2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV is eclectic Italian elegance

The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV, the entry-lux hybrid compact SUV, is now at U.S. dealerships. It’s designed to offer style, class, comfort, and performance in a smaller and more eco-friendly package than the mid-sized Alfa Romeos Americans have been used to since last decade – the Giulia and Stelvio. It is equipped with a plug-in hybrid system as standard to deliver efficiency and performance gains.

Recently, I checked out a Verde (Green) Fangio Metallic unit (2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale Ti e-AWD) to see if the model does justice to the Alfa Romeo badge and figure out if it’s worth the premium it carries over its American counterpart, the Dodge Hornet R/T.

Design

The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale has an aggressive and athletic design, which is typical of Italian cars. Having seen it in person, I can tell Alfa Romeo has tried hard to make it glamorous and sensuous, although I still don’t find it as attractive as the bigger and more expensive Stelvio.

I find the inward slant of the front fascia a little odd, and the same goes for the angular shape of the three-module headlamps. The Trilobo front grille, including the “Scudetto” shield, conveys prestige, but in my opinion, the 2024 Hornet R/T’s “mail slot”-style grille looks much more attractive. I think the Dodge model’s mail slot-style grille, just like its hood scoops, wouldn’t go well with the 2024 Tonale’s elegant character, though.

The side profile of the 2024 Tonale gives it the impression of powerful forward-looking motion. My favorite element here is the sleek glasshouse that ends with a beautiful curve. At the back, the tail lights repeat the intricate design cues of the headlights, and along with the cursive model inscription on the tailgate, project sophistication and remind me of Italy’s roots in art.

Interior

I think the interior of the 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale is modern, but it doesn’t go overboard on reductionism or digitalization. As soon as I stepped into the cabin, I could tell it was driver-focused. The dashboard is tilted towards the driver and there are analog controls wherever needed – no fiddly capacitive buttons. I felt the aluminum shift paddles, the conveniently located drive mode selector, and the turbine-shaped elevate the feeling of sitting in a vehicle built for driving enthusiasts.

I expected the bank of physical switches, buttons, and knobs in the front of the cabin to offer tactile feedback and be precise with the desired inputs. In my experience, the feedback and the quality could be better. The quality of trim, plastics, and other materials in the lower part of the car and the center console could do with an upgrade in future iterations.

The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster features crisp graphics and a slick UI. The 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system includes wireless CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and satellite navigation and has a familiar feel to it.

I’m six-foot-tall, and I felt that ingress and egress in the 2024 Tonale didn’t pose challenges. The eight-way adjustable and heated front seats offer decent under-thigh support. I felt that the leg space in the front was ample and that I had good headroom there. I was concerned about the rear-diagonal visibility because of the small rear-quarter glass and thick C-pillar. When I turned around to check, I didn’t see that would be a problem while driving.

In the back, three large adults like me would not fit side by side. I felt that the legroom and knee room were tight, but thanks to the clever seat extenders, under-thigh support is ample. As for headroom, I didn’t have much, and I recommend it only for kids and shorter adults.

Driving impressions

The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale sports a 1.3-liter turbocharged gas engine-based plug-in hybrid system that produces 285 hp and 350 lb.-ft. of torque. It takes 6 seconds for a 0-60 mph sprint, and gets a top speed of 125 mph. In terms of efficiency, the Tonale has an EPA-est. electric range of 33 miles and an EPA-est. combined fuel economy of 77 MPGe.

The 2024 Tonale PHEV shines on the road. Customers who have also used it will tell that you that it handles quite well, although it’s not as lively as the rear-wheel-driven, gas-only Stelvio. The compact Alfa Romeo is quick off the line, and when it needs more power, the gas engine comes into action smoothly. Overall, the plug-in hybrid powertrain packs plenty of punch.

The 2024 Tonale PHEV’s steering feels solid and can get heavier when needed during dynamic driving, but it doesn’t feel that sharp. The Brembo brakes give it all the biting force it needs once things get out of the hands of its regenerative braking system, which, unfortunately, doesn’t allow manually adjusting the intensity. Cabin noise at highway speeds is an area that can be further improved in future model years, but all in all, it’s quite a fun and comfortable compact SUV.

Price

The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale’s prices start at USD 43,845 and go up to USD 51,040 (excl. USD 1,595 destination fee). Production of the plug-in hybrid SUV takes place at the G.B. Vico plant in Pomigliano d’Arco (Naples), Italy.

TopElectricSUV says

The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale looks gorgeous, packs plenty of comfort and convenience features, has a capable powertrain and chassis, and promises great practicality with its usable electric range. However, I feel that it’s more a premium compact SUV for the daily commute than something truly special that’s deserving of the Alfa Romeo badge and worth the premium price. It’s got some nice-to-haves, but the Stelvio is still the Alfa SUV of choice for me!

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale FAQs

I got my Master’s in Business Management & Administration and have been an International Automotive News Editor since 2014. I’ve traveled to global motor shows and automotive events, driven various types of vehicles, and focused on hybrid and electric cars in the last 4 years.