Alfa Romeo, the iconic Italian brand known for its sporty heritage and distinctive design, is poised to inject fresh energy into its lineup with the 2023 Tonale compact SUV. Set to arrive in January 2023, the Tonale is not just another SUV; it’s a statement of intent, signaling Alfa Romeo’s ambitions in the fiercely competitive luxury market, including those segments traditionally dominated by brands like Mercedes-Benz.
Equipped with standard all-wheel drive and a potent plug-in hybrid powertrain producing 272 horsepower, the Tonale is directly aimed at rivals such as the BMW X1 and the Mercedes GLA. This move positions Alfa Romeo squarely in one of the most lucrative segments of the luxury automotive world. More than just competing, the Tonale represents Alfa Romeo’s strategic pivot towards electrification, paving the way for a fully electric vehicle in 2025 and an all-EV portfolio by 2028, as confirmed by Larry Dominique, head of Alfa Romeo North America.
Alfa Romeo’s initial resurgence in North America was marked by the arrival of the Giulia sedan in 2017 and the Stelvio SUV in 2018. These models, celebrated for their dynamic performance and Italian flair, unfortunately saw momentum wane due to quality concerns and a lack of model updates. However, with the Tonale, Alfa Romeo is looking to reignite its appeal and solidify its place as a true luxury contender.
Dominique emphasized the significance of this shift, stating, “Alfa Romeo will be the first Stellantis brand to go all EV in North America.” This commitment underscores Alfa Romeo’s position as Stellantis’ premier global luxury brand, sitting alongside marques like Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler, Fiat, Peugeot, Opel, Citroën, DS, and Abarth under the Stellantis umbrella. Alfa Romeo’s pricing strategy aligns it directly with luxury giants like Mercedes-Benz and BMW, highlighting its ambition to compete at the highest level.
While Alfa Romeo holds significant potential for profitability, it currently lags far behind established luxury leaders in sales volume. To put it in perspective, Mercedes-Benz often surpasses Alfa Romeo’s entire annual U.S. sales figures within a single month. In 2021, Alfa Romeo sold a total of 18,350 vehicles in the U.S., a figure Mercedes-Benz routinely exceeds monthly.
The Tonale is expected to become Alfa Romeo’s top-selling model, attracting a broader customer base with a more accessible price point than the Giulia and Stelvio, which start at $42,950 and $45,150 respectively, according to KBB.com. While official Tonale pricing is yet to be announced, industry experts anticipate a starting price in the mid-$30,000s, making it a compelling entry point into the Alfa Romeo luxury experience and a direct competitor in the Mercedes-Benz GLA class.
In a virtual briefing from Alfa Romeo’s Italian headquarters, global brand chief Jean-Philippe Imparato highlighted the Tonale’s unique selling propositions: distinctive Italian design, engaging driving dynamics, cutting-edge software integration, and seamless connectivity. These elements, Imparato asserted, will differentiate the Tonale from its competitors and resonate with discerning luxury SUV buyers.
Dimensions, Power, and Performance
Measuring 178.3 inches in length, the Tonale is slightly larger than both the Mercedes GLA and BMW X1. This translates to potentially more generous passenger and cargo space compared to these compact luxury SUVs. However, Alfa Romeo is emphasizing that the Tonale’s primary draws will be its captivating style, agile handling, and advanced features. While slightly shorter than a Lincoln Corsair (a brand not typically considered a direct Alfa Romeo competitor), the Tonale’s dimensions—63 inches tall and 72.2 inches wide—place it squarely in the heart of the competitive compact luxury SUV market, a segment Mercedes-Benz knows very well.
All-wheel drive will be standard on all Tonale models sold in the U.S., reinforcing its positioning as a capable and premium SUV.
The base powertrain features a robust 256-horsepower four-cylinder engine paired with a smooth nine-speed automatic transmission, promising spirited performance.
For those seeking even more power and efficiency, the top-tier Tonale will offer a 276-horsepower plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant. This advanced system combines a 1.3L turbocharged engine driving the front wheels with an electric motor powering the rear axle. The PHEV is engineered to deliver over 30 miles of pure electric driving range and an impressive total range of up to 600 miles when combining battery and gasoline power.
While Alfa Romeo will offer less powerful gasoline hybrids, front-wheel-drive configurations, and even a diesel Tonale in other global markets, the U.S. market will exclusively receive the two most potent and performance-oriented models. This strategic decision underlines Alfa Romeo’s focus on appealing to the American market’s preference for power and sporty driving dynamics, values also appreciated by many Mercedes-Benz customers.
The PHEV model boasts a near-ideal 52% front and 48% rear weight distribution. This balanced weight distribution is crucial for enhanced stability and superior handling, particularly on winding roads, aligning with Alfa Romeo’s heritage of driver-focused vehicles and setting it apart from some competitors.
