NEW ALFA ROMEO TONALE
After spending several hours over two days in the company of the new Alfa Romeo Tonale facelift during the recent media event in Pisa, Italy, I came away positively impressed, not just with what Alfa Romeo has implemented with the Tonale, but perhaps more with how they've listened to what matters to their clients. For all its striking and aggressive stance (which I quite like for a compact SUV) this is not just a superficial cosmetic refreshment; it's also proof that Alfa Romeo is genuinely committed to keeping this already-competent product relevant in Europe's most important market segment.
A Brand in Good Health
Let's address the elephant in the room first: yes, the rumours about Alfa's future surface cyclically for those of us who've been Alfisti long enough. But the timing of this facelift, just three years after the Tonale's launch, speaks even clearer than Head of Marketing & Communications Cristiano Fiorio’s distinct speech: Alfa Romeo is in good health, and it is definitely not for sale! On the contrary, the men and women at the Biscione’s service are actively and constantly engaged with its products, making meaningful updates rather than abandoning them to languish. And truth be told, that's something we wish we could have seen more consistently in recent years... So there: if anything, Alfa Romeo’s cars are very much for sale and we’re all invited to join the list of customers!
Design: Evolution, Not Revolution
Alfa Romeo’s VP of Design Alejandro Mesonero was clear on the philosophy behind this facelift: there was nothing fundamentally wrong with the original Tonale design. Over 100.000 examples have rolled off the Pomigliano d'Arco production line since 2022, and the car remains faithful to Alfa's core design language: clean lines, clear volumes. But the visual refresh brings it more in line with Alfa's latest design direction.
The standout is the new three-dimensional Scudetto, now featuring horizontal strakes with flanking air vents. Below sits an expanded “Trilobo” air intake inspired directly by the Giulia GTA. New 20-inch three-spoke wheels, reminiscent of those on the Junior (also available in a simialar style on the 33 Stradale), complete the visual transformation.
One more detail worth noting, to some of us maybe the most sigmificant: the registration plate has shifted from the traditional (in recent years at least) left position to centre, beneath the Scudetto. This isn't arbitrary, nor a passing fad: recent European regulations restrict the mounting angle on the front end to be placed at no more than 15 degrees.
Interior: Refinement Through Attention to Detail
The cabin updates exemplify Alfa's approach: not profoundly reimagined, but finely tuned to enhance the driving experience. New trim options include a classy black-and-white Alcantara and leather combination, alongside the predictably stunning, typical Alfa full red leather interior.
The rotary gear selector (previewed at the Paris and Brussels motorshows) replaces the traditional lever. Another refinement that immediately modernizes the cabin, although I can understand why some Alfisti would still prefer the traditional stick - give it a try and you’ll be convinced of its practicality, especially under quick maneuvers of changing direction forwards/backwards. The phone charging pad now sits in a refrigerated centre console, preventing the dreaded iPhone heat-throttling that many of us have experienced during summer drives under direct Sun light.
The infotainment interface benefits from refreshed graphics, though the hardware remains unchanged: dual 12.3-inch displays flanking a central 10.25-inch screen. On the Veloce versions we tested, the stitched dashboard blends beautifully with the fascia's gradient finish, which, under red light, subtly mimics the scales of a snake. A detail the House of the Biscione has all the right to adopt.
Where It Truly Matters: The Driving Experience
But here's what matters to those of us who truly care about Alfa: how it drives. Our colleague Sergey Zhukovskiy - a master craftsman in the automotive trade by profession, with experience at both Porsche and BMW, a track-licensed driver, and owner of a (highly) modified Giulia 2.0 - took the wheel for this assessment. His perspective, although subjective as any Alfista’s should be, is filtered through his professional experience:
Comfort and Composure
The most immediately striking improvement is the refinement of the ride. The new Tonale absorbs minor road imperfections and potholes with a much better composure than that of the first Tonales. It’s as if the minor suspension revisions are genuinely transformative. Where the previous generation felt a bit unsettled after hitting surface irregularities, the new Tonale maintains its trajectory untroubled. The chassis benefits from a 1cm wider track, shorter overhangs, four-piston Brembo brakes, and updated electronic damping. It’s pure engineering stuff but I’m glad to see it have real effect in real-world improvements.
Steering and Control
The steering has sharpened even more, and that’s something the previous generation wasn’t bad at all. It's now very incisive and responsive, but obviously in a grown up, solid way. Sharp inputs are met with immediate, confident compliance, the car handles its stuff superbly. The previous Tonale's steering always felt at times slightly lagging, like it was half step behind; this time I would say it’s as close to perfection it can get in such a body in this class. Combined with the improved rear-axle geometry, and the wider track on the 20 inch wheels the Tonale turns into corners with a willingness and rapidness that’s typical of Alfas.
Pitch the car into a tighter bend with conviction, and you'll find yourself genuinely enjoying the moment (with a travel reaction speed in corners equal to that of Stelvio) especially when modulating pace through the familiar aluminum paddle shifters mounted solidly behind the steering column. In those rapid corner sequences, these paddles transform the driving experience into something approaching genuine entertainment.
The Alfa Character
I'll be honest: most of my comparisons drew upon my beloved Giulia, whose dynamics remain unmatched. Yet the Tonale has surprised me. For a vehicle in its class and price bracket, for the non-Giorgio platform, it carries considerably more authentic Alfa DNA than I expected. It earns the right to stand proudly as the smaller sibling to the Stelvio. It’s a relationship that may feel like a stretch, especially since I’m naming the Giorgio platform as the reference, but behind the steering wheel it doesn’t feel that much of an estranged relative.
Room for Ambition: Where the Tonale Could Go Further
For all its improvements, a few refinements would elevate the Tonale even closer to true Alfa credentials:
Transmission tuning: The six-speed dual-clutch could benefit from shorter gear ratios to extract more vivacity from the powertrain's 270 horsepower. Additional gears, at least one of them, would also help optimize both efficiency and responsiveness across the rev range.
Shift speed: The dual-clutch's shift times could be fractionally quicker, especially during spirited driving when every millisecond counts in maintaining flow through consecutive corners.
Body control: While cornering prowess has improved markedly, the Tonale still exhibits some body roll under harder lateral loads. Tightening the suspension's anti-roll characteristics would inject greater confidence and security during enthusiastic driving. Something that matters enormously to Alfisti, but maybe less so for most of the customers of such an Alfa.
Engine character: More torque from the combustion engine alone would amplify the driving experience, particularly during acceleration and mid-range scenarios.
Hybrid integration: The synchronization between electric motor and combustion engine could be refined. It’s been improved, but if you’re sensing carefully enough the changeover between axles is still noticeable. Smoother, more seamless transitions between power sources would further enhance refinement and responsiveness in this 270 HP plug-in hybrid variant.
The Verdict
The facelifted Tonale represents genuine fine tuning, exactly where it matters. Besides the visibly updated styling, the Alfa engineers and designers have meaningfully improved the fundamentals that matter to discerning drivers. It feels lighter on its feet, more composed, and genuinely more rewarding to drive with purpose. The attention to detail, from the stitched dashboard to the refrigerated charging pad to those real aluminum paddles, give the sense of a mature, evolved product that’s hardly missing anything to keep head high against the best in the class..
Will it challenge the Giulia or the Stelvio? Overall, and in keeping with the different classes proportions and limitations, no. But for those seeking an SUV with legitimate Alfa character, attractive style and perhaps more importantly, proof that Alfa Romeo is engaged and committed to its products… this new Tonale more than delivers on that promise.
In these uncertain times, that's no small thing.
Photo gallery by Daniela Bay.
