I’m behind the wheel of a 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale on the firm’s Balocco Proving Grounds outdoors of Milan, Italy, and I’m about to do one thing no Tonale proprietor will ever do: drive on a racetrack. The monitor’s guidelines state our speeds ought to by no means exceed 90 kph (56 mph), however how usually do Italians observe the foundations?

The Tonale is a brand new subcompact crossover SUV and the primary new Alfa in 5 years. It’s additionally a rule breaker for the model, reaching downmarket into the territory occupied by the Audi Q3, the BMW X1 and X2, and the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class. Alfa Romeo is seen as nearly unique, but the Tonale’s platform has its roots within the thrifty Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X, and the Tonale is a sister to the brand new 2023 Dodge Hornet. Nonetheless, Alfa Romeo offers it some gear to distinguish it from the Hornet and permit it to carry out in a managed surroundings on a racetrack with out falling on its face.

The lead driver in a Giulia GTA (why couldn’t the U.S. get this excessive model of the Quadrifoglio?) heads out on the monitor and nearly instantly we’re exceeding the 90-kph restrict. The little SUV will get in control rapidly, too, and it takes a tandem of energy sources to get there. A 1.3-liter turbo-4 spins up 180 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque and sends it by a 6-speed computerized transmission to the entrance wheels. An electrical motor on the rear axle contributes 121 hp and 184 lb-ft and offers all-wheel drive. Collectively they make 285 hp and 347 lb-ft and characterize Alfa’s first step towards an electrified future.

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale

Alfa’s DNA selector makes an look within the Tonale, however its modes are redefined to mirror the plug-in hybrid powertrain. I’m operating in D mode, which stands for each Dynamic and Twin energy. It’s tuned to get essentially the most out of the engine and motor. Following the 532-hp GTA, the Tonale’s little engine growls, the rear motor engages seamlessly, and the 4,133-pound crossover sprints from 0-60 mph in a quoted 5.6 seconds. It tops out at a modest 125 mph and received’t be mistaken for a sports activities automotive, however the Tonale is greater than fast sufficient to get out forward of site visitors, go with out a care, or present prepared energy within the straights on a canyon street.

The Tonale isn’t a monitor machine, however it’s holding its personal right here. A 13.6:1 ratio offers the steering fast responses, even when the texture although the wheel is gentle. Although a crossover, the Tonale sits simply 5.6 inches off the bottom, 0.1 decrease than a Toyota Camry. Meaning it doesn’t have extreme lean in corners, a proven fact that’s aided by this mannequin’s adjustable dampers, which ramp as much as a sport setting in D mode. A brief 103.8-inch wheelbase aids agility and helps the Tonale rotate rapidly by corners. This mannequin’s 235/40R20 all-season tires present solely respectable grip. No summer time efficiency tires shall be supplied within the U.S.

Alfa offers the Tonale robust brakes, too. It has customary 13.5-inch entrance rotors with 4-piston Brembo calipers and 12.1-inch rear rotors with single-slot rotors. They’re doing a very good job on this restricted train, hauling the Tonale down from 134 kph (83 mph) as we strategy corners. These brakes shall be greater than as much as the duty for the overwhelming majority of avenue driving, however I wouldn’t belief them for a full monitor day. I might additionally count on to get a hefty ticket for going 83 in a 55.

Then once more, velocity and monitor functionality aren’t the Tonale’s objective. This monitor expertise was simply to spotlight the Alfa affect on an in any other case utilitarian car.

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale: Sensible and environment friendly

The Tonale’s sensible aspect is embodied by its two different drive modes, N for Regular and A for Superior effectivity. Regular is extra environment friendly than Twin energy, and Alfa Romeo says it doesn’t compromise energy; it simply takes a heavier throttle foot to entry it.

Superior effectivity is the mode for all-electric driving. It attracts from the 15.5-kwh battery pack that’s formed like an L and positioned within the middle tunnel and underneath the rear seat. EPA scores aren’t but out there, however Alfa Romeo says it’s going to have greater than 30 miles of electrical vary. Homeowners can drive that means, too, because the engine received’t come on until you get deep into the throttle or exceed 85 mph. It’ll basically act as a 121-hp crossover on this mode, however that’s sufficient energy for many commutes and you may all the time faucet into the little engine when wanted.

The battery by no means loses a lot cost that it might’t help the engine, and an e-Save mode retains a state of cost for situations when you might wish to drive solely on electrical energy, equivalent to in metropolis facilities. When it’s time to cost, a 240-volt outlet will high up the battery in 2.5 hours.

The practicality extends to the cabin, the place the Tonale has extra room than its subcompact footprint would counsel. At 178.3 inches lengthy, it’s 6.3 inches shorter than the compact Stelvio crossover, and its wheelbase is 7.1 inches shorter. Nonetheless, it has a greater again seat with a really acceptable 38.0 inches of legroom, which is able to let 6-footers sit entrance and rear. It additionally provides 22.9 cubic toes of cargo house behind the rear seat and 50.5 cubes with the rear seat folded flat. Each are on the small aspect for a crossover however nonetheless fairly helpful.

The expertise within the entrance seat is way the identical as in different entry-luxury crossovers: engaging, soft-touch surfaces and screens up high with indicators of cost-cutting down low. The Tonale has a normal 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster behind its small-diameter steering wheel and a ten.3-inch touchscreen on the middle of a curved, cascading sprint. Operating father or mother firm Stellantis’ Uconnect 5 interface, the middle display is straightforward to make use of regardless of a low profile, reacts rapidly to inputs, and provides programmable screens for as much as 5 drivers.

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale

2024 Alfa Tonale pricing and options

Like its rivals, the Tonale prices loads for just a little car. When it goes on sale on the finish of Might, the bottom Dash mannequin will begin at $44,590 (together with a $1,595 vacation spot cost), which is inside spitting distance of the Giulia sport sedan. For that cash, patrons get a mix of primary and luxurious options, together with material upholstery, manually adjustable heated entrance seats, a heated steering wheel, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in Amazon Alexa, navigation, ambient inside lighting, wi-fi smartphone charging, and 18-inch alloy wheels. Each Tonale additionally comes with a wholesome serving to of security options, together with computerized emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise management, site visitors signal recognition, blind-spot screens, rear cross-path detection, a driver-attention monitor, and energetic lane management.

Patrons have to maneuver as much as the $46,590 Ti mannequin to get the adjustable dampers, in addition to a hands-free energy tailgate and aluminum inside trim to distinction an in any other case closely black cabin. The highest Veloce prices $49,090 and comes with paddle shifters, Alcantara upholstery, 8-way energy entrance seats, and 19-inch wheels, Choices equivalent to a 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, leather-based upholstery, a surround-view digital camera system, computerized parking, and 20-inch wheels can ship the value into the mid-$50,000s.

Alfa Romeo says the purpose of its model is to supply the perfect dynamic car in each class, wrap it in magnificence, and when attainable, paint it purple. The 2024 Tonale has the dealing with to satisfy that problem, and it wears a stubbier model of the corporate’s curvaceous design language—highlighted by the “Scudetto” triangular grille up entrance—that’s engaging however doesn’t fairly reside as much as stunning. Patrons can paint it purple in the event that they like, however it’s additionally supplied in a wide range of different colours. By shifting downmarket to supply the Tonale, Alfa Romeo adheres to a few of its guidelines however breaks others. That’s the Italian means.

Alfa Romeo paid for journey and lodging for Motor Authority to deliver you this firsthand report.