A good indicator of the importance of a model for a brand is that we have attended two presentations within a span of just one month. Clearly the Alfa Romeo Tonaleis the spearhead Currently from the Italian brand, it is the copy with which it wants to succeed in the market.
Three weeks ago I was testing the Mild Hybrid version, but Alfa’s metamorphosis included more electrification than that. That is why we have come to Italy, to the Stellantes test center in Balocco to get behind the wheel of the Alfa Romeo Tonale Q4the plug-in hybrid variant that starts at 51,000 euros:
The Tonale is a compact SUV that opts for electrification to reach a broader audience than the Giulia and Stelvio did, which were a little more outdated. We already saw in your previous test that it is a car that enters through the eyes and that stays because of his personality.
At a dynamic level it was going well, although the Mild Hybrid version of 160 CV did not get to excite and could be fair on some occasions. That’s exactly what they want pay off with plug-in hybridwhich is the top of the range for benefits with a power of 275 CV and four-wheel drive.
Exterior
Being a first contact and having tried another version relatively recently, I am not going to go into detail with the design of the Alfa Romeo Tonale because it is not repetitive. I keep saying that it is one of the most beautiful cars in the C-SUV segment and that turns heads in its path. On the front, the highlight is the grill in the form of an inverted triangle, with the “trilobed” gaining prominence and headlights that go in line. receive Full LED technology and the 3+3 concepta nod to the past, specifically to a model as iconic as the SZ Zagato.
The Tonale’s personality can be seen from any angle. On the side, the tires that go from 17 to 20 inches, making special mention of the “teledial” with five circular openings inspired by those of the 8C Competizione. You can also see the absence of roof bars or bass without black plastic, it does not seek to be a robust SUV. cousin plus one sporty and powerful imagewith other resources such as the “GT Line” well present furrowing the doors.
From behind, the Alfa Romeo Tonale is also well recognizable. It’s the fault of the LED taillights, which are joined by the center and can go to those of other brands because they are a very recurring resource. On the other hand, there is a small roof spoiler and a lower bumper that serves as a diffuser.
Needless to say, the differencesof this plug-in hybrid compared to other versions are minimal. It hardly changes in that we have the charging socket on the side and the inscriptions of the model, with the new “elettro biscione”, the plug-headed snake. There are also two clearly visible exhaust outlets.
Those measures that leave it in the upper part of compact SUVs are also maintained. He does it with a length of 4.53 meters, with 1.84 meters wide and 1.60 meters high. The wheelbase remains at 2.63 meters; still far from the size of its big brother, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio.
Inside
I already said it in your previous test and I reaffirm myself: the Alfa Romeo Tonale is the absolute reference of the brand at a technological level. It is not surprising, in the end it is the most recent product that they have launched and with which they attack the younger public.
Therefore, the connectivity has to be outstanding and they achieve it with the incorporation of the amazon alexa personal assistant, in addition to the usual connections with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The nerve center is a 10.25-inch main touch screen that we find quite simple to operate and that stands out for the speed of response and for the advancedness of its spelling.
It is easy to move between the menus and find everything we are looking for. We even see that the air conditioning has its own keypad and it is not controlled from the screen as it is happening in other Stellantis models. In addition, it has additional advantages such as wireless over-the-air (OTA) updates. and there is a 12.3-inch second screen to complete the digital experience on this model.
The digital instrumentation shows all the information related to driving that we need and completes the driving position perfectly. In fact, it can be set to three different designs(Evolved, Relax and Heritage) so that the user can choose the one that best suits their personality.
What is sure to convince anyone who wears it is this sport design steering wheel and a very remarkable touch. Also, it has one of my favorite Tonale details which is none other than the aluminum shift paddleswhich are generous in size and are fixed to the column, a delight that others could already incorporate…
Of the quality It must be said that the Tonale is very good if we put it in the group of generalists and that it is somewhat fair if we consider it as premium. It is half horse with positive details as is the case of the illuminated moldings or the leather upholstery in the superior finishes.
It also seems that its finishes are robust and there are no crickets or unwanted noises while driving. Despite this, some harder plastics continue to appear in the area of the center console and lower parts that slightly tarnish the whole.
The interior space It is not going to be a strong point in the Alfa Romeo Tonale either. The truth is that it is more or less in the average if we look at the front seats, while the rear ones are a tad behind. There is enough space for the legs, especially in my case with just over 1.70 meters and the front seat adjusted to my size.
However, for the head there is less space and it will be difficult for users over 1.85 meters to enter. The same goes for the widthinsufficient for five adults to travel and with that central square conditioned by its lack of shape and by the transmission tunnel.
