Alfa Romeo Tonale (2025 - ) review

Both versions of the Alfa Romeo Tonale feature electrification, though the use of the ‘Ibrida’ name (Italian for Hybrid) is generous, as this version relies on what’s known as a mild-hybrid system. That means it only uses its electric motor on start-up and for very short bursts at low speeds, and when parking, so don’t expect big fuel savings. Of course, it’s better than nothing, and if you believe the official fuel consumption figures, you could get nearly 50mpg. The plug-in hybrid variant fares better so long as you play the game properly and charge the battery as frequently as possible. It can cover up to 38 miles when fully charged, or even as much as 50 miles in lower-speed urban settings.

Both the hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains of the Tonale have been used by Alfa Romeo for a number of years and have proven to be generally reliable, with the brand featuring in the mid-table of reliability indexes. It’s also part of the wider Stellantis group alongside Citroën, Peugeot, DS Automobiles and Vauxhall, and each of those brands has performed well in more recent years. Alfa Romeo provides a 36-month warranty that is made up of 24 months of cover from the manufacturer supplemented by a 12-month dealer warranty.

The Alfa Romeo Tonale scored a full five-star rating from Euro NCAP when it was launched back in 2022 and, while the test has since got tougher, we still rate it as a safe car. In keeping with the times, the Tonale has all the latest mandatory safety features, including audible speed limit warnings. Perhaps realising these can be annoying and frequently incorrect Alfa provides an easy shortcut button on the touch-screen to mute them. There are some Level 2 driving assistance functions that include an adaptive cruise control with active lane-keeping, though you’ll still need to keep your hands on the steering wheel. It can also deal with stop-start traffic, taking some of the burden out of those rush-hour commutes. That lane-keeping system doesn’t always work brilliantly, so it’s not something to blindly rely on.

The Tonale has a good balance of technology and more traditional features with some nods to the past in the layout of the cockpit and dashboard. There’s a spread of different materials throughout, including some suede-like microfibre as part of the 2025 model year update. There’s plenty of adjustment in the driving position while the seats themselves are reasonably comfortable, with good side and leg support, even though the seat base doesn’t have an adjustable extension. Those in the rear shouldn’t have much issue with access, and once in the back, there’s an average amount of headroom. Legroom could be better, but there is at least space to get your feet in underneath the front seats if you need to stretch out a little more. The ride is on the firmer side in keeping with Alfa Romeo’s sporting heritage, but even if the Sport mode is selected, the driver can adjust the dampers to a softer setting. Unsurprisingly, the 20-inch wheels on our test car didn’t add much comfort, and over sharper bumps it’s far from a magic carpet ride. If you’re not so hung up on looks a smaller wheel option is one thing to consider. Another aspect to be mindful of is that the plug-in hybrid Tonale loses some boot space to make room for the bigger battery, meaning it can only swallow 385 litres versus the 500 litres of the Tonale Ibrida.

In today’s world of minimalist cabins and massive touch-screens, the Tonale strikes a more traditional balance. There’s a digital instrument display in a dual-binnacle hood, just like an old-school Alfa Romeo. This display offers some configurability, and we like the graphics, which look just as they would on a car from the 60s. The start button is fixed onto the steering wheel, and the multifunction controls are easy to use and have a nice feel. Also boosting the Tonale’s tactility are the large metallic gear paddles behind the steering wheel. These look and feel properly premium and let drivers shift gears manually if they wish. A 10.25-inch touch-screen sits high in the centre of the dashboard and the system powering it is simple enough to use. There are some shortcuts along the top, and if you’d prefer to use your phone, there is wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. We’re pleased to see physical buttons for the temperature control below the central air vents, too. This updated Tonale also gets a rotary drive selector replacing the more traditional upright shifter. It frees up a bit more space and makes it easier to fit your phone into the wireless charging pad. Another new bit of technology is a wearable key that, like a FitBit, is a rubberised wristband capable of locking or unlocking and starting the Tonale.

The petrol hybrid Tonale makes the best of what is a small battery supporting the electric motor, though it lags behind what other ‘proper’ hybrids in the segment offer. For greater performance, you’ll need to choose the plug-in hybrid powertrain combining a 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol motor and electric motor on the rear axle for a combined 270 horsepower. Disappointingly, Alfa didn’t use this update to increase or improve the energy capacity of the 15.5kWh lithium-ion battery, so driving range remains the same as before at 38 miles. That’s not bad, but there are others offering almost double that electric range nowadays, as well as rapid DC charging. Which you don’t get here. Even in just electric mode, the Tonale gets off the line quickly and is fine for city and urban driving. When the battery runs out it reverts to a hybrid mode, so it doesn’t always run on the petrol engine. That motor is fine in steady driving, but pushing harder has it sounding coarse and struggling for power. Switching the rotary drive dial to D (for Dynamic) gives you the full power and also stiffens the dampers, though you can soften these by pressing the centre of the DNA dial. It’s brisk in this setting, and the slightly wider track contributes to a surefooted sensation when driving more spiritedly. Alfa Romeo intentionally gave the Tonale faster steering for a more direct feel, and that is evident through the bends.