Alfa Romeo Tonale -the best SUV of 2023?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ม.ค. 2023
- Which SUV to buy in 2023? or is the question: Which Alfa Romeo to buy in 2023? Well, personally I would be asking "Is the Alfa Romeo Tonale the best SUV of 2023?" Chris The Alfa Nut gets an unexpected drive in Alfa Romeo's newest hybrid SUV and is quite impressed, despite his long-held suspicion of hybrid electric vehicles! Is the Tonale in fact a better buy than the Alfa Romeo Stelvio? Tell me what you think in the comments below.
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Hi Chris, thanks for the first review of the Tonale which i havent heard the sentence: the engine is to small or the car is to heavy and of course its not as spacious as a Tiguan... Like every time a good sunday video and it's good that you are back. I've driven now all Tonale engines 1.6 Diesel and the two 1.5 variants, the 1.3 Q4 has just been delivered to our dealer and I have to say for a daily car it drives and feels very Alfa Romeo. You can't compare it to my Giulia but it is good to drive. Greetings from germany!
Gutentag Max! Thanks for watching - I feel that many road tests go into too much detail, as many buyers decide on how they feel in the car and how it looks, rather than all the technical stuff! Many people know nothing about cars and buy just on image & how cool it makes them look! 😉
Hallo Max - I‘ve already drove the 160 HP and I find it for a daily driver more than ok. Please tell me: How performed the 1.6 Diesel you drove ? Was it also quite like the 160 HP Version? Had it a little more punch because of more feed of torque? Fits engine and transmission fine ? I’m also interested in the Diesel but in my area there is no car to test it….would be nice, if you could give some impressions of the Diesel…🙏
Great review. The Tonale is the best looking compact SUV. The basic version with 160 hp is not a sports car, but I think that the new hybrid version with 280 hp is much more interesting.
I am not a big fan of SUV’s or hybrid cars, but when you see the Tonale I think that you can change your mind, as it’s a beautiful car.
Morning mate, thanks for watching. Its a practical everyday car which is well made and pretty, so like you even though I don’t much like SUV’s I thought it was a great effort by AR 👍🏻
Hi Chris. In my opinion, the Tonale is the best looking SUV out there, along with Alfa's other offerings such as the Stelvio and the Giulia....and is why I would pick an Alfa over and above all the other manufacturers on the market. They are just different to everything else on the road and look very cool!
Agreed Russell - if I had to buy an SUV it would be one of these two (probably a Stelvio Quadrifoglio though!!) 😂
I just ordered the 160hp Tonale Ti in Vesuvio Grey :) Beautiful AR. Test drive was great and inside did not disappoint either, on another level with loads of standard kit. Only small issue is the wait time of up to 6 months although this is still much better than VW/Vauxhall 12/18 months lead times.
Good to hear, let me know how you get on with it. Are you in the UK?
@@TheAlfaNut Yes in N.ireland. Collecting my Tonale Ti on 26th April..3 month wait so pretty good in the end, i got a cancellation spot.
@@TheAlfaNut Just collected my Tonale Ti on friday..my first alfa although i rented an AR on holiday in Spain 20 years ago and loved it, sadly cannot remember the model. Love the Tonale, such a striking presence on the road .I have the basic suspension setup but is more than fine on the country roads here in n.ireland (Better than the Peugeot e2008 it is replacing).Seats very comfortable..early days and only very small issues like Alexa not working with my hotspot..looks like you have to pay a subscription fee to use Alexa as keeps coming up with please purchase package or words to that effect and the door mirrors do not fold when locking car although i can fold them from inside.2 tiny issues..well not even issues to be honest and my 3 year range anxiety has disappeared over night ..over 500 miles on a full tank..i purchased spare wheel and fits perfect in boot so all is good and i am enjoying driving again :) AR dealership at Mallusk excellent.