Trunk
We said that in the Alfa Romeo Tonale the trunk was 540 liters and that was a very good number. However, in the plug-in hybrid its capacity is reduced to 385 liters. It is not bad at all for a car with these characteristics and we have other advantages such as the optional electric opening gate or lighting on this surface. It must also be said that the shapes are straight and usablein addition to having a generous loading mouth.
Under the floor there is a small hole, although in most cases we will have it occupied by the charging cable. There is no space for a spare wheel, although we can get more potential by folding down the second row of seats. It would be done in two parts (60:40) and would leave us with a flat surface with up to 1,430 liters capacity.
Engine
As we said, we have come to test the plug-in hybrid version del Tonale, nicknamed Q4. We are going to forget for the moment the diesel engine and the Mild Hybrid that we already tested to focus on this propulsion system that unites the thermal block 1.3 MultiAir turbo 180 hp four-cylinder on the front axle with a small 90 kW electric motor housed on the rear axle.
In this way, it is possible to total traction and those 280 CV of power combined. The other important element is the 15.5 kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt battery, which is what allows you to have a electric autonomy of 60 kilometerswhich could be 80 kilometers in the city.
This system is identical to the one we were already able to test in the Jeep Compass 4xe and is linked to a six-speed automatic transmission. It is important to say that the battery can be recharged at speeds of up to 7.4 kW in a Wallbox, which would take about two and a half hours to reach 100% charge. In a conventional plug it would take five and a half hours.
Another highlight is its performance, as the Alfa Romeo Tonale Q4 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds, more than two and a half seconds faster than the Mild Hybrid of 160 CV. The maximum speed in electric is limited to 135 km/h and in hybrid it reaches 206 km/h.
Behaviour
We are already behind the wheel of the Alfa Romeo Tonale Q4 plug-in hybrid around the Balocco test center and we begin with its main virtue. We check first hand the refinement it offers in electric mode, which is the one that appears by default whenever we have a charge in the battery.
It can be forced on when we choose the advance efficiency mode, which helps the vehicle move under sail and also has other tools such as eCoasting Descent Control to keep speeds down to 50 km/h, ideal for the city. With the eSave You can save battery or even recharge it with the gasoline engine.
The Tonale claims to be the Alfa Romeo most efficient they have ever released thanks to its emissions of just 26 g/km, which reduces the total range by 40%. They talk about its battery approving more than 80 kilometers in the urban cycle, which is 69 kilometers in mixed use; although reality tells us that It will be closer to 50 kilometers in real life in mixed use. Not bad and if we add what the gasoline tank provides, we would already be around 600 kilometers of total autonomy between the two fuels used by the plug-in hybrid.
After having talked about its electrification and the most efficient way, it is time to say that there are two others to choose from through the DNA selector. The Natural is the one that we will use the most on a day-to-day basis due to its intelligence when it comes to managing the engines automatically.
The Dynamic is the one that takes advantage of the maximum performance of the car, those 280 CV combined to achieve the benefits that we talked about before, even changes brake and suspension response. Work has been done on the aerodynamics to reduce drag and contribute to that “efficient sportiness”. Also highlight a maximum torque of 270 Nm at 1,850 rpm.
That is precisely what makes the Alfa Romeo Tonale Q4 so much more direct and precise than the 160 hp VGT. Here you do not notice that possible lack of power that we attribute to the microhybrid, it is more full throughout the rev range. Also, keep that chassis set up Which made him above average. It should not be forgotten that the suspension has a balanced setting that allows it to be halfway between sportiness and comfort. Nor that its address is the most direct in the segment with a ratio of 13.6:1.
Mind you, the Tonale Q4 is a plug-in hybrid and we all know that means some extra weight. It is slightly noticeable that it loses agility, in the end we are with a vehicle that weighs a total of 1,835 kg. Of these, 125 kg correspond to the battery, which luckily is housed under the body, between the central tunnel and the rear seats, which helps to maintain a low center of gravity (-3%) and an almost perfect weight distribution.
Opinion cars.com
After testing the Alfa Romeo Tonale Q4 it is clear to us that the plug-in hybrid variant is the most interesting of the compact SUV. We already knew that it was a beautiful car, it is only necessary to see it. We also agreed that the technology is complete and up-to-date or that its quality is slightly above average. But the truth is that its worked chassis The top-of-the-range mechanics have come in handy. Because of its outstanding power and performance, but also because of its level of efficiency and the possibilities that electrification gives it.
However, this specimen also has some less positive points. to that interior space a little tighter than normal, we must add a price well above average. The plug-in hybrid enters the premium field directly by from 51,000 euros.
And with a more generous configuration like the one carried by the test unit, that rate increases. That is why I recommend that you go to coches.com and take advantage of the best new vehicle offers, as well as other services such as renting or financing for this Tonale or any other model.