Alfa Romeo Tonale (2025) Review

Introduction

If you want a premium car prioritising style over all else, then at the top of your car leasing list might be an Alfa Romeo.

The manufacturer is part of Stellantis, the umbrella corporation that owns a host of other familiar brands, including Fiat, Chrysler, Renault and Vauxhall.

Alfa’s parent company is based in the Netherlands and managed from the United States – yet it’s still, at heart, Italian – its own headquarters are still based in Italy, after all.

You may think of Lamborghini or Ferrari when you think of the nation’s most iconic cars. Still, Alfa is a more affordable leasing option that embodies the essence of Italian automotive engineering.

Alfa Romeos are also about performance – both acceleration and handling. It was, therefore, always going to be an awkward conversation with its traditional fanbase when it inevitably wanted to jump on the bandwagon with nearly every other manufacturer and make an SUV.

Yet the Tonale delivered, retaining the essence of what an Alfa is, while also offering something more practical. It is approaching four years old already – generally the midpoint for a car's lifecycle – so Alfa has given the Tonale a facelift, hoping to address some of its more justified criticisms.

While mid-life updates are rarely transformational, we’ll see if the Tonale is more appealing to lease than before.

At A Glance

The Tonale looks much the same as before – that’s to be expected with a mid-life facelift. However, it's pulled off a clever trick by taking the car forward with nods to a bygone era.

The front gets a new bumper inspired by the legendary 33 Stradale. Its lower grille is heavily revised – it’s hard to describe, but think less ‘rounded trapezoid’ with the predecessor, and more ‘bowtie’ with the successor.

The iconic Alfa shield – the Scudetto – also undergoes an overhaul, with more aggression and traditional horizontal lines. At the same time, triple headlights remain on each side, but are now better blended into the Scudetto.

One feature from its past has gone – the number plate is now centralised instead of offset – a common sight on many Alfa Romeos over the years. It looks loads better! Newly designed alloys refresh the look, and the car features a slightly wider wheel track, but the rest of the Alfa looks almost identical to the old one.

The Tonale is still rather rounded at the back, with a roof spoiler above the rear windscreen, while dual tailpipes sit lower down – one on each side. Between the exhausts and the glass, there are the taillights, joined together by a horizontal light bar that runs through the rounded Alfa badge in the centre of the tailgate.

It was notable before that the front looked more aggressive than the rear, and that contrast has only been enhanced by these latest changes.

Key Features

The new Alfa Romeo Tonale is available in a few trim levels.

The entry-level Tonale comes standard with 17-inch wheels, a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, digital radio, voice control, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and adaptive cruise control. You also get a rear-view camera, keyless entry/go, dual-zone climate control, full LED headlights and taillights, and adaptive high beam.

The Ti trim features black window frames, fender badging, heated and ventilated eight-way power-adjustable leather seats, a heated steering wheel, and aluminium paddle shifters.

Top-of-the-range Veloce gets 19-inch alloys, mudguard badging, full LED matrix headlights, red Brembo brake callipers, twin chrome tailpipes (PHEV only) and a black rear Tonale logo, along with DSV (Dual-Valve Electronic) adaptive suspension.

At launch, however, there is another trim level: the Sport Speciale gets 20-inch alloys, silver accents, gloss black Brembo brake callipers, and black and white Alcantara seats.

There is a choice of powertrains, too. The mild-hybrid (MHEV) features a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, producing 175PS (an increase over the outgoing model), paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Alternatively, there's the plug-in hybrid (PHEV), which, despite having a smaller 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, houses a much larger electric motor, outputting 270PS – although that's slightly less than before due to new emissions regulations. The PHEV also gets a six-speed automatic transmission and is all-wheel drive (called ‘Q4’ in Alfa-speak).

Range and Batteries

The Tonale PHEV comes equipped with a 15.5kWh battery, offering a claimed fully electric range of 38 miles.

In case you were wondering, the MHEV, by comparison, gets a tiny 0.8kWh battery.

Performance & Drive

We are testing the PHEV in the Sport Speciale trim, which manages 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds – and it feels every bit as pacey as that figure sounds.

Acceleration is effortless, and you always sense there’s plenty of power in reserve, making light work of joining motorways or overtaking. It doesn’t sound amazing with the pedal to the metal, but most PHEVs have small petrol engines, so it comes as little surprise, though premium rivals offer better refinement.

