Michael SatterfieldWhen the Alfa Romeo Tonale launched, it was meant to be a turning point, a stylish compact SUV that would bring the brand into the electrified era while appealing to buyers who might otherwise consider a BMW X1 or Audi Q3. On paper, it made sense: Italian styling, an available plug-in hybrid drivetrain, and the cachet of a performance-oriented brand. But now, three model years in, little has changed. The Tonale returns for 2025 with only minor updates, while 2024 models still sit on dealer lots. While it’s still beautiful, it continues to miss the mark in the areas that count most for today’s buyers: value, refinement, and brand confidence. Plus, it just doesn’t have that Alfa Romeo magic you expect when you get behind the wheel, something I noted when I drove the Alfa Romeo Tonale Tributo Italiano late last year.
Alfa Romeo Tonale: The Same Flare, Now Familiar
The Tonale still turns heads. That much can’t be denied. With its signature Alfa shield grille, sleek LED lighting, and sculpted body lines, the crossover is arguably the most attractive vehicle in its class. Compared to the clinical design of many German competitors, the Tonale exudes personality. It feels more like a boutique item, less mass-produced, more curated. Plus, you don’t see many of them on the road, so an Alfa Romeo Tonale feels special when you walk up to it in a parking lot. That allure is real, and it may be enough for some buyers.
But step inside, and the story becomes more complicated. The interior is attractive at first glance, but spend some time with it and the sheen begins to fade. The flat-black plastics on the lower door panels and center tunnel feel more Dodge than Alfa. There have been a few tweaks, but the improvements feel more like software updates than a true evolution. It’s nice, but not $45,000-plus nice.
Power on Paper vs. Power on Pavement
Alfa continues to offer the same plug-in hybrid powertrain in the EAWD: a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder paired with an electric motor that drives the rear wheels. Total system output remains at a healthy 285 horsepower and 347 lb-ft of torque. This setup allows for all-wheel drive without a traditional driveshaft, a clever solution, technically speaking. The non-hybrid powertrain is a conventional 2.0 DOHC four-cylinder turbo engine that offers 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid powertrain is made to a 6-speed automatic, while the non-hybrid comes with a 9-speed automatic.
2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale AWD – 2.0L 268-hp turbocharged I-4 engine
From behind the wheel, the Tonale feels eager enough. Acceleration is quick in Sport mode, especially with a full battery charge. The electric torque fills in nicely at low speeds, and the little Alfa jumps off the line with more urgency than you’d expect from a compact SUV. But the transition between EV and gasoline modes can be abrupt, particularly when the battery dips below its optimal state. The brake pedal, too, has that typical hybrid sponginess due to regenerative braking, which can make smooth stops a bit tricky in city traffic.
That said, it’s not terrible to drive. The steering has good weight and response, but the Tonale handles backroads with less than you would expect from a sporting brand like Alfa Romeo. The chassis feels heavy, and there’s a genuine sense of the suspension’s height, and you know you are driving an SUV. The Tonale is the least athletic compared to the other models in the Alfa Romeo lineup.
A Real-World Road Test
During my time with the Alfa Romeo Tonale, I took it through the winding farm roads outside of College Station, down into graduation week traffic, and on a weekend trip to our place in the Country in Groesbeck. In town, the Tonale excelled. The gas model feels more nimble than the hybrid, but in EV-only mode, you could make short trips to the coffee shop or grocery store without waking the engine. The electric range is around 30 miles, so you can do most of your around-town driving on electricity.
On the highway, the small engine has to work hard, and noise does creep into the cabin under load. The automatic transmission isn’t the smoothest in the world either; it occasionally hunts for gears under moderate throttle. Still, the ride was composed, and adaptive cruise control with lane centering helped take the edge off long stretches of road.
Storage is fine, though not exceptional. The rear seat can accommodate adults, but tall passengers will wish for more legroom. The cargo area is smaller than competitors like the Lexus NX or Acura RDX, and the plug-in battery setup robs a bit of usable underfloor space.
Alfa Romeo Tonale: Still a Tough Sell
Here’s where things get tricky. Despite all its good looks, the Tonale struggles with its value proposition. With a starting price around $36,535 for the base model, and pushing north of $56,000 when fully loaded, the little Alfa finds itself priced against nearly every compact SUV on the market, including more refined, more established luxury SUVs. That wouldn’t be a problem if the Alfa stood apart in terms of interior quality or technology, but it doesn’t.
The infotainment system is responsive, but the interface lacks polish. The 10.25-inch touchscreen looks good, but its native operating system feels like a reskinned version of something borrowed from Stellantis’ parts bin. Thankfully, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. The digital gauge cluster is configurable, but again, nothing feels segment-leading. Sound insulation is acceptable, but not outstanding. The audio system delivers adequate sound but lacks the richness of higher-end systems in rivals.
Plus, and this is just my enthusiast’s gripe, it doesn’t feel like an Alfa Romeo, special, a little dangerous, and clearly Italian. If I had a Tonale dropped off at my shop and were told to “fix it,” I would start by lowering it significantly, improving the suspension, shaving some weight, changing the seats, and turning it into a modern five-door version of the Alfa Romeo 147 GTA.
You also have the issue of market traction. Walk into an Alfa Romeo dealer today, and you’ll likely still see 2024 Tonale models on the lot, many of which are deeply discounted. (It isn’t going much better for its cousin, the Dodge Hornet.) That’s a telling sign. Even with aggressive lease offers and dealer incentives, the Tonale hasn’t captured American buyers’ imaginations as Alfa hoped. Without the cult status of something like the Giulia Quadrifoglio, or the heritage pull of the iconic Afla Romeos of old, the Tonale feels like it’s stuck in brand limbo.
Should you buy an Alfa Romeo Tonale?
The 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale is still an emotionally appealing vehicle. It’s beautifully styled, fine as a daily driver, and offers a compelling plug-in hybrid powertrain. But none of that is new. In fact, very little has changed since the original Tonale launched. And while that wouldn’t necessarily be a problem in a less competitive space, the compact SUV segment is saturated with polished, proven alternatives, it has been a rough road.
If you love the way it looks and are drawn to the Alfa badge, the Tonale might still be worth a look, especially if you can snag a leftover 2024 model at a discount. But for the average buyer seeking strong all-around value, better tech integration, and rock-solid reliability, it’s hard to recommend the Tonale over more established competition.
Photos Courtesy of Alfa Romeo
