The Tonale slots in just underneath the Stelvio, making it Alfa Romeo's smallest crossover model. With so many other mini-SUVs clamouring for sales in the premium segment, is this where you should spend your money? We tested the Tonale over the infamous Bain's Kloof Pass and beyond, to find out.

We subjected the Alfa Romeo Tonale, the new, smaller sibling of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, to some serious lifestyle testing in the Western Cape this week. The Tonale has been available to overseas markets for quite some time but finally arrived in Mzansi in November. It’s also named after a northern Italian mountain pass across the Rhaetian Alps between Lombardy and Trentino which is a major skiing/snowboarding destination. The Tonale is the first Alfa Romeo to offer hybrid technology.

Styling

android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review

The swooping curves, sexy indentations and shapely rear window teamed with the distinctive ‘Trilobo’ front end and triple-headlamp-in-one design is unmistakably Alfa. The continuous tripe-wave LED light signature in front looks mysterious and menacing. Viewed from the rear in low light, the red lines of the back-end’s LED unit also cut through the darkness with a curvy, linear pattern which looks equally impressive. The Alfa’s headlamps are multi-functional matrix units with different functionalities for driving in town, on the motorway, in poor weather, and in the countryside.

android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review

Our top-spec ‘Speciale’ test model (from R799 900) was dressed to kill in a triple-layer emerald green paint job namely Montreal Green, and in my opinion, this is the colour to go for if you are an Alfa lover.

android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review

Infotainment and interior layout

While it all looks mostly swish, sporty and stylish, (I love the metal trim dashboard inserts), the 10.25-inch touchscreen is not intuitive or very user-friendly. The second thing that irked me was the lack of Apple CarPlay, but at least there’s wireless Android Auto. I didn’t have my iPhone cable on me to try to access the system, so perhaps it was just our model.

android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review

While the layout is practical and upmarket overall, one small detail, such as the plastic used for the rotating air vents, impacted my overall impression negatively – it’s usually best for manufacturers to reserve the lesser-quality materials to areas not seen or touched often. I like what Alfa has done with the cabin, but admittedly, I find it a little underwhelming and not as aesthetically pleasing as I had hoped. The steering-wheel-mounted gearshift paddles are also a little oversized for my taste.

Space on the rear seat is not as generous as the BMW X1 or Audi Q3, but about on par with the outgoing Lexus UX. The boot is perfectly suited to four adults, with a generous 500 litres on offer.

android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review

Engine and Drivetrain

Our local Tonale, a petrol-electric hybrid, gets a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine which is complemented by a small, (48-Volt) 15kW, 55Nm “P2” electric motor for a total output of 113 kW and 240 Nm. This endows the Tonale with a top speed of 210 km/h and a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 8.8 seconds. The electric motor allows the Tonale to be driven in full EV mode, but only at low speeds.

android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review

Driving the Alfa Romeo Tonale

My co-driver (from another publication), notorious for his love of speed, scooted into the passenger seat so I could take the first shift from the hotel airport (he wanted to drive the infamously twisty, narrow, Bain’s Kloof Pass after the first driver change), so the first thing I did was to activate the adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist so I could basically just hold the steering wheel in the morning traffic while the Tonale did the rest. I set the distance between myself and the car in front to be as close as safely possible, (usually, this means there’s still a 2-second gap, at least), but the Tonale kept me further behind than I would have liked, giving opportunistic drivers the chance to push in front of me. Compared to the semi-autonomous driving tech in the Volvo XC40 or even the flagship Hyundai Tucson, for example, the Tonale’s system doesn’t feel quite as finely tuned.

After our driver change in Wellington, my co-driver took the wheel and floored the accelerator. I then knew I was in for a hair-raising experience.

Death-defying dynamics

As the signpost for Bain’s Kloof Pass flashed by, I clung to the grab handle for dear life. My co-driver switched to Sport and drove in manual mode, using the flappy paddles for DIY gear changing. As he threw the Tonale into every corner while my notebook and handbag flew from left to right on the back seat, the Tonale remained very composed with hardly any body roll to speak of, but the ride quality itself is rather hard. Due in part to the Tonale’s sporty underpinnings and large-diameter wheels, the cobblestones on either side of the pass could be felt clearly underfoot as the driver had no qualms in playing ‘connect the dots’ from one apex to the next.

android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review

The Alfa Romeo Tonale – just in time for Christmas!

Once we were near the top of the pass, I asked him to pull over for photos.  I only had another opportunity to drive again after lunch, en route back to Somerset West. Sadly, the crowded Du Toitskloof Pass allowed for nothing more exciting than a swift gallop, and while Alfa Romeo says that they’ve done all they could to reduce turbo lag, it’s still evident. The small electric motor doesn’t offer much of a boost, especially at an incline. However, how many SUV drivers are going to drive like bats out of hell on mountain passes such as the ones the Tonale and Stelvio are named after? It’s a family car, after all. It will probably spend most of its time in the more glamorous parts of the suburbs.

Safety and fuel economy

Average fuel consumption (with me behind the wheel, driving sensibly) in Dynamic mode, came to about 7.6 litres per 100 km (mixed driving), while my co-driver’s heavy foot made it rise to 10 litres per 100 km. With the help of Brembo brakes, six airbags and every possible electronic nanny on board, you’ll be safer than Britney Spears at a Drake concert.

android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review

Line-up and pricing

We tested the top-of-the-range Alfa Romeo Tonale Speciale 1.5FWD 7AT at R799 900.

android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review
android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review

Verdict

The Tonale is a good car. It looks fantastic. It’s a composed drive. Is it the best in the segment, however? No, it isn’t. Does it offer unbeatable or excellent value? No, it doesn’t. Is it the spriteliest? No, but does it offer the enthusiast a more affordable alternative to the Stelvio? Yes, it does, and herein lies its strength. If you can’t bear yet another premium compact crossover from Germany or Japan, the Tonale sings an entirely different tune and offers an individualistic appeal.

android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review

 

Ané AlbertseAné was bitten by the motoring bug at a very young age. Her mom recalls her sitting in her stroller as a 3-year old, naming every car that came past. She was working as a freelance motoring journalist for publications such as Rapport and City Press, when AutoTrader nabbed her for good. She lives in the Western Cape with her two kids and two cats.View News & Reviews

android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review
android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review
android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review
android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review
android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review
android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review
android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review
android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review
android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review
android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review
android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review
android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review
android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review
android, new alfa romeo tonale (2022) first drive review

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