful. Mild hybrid models square up against the likes of the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson, while the plug-in hybrid variants will challenge everything from the Volvo XC40 to the Audi Q3. Its stylish looks also make it an obvious adversary for the Range Rover Evoque.

The Alfa Romeo Tonale is available in two standard specifications: well-equipped Ti and sportier Veloce. A launch edition trim with all the bells and whistles called the Edizione Speciale was also offered initially. All models come with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless phone charging, dual-zone air-conditioning, automatic lights and wipers, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and heated, folding door mirrors as standard, with keyless go, a powered tailgate, parking sensors and a reversing camera optional on the Ti.

With the Tonale, Alfa Romeo also became the first carmaker to use NFT technology as a way of proving ownership and verifying service history. In theory this will make it impossible to falsify information about the vehicle. Expect other brands to follow.

Click through the next few pages to read everything you need to know about the Alfa Romeo Tonale, including its practicality, how much it costs to run, what it’s like to drive – and whether we recommend buying one.