Weight distribution details for the other Tonale models haven’t been released, but it’s likely they will exhibit a more front-biased weight distribution, potentially resulting in slightly less sporty handling characteristics compared to the PHEV.
Dominique anticipates the powerful and feature-rich PHEV variant to become the best-selling Tonale in the U.S., and consequently, the brand’s overall top seller. This expectation highlights the importance of the PHEV model in Alfa Romeo’s strategy to gain traction in the luxury SUV market and challenge established players.
The Tonale will be available in three distinct trim levels, catering to different customer preferences and budgets:
- Sprint
- Ti
- Veloce
Distinctive Design and Advanced Technology
The Tonale’s front fascia is instantly recognizable as an Alfa Romeo, showcasing the brand’s iconic design language. Three striking square projector LED headlight beams flank the deep triangular “Trilobo” grille and the prominent Alfa Romeo badge – design elements that have defined the brand’s identity for decades. The taillights echo this three-light signature, featuring a slim red light bar spanning the tailgate, creating a cohesive and modern aesthetic.
The Tonale’s side profile is characterized by a pronounced shoulder line that flows elegantly from the front to the rear, just below the window line. A sculpted character line runs along the doors and fenders, originating from the front wheel well and extending to the taillights, adding visual dynamism and sophistication.
The Tonale’s stance, with its forward-leaning posture, wide track, and flared fenders, subtly evokes the larger Stelvio SUV, reinforcing Alfa Romeo’s family design cues and projecting an image of sporty capability.
Underneath its stylish skin, the Tonale utilizes a heavily re-engineered version of Stellantis’ CUSW architecture, which also underpins vehicles like the Jeep Cherokee. Alfa Romeo engineers have significantly modified almost every aspect of the platform, except for the central section beneath the passenger compartment.
Key architectural enhancements include:
- Widened track for improved stability and handling
- Increased use of aluminum to reduce overall weight and enhance agility
- Optimized weight distribution to sharpen handling dynamics
- Structural reinforcements to enhance rigidity and crashworthiness
- Newly designed front and rear suspension systems for improved ride and handling
- New steering gear and rack for more precise and responsive steering feel
Alfa Romeo engineers confidently assert that these extensive modifications will position the Tonale as one of the most responsive and engaging small SUVs in its class. They emphasize that the PHEV’s combined power and torque – embodying “electrification according to Alfa Romeo” – will “reinvent sportiness for the 21st century,” a bold claim that sets the stage for direct comparisons with performance-oriented models from Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
The Tonale is manufactured in Pomigliano D’Arco, located north of Naples, Italy, near Mount Vesuvius, highlighting its Italian heritage and production.
Interior Luxury and Connectivity
The Tonale’s interior seamlessly blends Italian design flair with modern technology. A prominent 12.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display rises above the center stack, complemented by a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.
The digital gauges, featuring a large tachometer and speedometer, are designed to evoke the classic analog instruments found in vintage Alfa Romeos, while offering modern configurability and customization. Aluminum paddle shifters and selectable driving modes (Normal and Dynamic) are standard, underscoring the Tonale’s sporty character.
The infotainment system is powered by Stellantis’ latest Uconnect 5 interface, running on the Android operating system. It offers seamless integration with Alexa and Google Home Assistant, enhancing convenience and connectivity. The integrated navigation system features intelligent business search functionality and can calculate the vehicle’s remaining range during route planning.
The Tonale supports over-the-air (OTA) software updates, ensuring the system remains current with the latest features and improvements. A built-in Wi-Fi hotspot provides in-car internet access for passengers.
For audiophiles, a premium Harman Kardon audio system will be available, promising an immersive and high-fidelity listening experience.
In a unique move, every Tonale owner will receive an NFT (Non-Fungible Token) blockchain card. This digital card serves as a unique vehicle identifier and can track service and maintenance history performed at authorized Alfa Romeo dealerships, adding a layer of digital ownership and transparency.
While Alfa Romeo has not yet provided extensive interior imagery, it is expected that the Tonale’s cabin will showcase the appealing forms and premium materials synonymous with Italian design, creating a luxurious and inviting environment that rivals competitors in the Mercedes-Benz and BMW stables.
Alfa Romeo’s rich history dates back to its founding in Milan in 1910. For decades, the brand has built vehicles celebrated for their speed and beauty. However, Alfa Romeo has historically struggled to achieve the sales volumes of leading luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz.
For many years, Alfa Romeo was under Italian government ownership. Quality issues plagued the brand during this era. Fiat acquired Alfa Romeo in 1986, with promises to revitalize the brand and expand its model range.
Despite these promises, consistent revitalization has remained elusive. The Tonale and the strategic shift towards electrification represent the latest attempt to propel Alfa Romeo into a stronger position in the global luxury market and directly challenge established giants like Mercedes-Benz.