Congratulations! Hope you are loving your Tonale. With my Giulia, going into the settings menu gives you the option to activate mirror folding when locking - I’m sure yours will be the same. Enjoy! 😎👍🏻
@@TheAlfaNut Thanks, got the door mirrors folding :)
Yes Chris I have ordered one in Alfa red to keep my mito company ..👍🏻😀
I saw the Tonale at last years National Alfa Day, it looked quite impressive. The other thing here is that; if new mild hybrids are allowed after 2030 and the banning of these are forever kicked down the road, then the future may not seem so bad afterall.👍🏽
Good point Henry, with luck the ridiculous 2030 deadline will be circumvented by necessity! There is no way that every motorist will have access to charging points by then but perhaps that is the agenda - all of us living in “smart cities” not travelling anywhere and not owning cars….
Autos nur noch für Mega Reiche ??
Hallo Thomas, ja, das scheint der Plan zu sein - die Globalisten werden mit Gras gefüttertes Steak essen und Supersportwagen fahren, während die Arbeiter Insekten essen und den Bus nehmen werden!
Also that wonderful film they put on the wing mirrors that dims them at night - this is one of the best features IMHO
Yes, it does work well. I love my heated steering wheel too 😍
I saw one on the road the other day. They are gorgeous
Really? What colour was it?
@@TheAlfaNut I dont remember exactly either a gray or blue probably. It had an elegance that made you look at it.
@@joevelte4252 Good Alfa Design language - that's why!
I look forward to testing it here, down under. The Stelvio is just too big for my liking. Great video, gives me a heads up for when it arrives. Cheers 🇬🇸
Thanks for watching mate, it was a quick drive but definitely much better than I was expecting! All the best 👍🏻
great review and great car.
Thanks a lot for watching mate, glad you enjoyed!
🤣🤣🤣" more fun emptying the dishwasher " 🤣🤣🤣 love your sence of humor 👍
Thanks mate, glad you enjoy! 😁
Chris, great video as always! I think the Tonale is certainly the most interesting cross over I've seen. I am also a Alfa nut myself and so I tend to like nearly most things Alfa. Here in the US were all a bit disappointed as they are selling a rebadged Tonale as a cheaper Dodge Hornet and it's like something GM would do in the 70's. Other that the front and rear they are so similar and many of us believe it will hurt the Tonale's sales here and also the resale. It's a shame because Alfa so needed that sales and now we think the Hornet that our auto press keeps saying is a inexpensive Alfa will hurt Tonale here. Anyways, I love it but also am not a hybrid lover, but it looks good and I wish Alfa success with this new model that looks stunning.
Hi Todd, thanks for watching! Yes the Hornet will definitely hurt Tonales sales as it is cheaper too and I suspect that many Americans will naturally prefer to support an “American” car brand (even if it was developed by a multinational) I’m not a lover of hybrids myself, having owned 2 of them, they are pretty soulless things but if I was forced to have another, at least I could buy an Alfa! 😆
Very nice... food for thought!
Hi Mike, hope you are ok? Yes its a bit strange driving a hybrid with an Alfa badge but we might end up with no other choice eventually? 🤔
Chris, I agree with you on the "as exciting as emptying a dishwasher" stuff... However, I love filling them (dishwashers). It reminds me of Tetris. On the Tonale, it looks great - probably, the best-looking SUV in its class. I've tested it and love the pointy steering too. It has retained some of the great Alfa 'identity' cues. It's well-made (German-like), but it's got style and flair and I think it'll do well beyond Italy. I'd say the starting handicap is that it's a bit late to the party. Let's see how the Alfa dealer network handles it. And above all, let's see how Alfa markets it.
Yes indeed, I like stacking dishwashers too, and fitting all the food in the fridge that my Wife can’t get in! 😂
I hope the Tonale does well because that will mean more Alfas to drive in future!
If I was on the lookout for an SUV hybrid as an Alfanut myself this would be the one.€43k is on the steep side at first glance but it has a lot of "standard"kit which makes the basic model quite appealing.Wonder whether non Alfa people will go for it,hope it does well,the brand could do with a good seller.
