The Alfa Romeo Tonale SUV is set to go on sale in early 2022. Originally revealed at the Geneva Motor Show back in 2019, the launch was scheduled for 2020 but has subsequently been delayed.
The Alfa Romeo Tonale SUV is set to go on sale in early 2022. Originally revealed at the Geneva Motor Show back in 2019, the launch was scheduled for 2020 but has subsequently been delayed.
The Tonale will be an important car for Alfa Romeo, as it will give the Italian brand a foothold in the lucrative family SUV sector. It’ll replace the ageing Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatchback, which has been on sale for a decade, and will rival cars like the Volkswagen T-Roc, Jaguar E-Pace and Mercedes GLA.
Because it’ll be positioned towards the premium end of the sector, you can expect the Tonale to be more expensive than something like a Nissan Qashqai. Prices are likely to be a little more expensive than the Giulietta it indirectly replaces.
Full specifications will be revealed closer to the car’s launch date but expect LED headlights, a digital instrument cluster, keyless start and multi-zone climate control all to be fitted as standard. Alfa Romeo’s latest connectivity features will be introduced, so you’ll be able to remotely lock/unlock the car, check where it’s parked and send sat nav directions to the infotainment system from your phone.
The car in these photos is a concept but previously seen leaked images suggest this is quite close to how the production car will look. An array of traditional Alfa Romeo design cues will feature, including the triangle-shaped front grille, offset front number plate, and rear door handles that are incorporated into the upper parts of the door.
The three images revealed online showed minor design changes from the concept, including a conventional door mirror design, slightly larger headlights, a thicker rear light cluster at the back and smaller alloy wheels. You’ll be able to see the family resemblance to the larger Alfa Romeo Stelvio.
Underneath, the Tonale is likely to be underpinned by a modified version of the platform from the Jeep Renegade but will have a new suspension setup, more powerful brakes and a new plug-in-hybrid powertrain. The Tonale will be the Italian firm’s first PHEV model, which is likely to be followed by PHEV versions of both the Giulia saloon and Stelvio SUV.
No powertrain details have been confirmed but the Tonale is likely to use the FCA Group’s Firefly petrol engines. We’ve already seen them in the Fiat 500X, and they would be used in both the conventionally powered Tonale models and as part of the new plug-in hybrid powertrain.
A variation of Alfa Romeo’s ‘D.N.A.’ driving mode selector will appear in a hybrid model, with ‘D’ now standing for ‘Dual Power’ providing the maximum output from the petrol and electric motors. ‘Natural’ mode will be an automatic hybrid setting, while ‘A’ will represent ‘Advance E’, where the Tonale uses electric power only.
Buyers can expect the Tonale to feature the firm’s latest ‘Alfa Connect’ infotainment system, which comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Ben Hodges