The Alfa Romeo Tonale will be priced under $50,000 plus on-road costs when it arrives in Australia in February – ahead of a plug-in hybrid version later in the year.
Alfa Romeo's first all-new model in six years, the 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale small SUV, is due in Australian showrooms in February next year, priced from $49,900 plus on-road costs.
Now available to order, the Tonale is Alfa Romeo's rival for the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA and Volvo XC40, and launches with two model grades – both powered by mild-hybrid petrol engines, with front-wheel drive.
The car maker has performed a U-turn on plans not to offer the plug-in hybrid version in Australia, confirming it's due to launch locally in late 2023 – about six months after the mild-hybrid range, due in February 2023.
Prices start from $49,900 plus on-road costs for the entry-level Ti, and rise to $56,400 plus on-road costs for the sport-themed Veloce – with two option packs available (depending on variant), Technology and Lusso.
Powering the Tonale Hybrid models is a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine developing 118kW and 240Nm, assisted by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system (with a 15kW electric motor) to drive the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Unlike other mild-hybrid systems, the Tonale's electric motor can power the wheels with the engine off at low speeds (below 15km/h) – but at 0.8kWh, the battery pack is smaller than most 'full' hybrids, and electric driving range will be minimal.
Alfa Romeo quotes a combined fuel economy claim of 5.6 litres per 100km.
Meanwhile, the plug-in hybrid due in late 2023 combines a 1.3-litre turbo engine with a 90kW electric motor and 15.5kWh battery for a total of 202kW, powering all four wheels for a 6.2-second 0-100km/h time, and up to 60km of claimed electric driving range.
For more details on the plug-in hybrid system, click here to read Drive's story on the Tonale's global reveal in February 2022.
Standard features on the entry-level model include a 10.25-inch touchscreen (with new software for the Alfa Romeo brand), a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, matrix LED headlights, 18-inch wheels, and keyless entry and start.
While autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control are standard across the range, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are not – unlike rivals from Audi, BMW, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz.
To get these features, buyers must option the Technology Pack on the Ti, or spend more for the Veloce model.
The Veloce also adds leatherette and Alcantara seats (replacing cloth and leatherette), 19-inch wheels, red Brembo brake calipers, adaptive suspension, and unique Dark Miron styling elements.
The Tonale has been awarded a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. Alfa Romeo Australia says an equivalent rating from ANCAP – Euro NCAP's Australian equivalent – will follow after additional local testing "in late 2022".
A range of option packs and standalone extras are available – but prices for them have not been announced.
The 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale is available to order now, and is due in Australian showrooms in February.
Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs.
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.
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Copyright Drive.com.au 2022ABN: 84 116 608 158
Copyright Drive.com.au 2022ABN: 84 116 608 158
DAP Pricing– Unless otherwise stated, all prices are shown as Manufacturer's Recommended List Price (MRLP) inclusive of GST, exclusive of options and on road costs.