Car Review: New Alfa Romeo SUV hybrid is classic Italian | Business

It’s not every day that Italian automaker Alfa Romeo comes forward with an exciting and new plug-in hybrid — its first in the electrification rollout. We found the 2024 Tonale Veloce a breath of fresh air with a blend of sports car looks and upscale interior with high-tech upgrades.

While the pricey sub compact will give pause to some, its performance may sway others to test this new set of wheels. Speaking of wheels, our top-of-the-line Veloce stood out with large five circle diamond cut wheels accented with gloss red calipers and white script — very Italian.

Our optioned crossover stickered at $56,790 while base Sprint and Ti trims start in the mid $40s. A $7,500 EV incentive is available on all three.

Power is supplied with a modest 1.3-liter turbocharged I-4 developing 180 horsepower while feeding Tonale’s front wheels. Ponies are increased to 285 with a 121 hp electric motor that independently powers the rear wheels. Gearing differences between the engine and rear motor do some torque-ee twists with rear drive, aside from its all-wheel drive capabilities.

A fully charged 15.5 kWh battery is good for a reported 33 miles although we were able to better that with 34 miles before the gas engine seamlessly takes over. With 29 miles per gallon of regular fuel, the Tonale is good for about 360 miles between refueling.

The 240-volt Level 2 charger replenishes the battery in about 2.5 hours according to Alfa engineers. On the flip side, our household current took a disappointing 12 hours to fully charge.

A smooth shifting six-speed transmission does the heavy lifting with the small SUV hitting the 60 mile-per-hour mark from a dead stop in a respectable 5.7 seconds — not bad considering its 4,300-pound weight.

The new Alfa retains the company’s DNA drive mode system — a unique trio of Dynamic, Natural and Advanced efficiency that adjusts the drive between performance, hybrid and engine output or electric power primarily with the simple twist of a rotary knob at center console position.

The Tonale’s plug-in hybrid option competes in a class with Mercedes-Benz GLA 250, Volvo XC40 and BMW X1 — all good company.

The list of standard tech features includes a 10.3-inch digital infotainment screen and modern dual pods for engine and battery vitals. We found the navigation system easy to set up with audible prompts at just the right time. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and phone charging are standard as are power adjustable front seats and lumbar support.

We were impressed with the Tonale’s road manners delivering a mostly quiet cabin experience at highway speeds and enough oomph to accelerate in a timely fashion when needed. Dual mode active suspension kept the all-season paws firmly planted on pavement and the Active Driving Assist system suite of safety features was useful.

Rear cargo area is smallish with just under 23 cubic feet, not enough to store two golf bags horizontally; although, reclining the two rear seats easily stored them vertically along with grocery bags and a stored car seat.

A test drive in the new Tonale hybrid will help decide if it’s right for you.