2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale has different look, feel, performance than other luxury vehicles

Italy is not Japan, Germany or Detroit.

Pasta aglio e olio is not sushi, sausage or a salmon steak.

At the simplest level, that’s why the 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale luxury SUV’s arrival is so welcome: It’s the different recipe for a modern luxury vehicle's look, feel and performance, prepared in a different style than SUVs by Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Lexus and Mercedes.

Going on sale shortly, the Tonale combines elements from Alfa Romeo heritage and Italian style with modern ingredients: Plug-in hybrid drivetrain, safety, excellent connectivity and controls.

What I drove

What is it? 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale, plug-in hybrid compact SUV

Why should you consider it? Italian style and modern features in a plug-in hybrid luxury SUV.

What could be better? Estimated electric range around 30 miles.

How much will it cost? Prices range from $42,995 to $49,695 excluding $1,595 destination charge.

When can you buy it? June.

Why this is a special vehicle

From its unique badge and grille to a color palette that includes “Fangio Verde,” a lustrous green named for legendary racing driver Juan Manuel Fangio — who won his first of five F1 driving championships behind the wheel of an Alfa in 1951 — the Tonale showcases influences no other brand can claim.

Fangio also won championships for Mercedes, Ferrari and Maserati, making him somewhat shareable.

The Tonale’s badging, though, is all Alfa, combining centuries old heraldic symbolism with a shout-out to the brand’s electric future. The "Biscione," a stylized serpent Alfa's badge shares with the city of Milan's crest, bares fang-like prongs of an electric plug in several Easter eggs.

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale prices and trim levels

Sprint: $42,995

TI: $45,695

Veloce: $49,695

Tonales that are leased qualify for $7,500 U.S. tax credit.

Prices exclude $1,595 destination charge

Driving impressions

All Tonales sold in the U.S. are plug-in hybrids or PHEVs, a drivetrain that combines a battery with “more than 30 miles” range with a gasoline engine for more power and longer drives. Total range, starting with a full battery and gas tank, should be around 320 miles.

The PHEV combines performance and fuel economy with the electric-only battery mode. It’s surprising Alfa doesn’t have official figures for fuel economy or range yet. They must be available before U.S. sales begin, and dealers are receiving the first vehicles in May.

The PHEV combines an electric rear axle with a 1.3L turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Total horsepower is 285 and 347 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel drive is standard

Alfa promises 0-60 mph acceleration in 5.6 seconds.

The Tonale’s front to rear weight distribution is 50/50, a balance that contributes to stability around curves and in quick maneuvers. That’s unusual in vehicles with front-wheel-drive-type platforms, but the Tonale’s battery and electric rear axle add rear weight, offsetting the engine and six-speed automatic transmission up front.

The Tonale has four drive modes:

• D –  dynamic — for sporty driving.

• N – natural — which combines gasoline and electric power for efficiency.

• A – advanced efficiency — which uses only electric power.

• ESC off — which shuts off electronic stability control for occasions like rocking a vehicle stuck in snow.

The Tonale is easy to drive. I found N mode fine for everyday driving on a combination of country roads and suburban streets. The A mode is also amenable. The engine revs immediately if the accelerator pedal demands more power than the rear e-axle can provide.

If I owned a Tonale, I’d probably spend most of my time in D, which increases regenerative braking and acceleration, also stiffening steering and the shocks.

All in the family

The Tonale shares its platform and other underlying parts with the Dodge Hornet SUV that just went on sale. Stellantis, which owns both Alfa Romeo and Dodge, builds both SUVs at a plant in Pomigliano d’Arco, Italy, not far from Naples.

Features making the Tonale unique include:

• Calibrations for engine, transmission, steering and driving modes

• Unique dampers

• Interior materials

• Steering wheel with start button

• Controls, including DNA driving mode selector

• Grille

• Dimensions including length, height and ground clearance

• Headlights

• Hood with Alfa signature V-shape power dome

• Front fenders

• Taillights

• Front and rear fascias

The Tonale is the last new Alfa Romeo that will have an internal combustion engine. Current gasoline-powered Alfas like the Giulia sport sedan and midsize Stelvio SUV will get updates, but every entirely new Alfa from this point onward will have solely battery power.

Safety and driver assist features

• Adaptive cruise control

• Traffic jam assist

• Traffic sign recognition

• Drowsy driver alert

• Automatic headlights

• Parking sensors

• Parallel and perpendicular parking assist

• Front collision detection, automatic braking and pedestrian assist

• Lane departure alert and assist

• Blind spot alert

• Rear cross traffic alert

• Rear seat occupant reminder

Room, comfort and safety

The Tonale’s power and performance compare well to small luxury SUVs like the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Cadillac XT4, Lexus NX and Mercedes GLC.

The interior has plenty of leg and head room. The rear seat is very accommodating and there’s plenty of cargo space for shopping trips or weekend getaways.

The controls are easy to use, including a configurable instrument cluster, touch screen and physical controls for  climate and volume.

The interior is dressed in appealing materials, including heated and ventilated leather seats embroidered with Alfa’s badge in the loaded Veloce I drove.

The Tonale Veloce I drove had just about every available feature, including 20-inch alloy wheels, Harman Kardon audio, sunroof and hands-free power tailgate.

It stickered at $55,195, excluding destination charge.

Due to an oddity in the Inflation Reduction Act, Tonales that are leased qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit, but those that are purchased do not.

Bottom line

The Tonale's looks, features and price stack up well. Alfa’s future may hinge on its ability to establish a reputation for reliability that matches its newly admirable J.D. Power scores for sales satisfaction.

The Tonale’s Italian design and handling set it apart from its German and Japanese competitors. The ability to cover around 30 miles will let many owners do all their daily driving gasoline- and emissions-free. It deserves a look from shoppers looking for a small luxury SUV with personality, performance and practicality.

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale at a glance

Five-passenger compact, all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid SUV

Primary model tested: Alfa Romeo Tonale Veloce

Base price as tested: $55,195, excluding $1,595 destination charge. Leased Tonales qualify for $7,500 U.S. tax credit.

Power unit: 1.3L turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine, electric rear axe

Output: 288 hp; 383 pound-feet of torque

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

0-60 mph: 5.6 seconds

Top speed: 128 mph

EPA fuel economy estimate: TBD

EPA estimated annual fuel cost: TBD

Battery range: TBD

Battery: 15.5 kWh Lithium-ion

Wheelbase: 103.8  inches

Length: 178.3 inches

Width: 82.0 inches (with mirrors)

Height: 63.2 inches

Cargo volume: 22.9 cubic feet behind rear seat, 50.5 cubic feet with seat folded

Ground clearance: 5.6 inches

Curb weight: 4,133 pounds

Towing capacity: 2.000 pounds

Assembled in Pomigliano d’Arco, Italy

Contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale SUV review: Performance, features