The MHEV, by comparison, takes 1.9 seconds longer to reach 62mph, although that's not bad when you consider the performance advantage of the PHEV. Mind you, it’s worth noting that plenty of non-premium MHEV rivals are quicker.

The MHEV is cheaper than the PHEV – and that's worth bearing in mind if you're budget-conscious. In fact, by adding a couple of optional extras to the entry-level PHEV, you can easily make it more expensive than the standard top-of-the-range MHEV.

Engineless driving is possible in the MHEV, but only for short distances. In contrast, the PHEV is designed to be driven without the engine at times and duly obliges.

The transmission in the PHEV changes smoothly and quickly, but when Alfa Romeo initially announced the Tonale, its driving dynamics were always going to be a point of contention.

The laws of physics simply mean the Tonale doesn't perform as well as any other Alfa. However, in fairness to Alfa Romeo, it has done a good job, with responsive, precise steering, a well-weighted wheel, and plenty of feedback to help you place the car in corners.

Our Alfa is fitted with adaptive dual-stage valve (DSV) suspension, and it does well resisting body lean compared with models without it. But it's still beaten by premium foes.

Ride comfort isn’t bad, especially considering our PHEV test car came with 20-inch alloys. However, it doesn't feel as well-planted as competitors at higher speeds. Our experience testing the old Tonale on smaller alloys suggests that it improves ride comfort. That said, lower versions with smaller wheels won't have the DSV suspension, so what you might gain on one hand will be offset by the other, although it’s available as an optional extra.

The PHEV comes with regenerative braking, which feels powerful, especially in more ferocious modes, but generally feels predictable.

Charging

The Tonale PHEV can recharge its batteries from zero to 100% in around two and a half hours if you use a dedicated 7.4kW home wallbox.

Plugging it into the mains typically takes around six-and-a-half hours.

Running Costs & Emissions

The PHEV returns around 300mpg officially – but plugging it in is a must to squeeze anything like that figure from it. The Alfa emits 77-83g/km of CO2, depending on exact spec – and expect closer to 30-35mpg if the battery is empty (and then, watch out, as it only has a 42.5-litre fuel tank). That compares with figures of 47-49mpg and 128-133g/km in the MHEV.

If you’re after a company car, the PHEV is the best option – although its low emissions are only good enough to get it into the 12% Benefit In Kind tax bracket, whereas some contenders can do better and sneak into the lower 8% band.

Alfa Romeo isn’t known for reliability – in fact, it’s known for unreliability, and tends to come near the bottom of customer survey league tables. Although the Italian automaker has nothing to be proud of here, its recent performance has improved somewhat.

Interior & Technology

The interior has been tweaked as part of the facelift, which is welcome, given it was criticised before for not feeling special enough. When you lease an Italian car, you're leasing style, so while the old interior wasn’t bad, it lacked the x-factor Alfa shoppers expect.

There are still many similarities – everything is the same shape, but the subtle details, such as the stitching running along the dashboard, which adds a more refined touch, make all the difference. A lovely-to-use rotary dial now replaces the told (and a tad ugly) gear lever, too – and the centre console has been spruced up a bit.

Build quality has also been improved, with everything feeling properly screwed down, whereas the predecessor had parts that felt rather fragile and cheap. Additionally, there are more soft-to-the-touch materials.

Our Sport Speciale-trimmed test car gets lovely dual-coloured seats. The 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen has also been improved, offering sharp graphics and an intuitive menu layout. It is not the most responsive screen, but we’re judging on premium levels here, and it’s hardly slow.

Annoyingly, one missing feature is the infotainment rotary dial you get in some other Alfas, meaning you have to prod at the screen on the go. However, voice control works well, and you can even connect the car to your Amazon Alexa account, allowing you to perform various functions, such as checking mileage, fuel level, and location, from the comfort of your own home. The 12.3-inch digital instrument display has also been improved – the clock, fuel and (in the PHEV) battery gauges are clearer than before as part of these changes.

Practicality & Boot Space

The Tonale offers a nice, comfortable cabin. Finding a supportive driving position is easy, thanks to ample travel in the seats and steering wheel, adjustable lumbar support, and seats that hug you tightly in the corners.

Alfa Romeos are driver's cars, though, so the Tonale’s driving position isn't as high as in some rivals. Alfa’s got round that by positioning the SUV’s dashboard slightly higher than usual to trick the eye into thinking you're sitting closer to the road.

The front windscreen pillars aren’t especially wide, and they’re well swept back, so forward visibility isn’t much of an issue. They are much thicker at the back, though, not helped by the rounded edge to the side rearmost window, which robs you of valuable over-the-shoulder visibility.

