Alfa Romeo’s US limited-edition lineup gets a new addition for 2024 in the form of the sleek Tonale compact crossover.
Unveiled in early 2022, the 2024 Tonale is available for pre-order now, starting at $44,590, including a $1,595 destination fee.
This starting price is for the base Sprint version, which will be available for pre-order later in 2023. Versions currently available for pre-order include the Ti ($46,590) and Veloce ($49,090). Alfa Romeo has not said when deliveries will begin.
The Tonale is offered exclusively in the US with a plug-in hybrid powertrain consisting of a 1.3-liter turbocharged 4- and 6-speed automatic transmission for the front wheels and an electric motor for the rear wheels, leading to an all-wheel drive. The combo is good for 285 horsepower, and a 15.5kWh battery is said to deliver more than 30 miles of electric range. A 2.0-liter turbo 4 is also available in other markets.
2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale
The move to an all-electrified Tonale will help customers adapt as Alfa Romeo prepares to go down the all-electric route as early as 2026.
“It’s the first electrified Alfa Romeo and moves us very quickly into a future that will be pure battery electric vehicles,” Larry Dominique, head of Alfa Romeo and Fiat North America, told Motor Authority during the Tonale unveiling last year.
2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale
US buyers still keen on the 2.0-liter engine will find it in the related 2023 Dodge Hornet, starting at $31,590, including the same $1,595 destination fee. Hornet and Tonale are twins under the skin, sharing a plant in Pomigliano, Italy.
The Tonale is positioned as a more upscale, progressive offering. Hydraulic dampers in the shock absorbers promise to adapt to road surfaces, and electronically controlled adaptive dampers are available, similar to those offered in the larger Stelvio. The Tonale has a quick 13.6:1 steering ratio (though not as quick as the Stelvio), and the four-piston Brembo front brakes should inspire confidence.
2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale
The Tonale rides on what Alfa calls a strong evolution of a former FCA platform found in vehicles like the Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X. Only the central part of the floor has been carried over, while the rest has been upgraded with elements such as reinforced aluminum, McPherson strut suspension, a new steering rack and a new electrical architecture. In addition, the route was widened.
At 178.3 inches long, the crossover stretches out a few inches more than many competitors, but rides low at just 63.0 inches tall. And unlike other crossovers with a vertical hatch, the Tonale has the integrated roof spoiler and the sloping rear window. Up front, Alfa’s classic Tri-Shield grille buttons a nose flanked by a thin band of three LED headlights, punctuated by a shaft of daytime running lights.
2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale
Inside, the three-mode DNA driving mode selector is located in the center stack below the horizontal spread of the dash. Circular air vents line the dashboard, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel and available aluminum paddle shifters make way for the cannocchiale — that’s Alfa-speak for infotainment. The Uconnect5 operating system, shared with other Stellantis vehicles, powers a customizable 12.3-inch digital cluster adjacent to a 10.3-inch touchscreen that tilts toward the driver. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, along with Amazon Alexa, and over-the-air updates promise to keep it up to date.
– Robert Duffer contributed to this report.
