Alfa Romeo Tonale 1.3 PHEV Intensa 5dr Auto

Ten Second Review

The Tonale hasn't sold as well as Alfa Romeo had hoped but looks more appealing in this updated form. As before, this compact SUV comes with electrified engines, a styling nod to the past and a very lovely cabin. Can it win over Teutonic brand customers looking for a change?

Background

These are difficult times for Alfa Romeo. The bright spot is its electrified Junior compact crossover model, but sales of all its other car lines are well down - including those of the Tonale model we look at here. Not surprisingly since the Junior provides much of what this only slightly larger stablemate Alfa offers. The Tonale was launched back in 2022, billed as the beginning of yet another new era for the company, but it's the updated version, announced in Autumn 2025, that we look at here. The original version of this car was unusual in that it wasn't just another 'cut-and-paste' compact family hatch/crossover foisted on Alfa by parent conglomerate Stellantis. Which meant that instead of the EMP2 Peugeot 308/Vauxhall Astra-sourced platform most expected it to have, it did instead ride (somewhat unpromisingly for an Alfa) on underpinnings and engineering shared with another Italian-derived Stellantis model, the Jeep Compass. The Compass has since moved on to a more modern chassis, but the Tonale sticks with the old one, compensating with a tweaked (and now wider) range of Euro 6-bis-compliant engines. And the tinselled wash 'n brush-up we consider here.

Engines and Tech Spec

The Tonale can't be had as an EV but it is electrified. Rather lightly electrified in the case of the volume version, the Ibrida, which is a 48V mild hybrid. Unlike most Stellantis-sourced models of this sort, the mild hybrid unit in question isn't a three cylinder 1.2 (as fitted to the Junior Ibrida) but a (rather less efficient) four cylinder 1.5 Turbo unit. At least that means a bit more power than the mild hybrid Stellantis norm, in this case 175hp from the variable-geometry turbo that's paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch auto gearbox and front-wheel drive. That's 25hp more than the less efficient top version of this unit was offering in the pre-facelift model. The Tonale powertrain alternative is provided by the considerably pricier Ibrida Plug-In variant, which offers the PHEV system you can't have on an equivalent Junior. Unlike the set-ups used by most class-rivals, this one is all-wheel-driven and develops 270hp (5hp less than before). As before, it sees a 1.3-litre engine driving the front wheels, assisted only when necessary by a 121hp electric motor mounted on the rear axle. It's a very different kind of 4WD system to that we've seen on previous Q4 AWD Alfas, but nevertheless one that can provide instantaneous deployment of 100 per cent of available torque to either axle. The PHEV set-up's been worked on as part of this update, with a slight improvement in EV range - think about 40 miles. A refined Hybrid Control Processor delivers more prompt, linear and seamless power, making transitions between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor more imperceptible for greater smoothness. Both versions of this car now get an augmented wheel track, to reduce cornering roll and understeer.

Design and Build

You'd have to know the Tonale quite well to recognise the changes made here, but if you do, then you might note the more curvaceous front end, supposed to reference its Junior showroom stablemate. The main 'Scudetto' shield central grille now has horizontal bars and is flanked by revised air intakes supposedly inspired by the exclusive Giulia GTA. There are restyled 19 and 20-inch wheels too. This remains quite an eye-catching design, with three-beam headlights inspired by the brand's classic Zagato SZ and a curved rear screen, which apparently references the company's Bertone Coupe from the 1960s. Size-wise, think BMW X1 or Audi Q3. Inside, Alfa's tried to upgrade things a little to make the ambiance a touch more premium - nicer materials, contrast dashboard stitching and so on. And the rotary gear selector that arrived for the 2025 model year has been retained. As before, the driver's placed snugly behind the chunky wheel and top variants have beautiful aluminium shift paddles. The screen stuff's as before - a centre dash monitor that's 10.25-inches in size, while the display you view through the wheel is 12.3-inches across and features some neat animations of those lovely '3x3' headlamps. Back seat space is acceptable by class standards; a six foot rear passenger can just about sit behind an equally lanky front seat occupant. And there's a class competitive boot capacity figure of 500-litres for the Ibrida - though that falls to just 385-litres for the Ibrida Plug-In.

Market and Model

Think pricing comparable to this car's most obvious three rivals, the BMW X1, the Audi Q3 and the Mercedes GLA. That means a likely price span in the £37,000 to £45,000 bracket, though Alfa has tried to bring the entry-level figure down with a more affordable base level of trim. Above that is mid-range 'Ti' spec; then the top 'Veloce' versions. The 'Ti' has 18-inch wheels, tinted windows and a heated steering wheel. The 'Veloce' adds 19-inch wheels, adaptive-beam headlights and adaptive suspension. There's a choice of leather and Alcantara interiors, which both feature premium seats with eight-way electrical adjustment in the front, four-way electrical lumbar support, heating and ventilation. While the steering wheel and washer nozzles are also heated. The colour palette for this updated model has expanded to eight shades, with the introduction of three new metallic finishes: Brera Red, Monza Green and Ocra. And you can have a 470-watt Harman Kardon audio system with 14 speakers and subwoofer. Safety is taken care of by a suite of advanced Level 2 driving assistance systems, including Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centring, Traffic Jam Assist, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Path Detection and Driver Attention Monitoring, as well as the traffic sign recognition system with Intelligent Speed Assist and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection.

Cost of Ownership

Alfa says it's updated the two engines to the latest Euro 6-bis emissions standard (which is why they both now develop slightly less power), but that hasn't affected the efficiency stats much. For the Ibrida mild hybrid, think around 50mpg on the combined cycle and around 130g/km of CO2 (stats still easily beaten by rival BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA rival models). For reference, the brand's other mild hybrid choice if you're looking at a compact hatch, the 1.2-litre three cylinder Junior Ibrida, manages 54.3mpg and 117g/km. For the Ibrida Plug-In, don't expect much change over the readings of the pre-facelift version, which, for reference, were rated at up to 217.3mpg on the combined cycle and up to 29g/km of CO2, with just under 40 miles of EV range. The PHEV power supply has multiple advantages, not least in start-up in 100% electric mode, which is smooth and silent with no fuel wasted. Subsequently, the Tonale can continue to be driven in full-electric mode, compatible with power demand and the battery charge level. Electric-only power supply can also be used for the 'e-creeping' function, to make a series of short movements forward with no pressure on the accelerator, for example in a traffic jam. The car can also be parked in 100% electric mode, either in first gear or in reverse (Alfa calls this 'e-parking'). In addition, the hybrid power supply is designed to recover energy during both braking and deceleration.

Summary

It may be some time since Alfa turned a decent profit but the allure of the brand seems to be as strong as ever - and not only to loyal customers: apparently, Volkswagen tried to buy it as recently as 2018. Sometimes, it's difficult to understand where this kind of following comes from. When Alfas were really Alfas, back in the '60s, '70s and '80s, they looked and sounded great but were unreliable and bits fell off. To address that, more recent brand owners have based mainstream Alfas on Fiat Group underpinnings, diluting the reasons people wanted them in the first place. The Tonale combines these two approaches pretty well, especially in this updated form. The looks and the cabin are, as advertised, pure Alfa Romeo. The engineering isn't, but a lot of work's been put in to give it an Alfa feel. Enough work to justify a test drive if you've a sneaking admiration for the Milanese marque? You might well think so.