Enjoyed the video Chris👍
Cheers Rob, yeah I agree - the hybrid “thing” is a bit of an unsatisfactory compromise (I’ve had a couple) but the Tonale is very well equipped as you say, so maybe it will do ok
Hi! Good review, as always! I can say, it's not a car that I will buy, honestly, but I think it's a good object, compared with all the others car of others Brands... Tablet as tacho, touch screen radio, I think will be banned because they steal attention to driver...
Maybe so - its a clever car but the systems are VERY complicated
Looks good..counting on them finessing the software some since the power delivery seem a bit weird
Agreed about the looks, although in my experience, most hybrid cars have a weird power delivery compared to a regular ICE car!
I wonder will the Stelvio get an update and look more like the Tonale. That'd be a winner, if done right. That said, I'm still enthusiastic about the Tonale.
Cheers Adam, yes I think it will in line with the Giulia refresh, not much changes apart from lights and infotainment though I think? Would you buy a Tonale?
@@TheAlfaNut I like the size of the Stelvio, but the design of the Tonale is a real beauty, especially in the rear. Not sure Alfa Nut, I'd like one, but I already have a 166 and 156 sportwagon. Need more space, hah. Maybe a few years into production I might get one. What about you?
@@AdamAus85 I think I’d be more likely to get one for my Wife in a year or two! Never buy a brand new model, as they always have teething problems 😉
Good afternoon Chris. That’s a great look at the Tonale. It seems like a great little SUV and it should prove to be very popular. In the USA, there’s going to be this SUV plus a version wearing the Dodge name, the Hornet. I believe that both will share the same mechanicals, the main difference being that the Dodge will be less expensive. The Dodge of course has different styling and having seen spy photos, the Tonale wins easily. Let’s hope it’s a big success. Alfa needs it!
Hi Martyn, nice to hear from you - I hope you are well? Yes, I agree but I also suspect the the Hornet will sell more units in the US as its cheaper but also a Dodge! Many patriotic people will buy the perceived “US” brand instead. Can’t blame them of course but I hope a few enlightened people will buy the Alfa too! 👍🏻
@@TheAlfaNut Yes. The good thing is the boy racer Dodge fans will drive a demand for all sorts of tuning mods, all of which could be fitted to the Alfa. Another good thing is Dodge dealers don’t charge $300 for an oil change!!!
Haha well thats also true! When I bought my Giulia, I also took advantage of an offer of 4 years of servicing for £500, including all parts & labour! Great deal.
bravo!
Ciao Alessandro! 😎👍🏻
Honest review.
It's pretty nice, much better than what I expected; let's say, pass me the comparison, like the impression I got from Ferrari Purosangue.
It could have been much worse! 😆
@@TheAlfaNut Exactly! 😅
It could have looked like a Nissan Juke! 🤮
Lovely looking SUV. How was the ride quality on the bumpy roads with the big wheels?
Surprisingly good actually. Alfa have got the ride spot on I think.
@@TheAlfaNut Brilliant!
I'd love a phev tonale for the fam perhaps a few years from now when I can find a nice used example
Thanks for watching but be careful that the battery isn’t worn out by then! 😳
You know the direction Alfa Romeo is being taken when you find out that long term Alfa Romeo Uk HQ staff are being replaced by PSA staff.
It is about numbers only not the Alfa brand.
That’s a bit worrying, I wasn’t aware. Can I ask where that info came from?
@@TheAlfaNut Insider knowledge
Awesome Alfas.
Thanks for watching Charles! 👍🏻
Alfa Romeo Tonale very nice 🔝🔝🔝🔝👍
Thanks for watching Sonny 👍🏻
It’s a lovely looking thing…….but I must admit, I’d have preferred a proper Giulietta replacement. And proper dash clocks!
I tend to agree Simon - complication is unnecessary and just creates more failures down the road. Alfa should build a sub-£30k stripped down Spider, to appeal to young drivers and older enthusiasts. Look how massively popular the MX-5 has been.
…or a small family car like the Giulietta of course 👍🏻
A reinvention of the Alfasud would be ideal!
