Test – Tonale, a worthy heir to Alfa Romeo

The Stellantis Galaxy has by no means forgotten its elegant Milanese branding. After having revived it from its ashes with 2 strong models, Giulia and Stelvio, it seems that Alfa Romeo is entering a second stage of the phase, that of reconquest. And proof that the commitment is very important, the group did not hesitate last year to put the charismatic Jean-Philippe Imparato at the helm of the brand, who successfully presided over Peugeot’s destinies for 5 years. Suffice it to say that the launch of the Tonale is totally in line with this second movement that Alfa Romeo is experiencing.

Because the brand is not the easiest to manage, either within the Fiat group, then within FCA and even more so within the gigantic Stellantis group. A long-established brand, but above all the prerogative of a small elite of passionate customers, it is difficult to instill new trends in the global automotive industry, in particular the omnipresence of SUVs and the necessary switch to electricity. However, the brand impressed with the qualities of its Stelvio SUV.

Model with a sporty trend, top of the range, destined to bet on the Porsche Macan and other German premium products. The challenge was more than met, as the machine succeeded in implanting Alfa Romeo’s DNA in a homogeneous and successful SUV. Despite everything, in the absence of any real novelty since then, the brand’s sales have shown a continuous decline, aggravated by the Covid crisis… to the point of selling fewer cars than Lancia within the Fiat-Chrysler group.

Tonale, axis of the reconquest

With a drop to 55,000 new vehicles sold in total last year, the group has since refocused and restructured, no longer losing money. The rest of the future goals are ambitious, and Jean-Philippe Imparato has promised that sales will quadruple by 2027 (200,000 copies per year expected by this date). With profitability significantly restored. And to say the least, the Tonale must be the spearhead of this great commercial counterattack. Therefore, it was important that the finished product be a true 5-legged sheep.

Designed around the Jeep Compass platform and thus sharing the latter’s production lines at the Pomigliano d’Arco plant near Naples, the Tonale actually represents the last 100% FCA product, before the integration into the Stellantis galaxy. A widely shared platform, technologies and engines that limit development costs. But otherwise… we must extend the offer to non-Alfa customers and save domestic customers with a second SUV in the range. Complex challenge…

Highlights: A True Alpha

But let’s leave the suspense. The Tonale is a pure Alfa Romeo product, down to the smallest detail, and is a resounding success at this level, especially for those who love the brand and know a bit of its history. Starting with its very nice “Montreal Green” color of our test model, historic color of sports Alfas since the launch of the iconic Alfa Romeo Montreal in 1970. The triple optics, inaugurated on the incredible Alfa SZ of 1989, then repeated on the Brera and the 159. The magnificent “telephone dial” rims, a classic of the brand… without forgetting the small Ti logo on the side, corresponding to the level of finish of the test model, it takes up a common name for sports models of the range since the 60s and the Giulia.

We’d almost regret (yes, let’s just say it, downright sorry) the absence of a wood (or wood-look) steering wheel to top it all off. But this Tonale is an authentic Alfa Romeo down to the smallest detail and that remains the main asset of this model, both to reassure domestic customers eager to find more current products, but still endowed with the brand’s DNA… also to seduce to new customers, even if that means turning them into new die-hard bulls.

In this case with a strong identity, we discover a sober but well-finished cabin, with seats upholstered in black leather, well-assembled edge plastics and details in keeping with the times, backlit light patterns, a very well-designed infotainment screen and no too intrusive, as well as mainly digital instrumentation but still quite “old fashioned”, with still a series of physical buttons.

A sparkling engine and surprising hybridization

The other strong point of this 160-horsepower Ti version is a fairly successful engine. Relatively small (1.5 liters of displacement), it is supported by a variable geometry turbo and light hybridization (48-volt battery that recharges when braking, and a small 20 hp electric motor mounted on the 7-speed automatic gearbox).

Lacking any real brilliance, it’s sparky and likes to climb towers, with the joyful synchronized whistles of electrification and turbo. In this, he stays true to the little Ti logo found on the sides of the machine. We feel a real sportiness, especially in the D position (Dynamic, the D of the small DNA dial that selects the driving modes).

But the most surprising thing is that this Alfa Romeo Tonale has a good surprise. In fact, generally, light hybridization, due to its low power and the absence of a full conventional hybrid drivetrain, only exists to relieve the engine during acceleration, smooth out the torque curve and thus reduce consumption, a bit like in Suzuki and many others. . There, the Tonale, thanks to this internal system, is capable of driving… 100% electric. It is true that this zero emission mode only works over very short distances, and not above 30 km/h. However, you can perform all your maneuvers at low speed, park or even cross a large underground car park without consuming a drop of fuel. An excellent little surprise, unique in today’s car scene.

Point of view behavior and dynamism, no miracle, the Tonale is still an average SUV of 4.5 meters long. But relatively slim (1.84 meters) and just suspended, it accelerates nicely (8.8 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h) with pleasant handling for what is still front-wheel drive, being able to support a decent rate of rotation. A very good point. Note the precise and sharp braking, provided not by the Italian Brembo but by the American MOPAR, an alliance with Chrysler obliges. And these gorgeous red logo stirrups do their bit.

The downside: a nasty gearbox

The Tonale remains a true Alfa Romeo in the broadest sense. Understand that you really are not without flaws. Starting with an automatic gearbox that is not very smooth, with stages that are sometimes a bit curious, which prevent getting the most out of an engine that is nevertheless kind and voluntary. Plus, and pure alphas will scream: Gone are the nice metal paddles behind the wheel.

In the cabin, we regret the seats with good support, but with a particularly firm seat, a fairly small space in the rear seat, as well as deplorable rear visibility, an effect of the rather elegant design of the trunk. On the other hand, the trunk is not very bulky, with 500 liters of capacity it may even seem really small for this category of vehicle.

a gluttonous machine

We go from the horrific intermittent system, very imprecise (already lamented in the Guilia) to dedicate ourselves to the other true defect of this Alfa Romeo Tonale: its consumption. The use of light hybridization is really a trick in this specific case, since the consumption is given for 6.1 liters / 100 km in combined cycle, and your server has not been able to lower it from 7 liters during all the time that it lasted the test, on quite favorable urban and suburban routes, whatever the driving mode.

This data is disappointing, since the contribution of hybridization should not be neutral at the margin and does not significantly improve the consumption data. It is true that CO2 emissions are reduced to 139 g / km, which only causes a very reasonable penalty of 280 euros, but this information must be taken into account when choosing. Many one and a half ton SUVs now perform much better.

However, while it won’t be looking for the biggest names in this highly competitive segment, the Alfa Romeo Tonale has plenty to stand out and makes for an interesting and daring alternative, while also providing the stimulus that Alfa Romeo is looking for. You can even push to stand up to similar products of the equivalent range of the Volkswagen group. But to definitely break into the landscape, you’ll need a rechargeable hybrid version, to really score points and gain sobriety. The latter is already planned and should be presented before the end of the year. But beyond these technical and strategic reservations, despite its imperfections, the Tonale is a true Alpha at heart. And that alone deserves a real tip of the hat.