As a result, all models include front, rear, and side parking sensors, along with a rear-view camera. At the same time, there's also the option to upgrade to a 360-degree surround view camera, which has now been enhanced with a higher resolution and ‘drone view’.

There is enough legroom and headroom when sitting in the Tonale's front seats, and even taller drivers shouldn’t struggle. However, if you opt for the panoramic roof, it does reduce headroom slightly, so it's best to check your height before making a decision. Furthermore, the cabin isn't as wide as those of its challengers, so you may face more competition for elbow room.

In the rear, there’s a flat floor, helping passengers spread out a little more. However, you’ll lose some headroom to the sloping roofline, while legroom is sufficient but less than you’ll get in some peers – three adults won’t be comfortable there for longer journeys.

The Tonale has a boot capacity of 500 litres; however, this reduces significantly to just 385 litres in our PHEV – the latter figure is approximately the same as that of a Ford Focus.

The capacity expands to 1,550 litres (1,430 litres in the PHEV) with the rear seats collapsed in a 60:40 split, and it's a decent shape, allowing you to maximise the use of the available space. The split is typical for this class, but some premium rivals offer a more convenient 40:20:40 split.

The boot floor is also height-adjustable, allowing you to remove the loading lip. However, if you opt for the PHEV, you’ll have to do without this feature, as the batteries are stored beneath the floor.

Safety

The Tonale was assessed by Euro NCAP back in 2022, earning a five-star rating – this new model is a mere facelift, so this rating still stands. It scored 83% for adult occupants, 85% for children and 85% for safety assists.

The Italian SUV comes with automatic emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, drowsy driver detection, a lane support system, forward collision warning, intelligent speed assist and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

There is also an optional Techno Pack, offering Level 2 autonomous driving with intelligent adaptive cruise control, lane centring, traffic jam assist, blind spot detection, and rear cross-path detection, as well as semi-automatic parking.

The Techno Pack was previously included as standard on the top-of-the-range model; we expect it will be again, although Alfa hasn't explicitly confirmed this yet.

Options

There are numerous upgrades available for the Tonale, including smaller alloys that can be swapped for larger ones.

Black is the default body colour, while red, green, white, blue, and dark grey are also available – although not on all models.

The Premium Pack offers multi-coloured ambient lighting, while the Techno Pack adds auto-dimming door mirrors, a hands-free powered tailgate, a 360-degree camera and the safety enhancements we mentioned earlier.

The Veloce Pack adds darker styling elements, aluminium paddle shifters behind the wheel, aluminium door sills, the DSV suspension, plus red brake callipers and privacy glass, while the Winter Pack adds heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

Interior enhancements, including leather upholstery and a panoramic sunroof, are also available, along with electric front seat adjustment and the Harmon Kardon premium audio system.

Of course, higher models come with some of the above features as standard.

There are also plenty of accessories to tempt you.

Rival Cars

The latest Alfa Romeo Tonale is competing against numerous premium foes. There is the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA, for starters, while JLR’s duo of the Range Rover Evoque and Jaguar E-Pace will hope to be in contention.

The Volvo XC40 is also worth considering, along with the Cupra Formentor.

And, while not regarded as premium marques, if practicality is a priority, then the likes of the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage shouldn’t be dismissed.

If you're not sold on a premium brand, the Peugeot 3008 is also worth considering.

Verdict & Next Steps

On the face of it, the Alfa Romeo Tonale is appealing to lease. It boasts engaging handling that belies its size, a nice and convenient interior, and comes well-equipped with stunning looks – all the ingredients you’d want in a car like this.

But premium contenders can do all the above while being more practical and better value, with more cabin space and storage – and you’ll get even less boot space in the PHEV, too.

The engine refinement in competitors is better, and the Tonale isn't priced to reflect the areas where it falls short, particularly against the Germans.

It is not bad, but there are better alternatives available for less money – especially since we're at the premium end of the car leasing market.

We would stick with the entry-level trim, which has everything you need and more – the others are expensive given that their rivals undercut it.

It is good, but not quite good enough – and the simple reality is, this is an SUV you’re leasing for its style and Italian fashion rather than for its overall quality, so it becomes a car leased with your heart, not your head.

To some extent, that's what leasing an Alfa is all about!

Where to next?

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Alfa Romeo Tonale.

**Correct as of 13/11/2025. Based on 12 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 12 monthly payments, or £5,345.76  (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.