Ooh yes, now you’re talking! 😎👍🏻
Twenty years after having had the pleasure to drive a second-edition 156 (the one with the actual Scudetto, not the Scudetto-shaped dent in the bumper; TD) as a company car, I ordered the PHEV Q4 version to replace my current company car (Renault Kadjar, the first that got my wife to love a car rather than think of it as just a means of transport) when my Fin. Renting contract is up for renewal in June...a PHEV for tax reasons :-)
Full EV does not make sense (yet?) where I live (close to the city yet few chargepoints and no garage nor drive-way for a wallbox).
To enjoy the power of the PHEV, I will need to waste away 2.5hrs at a petrol station with a fast-charger 🤷
The new Audi Q3 was a contender until I found out it only has a 3.4kW charger (5hrs for less e-milage). Who's idea was that?? 🤦♂️🤣
Expected delivery: end of July.
I can finally afford it and once you have driven one, there is always that lingering desire to drive another one.
Nope, not living in the UK.
Thanks for watching and good luck with the Tonale - I hope you love it as much as your 156. I have a 1998 156 V6 too - its s fun car 👍🏻
I did test drive, and bought one.
Well done Rod, how are you enjoying it so far? Let me know 👍🏻
@@TheAlfaNut That is a good question, and when I am asked face to face, I struggle to answer.
I had a Giulia Speciale, which I bought new, with sunroof, full leather, and a load of extras.
The Giulia was six years old, with 26k miles, accident free, and diesel.
I struggled to get in and out of the Giulia, due to back problems and a bad knee.
Beechdale Alfa, invited me down to test drive the Tonale, Speciale, which was left hand drive.
The test drive was very enjoyable, because entering and leaving was easy - but, no sunroof.
Many dealers told me, the Tonale was “Order only”.
However, looking on the internet, Thames Motor Group, had stock, so immediately phoned them, and Vincenzo Quatromini, told me they had a new Tonale Speciale.
A deal was done on Monday, and by Friday, I collected my Tonale, albeit 188 mile away in Slough !
That was the 3rd of March, on a 23 plate. A week later my knee was replaced, so I didn’t drive it, for a month.
Today, I have done, 2,300 miles, and I think the reason, why I am not ecstatic, is, I realise I am no longer a youngster, therefore, a “Sports car” is in my past !
As for the car, I wish it had a sunroof, and didn’t have the Lane Change safety device. I have to switch it off, every time I start the car.
I have never driven a car with such good headlights - they are very powerful.
One recommendation to Alfa U.K., is for the distribution to be the same as Ford, which is, Ford own all new cars, until they are sold. That means, if a car is in Cornwall, and a customer is in Scotland, then Ford allow the transfer.
Thames Motor Group, have to buy their stock, whilst most other Alfa dealers, have to order, once sold.
Yes, stock is cash and Thames, had a few new QF’s and Stelvio’s available.
The other reason why l bout the Tonale, was the value of diesels will plummet in the next year or so, because of EV’s, and the ban in diesel and petrol cars.
One says, the Tonale is petrol, yes, but Porsche have made a fossil free petrol, which won’t be banned .
I agree. It looks more elegant than the Stelvio and I would choose one over all the dropped Plasticene looking SUVs out there
Just so long as the gearbox is not as nasty as my wife's i10 where you have to blip it to change gear
Hi Joseph, the gearbox is fine - it just shifts a bit more often than I’d like but then, Devon has a lot of hills! 😆
Hi Joseph, the gearbox is fine - it just shifts a bit more often than I’d like but then, Devon has a lot of hills! 😆
The Alfa Romeo Tonale looks very good, but I think the performance of the 160 hp hybrid is inferior to the brand. The MINI Countryman SE plug-in hybrid looks very different, but at least it has the performance you expect: acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 6.8 seconds.
Hi Marc, thanks for watching & your comments - yeah I haven’t driven the 250-odd bhp Tonale yet but the Countryman is almost a second faster than the old Renault 5GT Turbo. How times change! What do you drive?
I like my Stelvio better. I don't like the side windows bottom line going upwards, at the rear. Looks weird, and inside you have less view outside and feels more claustrophobic. Why would you want a smaller SUV than the Stelvio, the Stelvio is already fairly small. I guess it makes sense in Europe.
Hi Tibor, I agree with you that the Stelvio is better looking overall - the styling of the Tonale is nice but not 100% successful.
More Alfa Romeos have caught fire than electric Nissans though 0:45
Really? I wasn’t aware of that. Where did you get that info from?
Tonale not for me but thanks for new episode Chris and waiting for more.Giulia is last car for petrolheads, unfortunately 😥
Hi Marcin, well I hope that we will get one last petrol powered sports car from Alfa before 2030. 🤞🏻
Tarmac to an American brings up visions of an airport runway.
Hi Buff, ok duly noted - in the UK a “pavement” is a sidewalk too! 😂. I think that “Blacktop” refers to a US freeway, is that correct?
By the way, would you pick a Tonale over the Dodge version? Just curious.
Umm. Were you driving in dynamic mode when complaining about the busy gearbox? Sigh
There wasn’t much discernible difference between the two modes to be honest. Hybrid powertrains are constantly juggling between 2 sources of power and the end result is not very linear
The target audience for a suv is people above 65 not a family.
I own the only family car alfa
The 159.
Not sure the car industry agrees with you? 🤔 pretty much everyone seems to buy suv’s now. I don’t like them much personally
Chris, I can't think of anything more terrifying a thought than an Italian/French car conglomerate making a petrol 'electric' hybrid anything. I'm sure these will be littering the hard shoulder of our motorways soon if they sell enough.😂😂😂😂
I’m not a fan of hybrids but poor Stallantis & others have been forced to make them 😢
160 hp and 280 hp -must be 2 totally different cars .
For sure - the 160 was underwhelming to drive, a family shopping / school run car. I am driving the 280 in a couple of weeks time, so I’m sure that will be quite different!
@@TheAlfaNut i am enjoyng my stelvio 2.2 210hp diesel .
I like the Stelvio a lot - I considered the Stelvio Quadrifoglio instead of the Giulia. How is your fuel consumption? Better than mine for sure! 😂
@@TheAlfaNut less that 9l/100km in Vilnius city. nm to hill makes realy enjoyable drive and actualy on winter time at the snow dont expect that climb at the hill better(at liest not worst) that hyunday tucson-which is more serios offroader lets face it , and lexus rx, that time i dont believe - but try that challenge :) and did -they has rest at the start off the bridge.
the exterior looks are a bit awkward for my taste
What do you think makes it look awkward? Personally I think the Stelvio is a more pleasing body shape.
We get the bastardized "Dodge" version.🤣
Very mixed feeling about it and about Alfa and Maserati going electric. Bad and wrong move, and they will fail. Miserably. Advice to all the Alfa owners out there , keep your cars , they wont make them like that anymore.
So true - if governments carry on down the same path, ICE engines will be outlawed and petrol & diesel will become more & more expensive until only the rich will be able to afford to keep “classic” IcE cars in the future. That is the plan - to force normal motorists off the road. This is not conspiracy theory, look at all the “Smart Cities” that are under way…. 🫣🙁
@@TheAlfaNut Exactly, It's a wide subject to go into but it's clear that step by step we are being pushed like cattle to where 'they' want us to be - Total control.
Yep agreed. I’ve avoided getting all “conspiracy” on my channel but anyone with a degree of intelligence can join the dots. I like to think that Alfa people by nature are free thinkers but don’t want to get my channel banned by getting on the wrong side of the globalists “cancel” list!
@@TheAlfaNut Bingo!
Sad but necessary 🙁
Not my thing at all I am afraid. Sick of the whole SUV malarkey
Haha, yes I’m with you on that Steven - I hate SUV’s generally as I view them as a “herd mentality” trendy load of nonsense! Cars for people who know nothing about cars 😆 However, I hope that AR sell loads of them, as that gives us a better chance of getting some new sports cars. 👍🏻
I saw a moose test of the Tonale...sadly it's a POS Jeep underneath and it shows. Too bad,love my Giulia though
Platform sharing appears to be the only financially viable route to market these days. I thought it drove very well personally but everyone is entitled to their own opinion of course 🙂