The Tonale marks a triumphant return for iconic Alfa Romeo
After decades of declining sales and a dearth of new products, the Italian brand is back with a hybrid SUV that signals its re-emergence in the premium market
Between 2012 and 2020, Alfa Romeo experienced lean years on the local front. With few new products launched, it experienced a worrying decline in the premium market and it looked like the legendary brand that was established in 1910 was on its way out.
The decline was not unique to SA. As far back as 1995, Alfa Romeo departed from the US market because of sharply declining sales, believed by analysts to be caused by quality problems and increased competition from European luxury brands.
A similar trend was seen in Europe, with Alfa continuously losing market share. There were various issues at the heart of its decline, including its takeover by Fiat in 2007, Alfa’s hard-to-shake reputation for body rusting, and Italian motoring unions playing havoc with production. In 2019, the ultimate buyer revolt saw only 5,000 Alfas registered on Italian home turf in the first six months of the year.
And then the world went into lockdown. With factories closed for weeks on end, many industry pundits believed that the brand that had created some of the most beautiful and exciting cars ever produced – the 2000 GT Veloce, the 8C Competizione, the Spider, the 33 Stradale, the Brera and Giulia – would not survive.
Then, in early 2021, a lifeline was thrown at the beleaguered Italian badge with the birth of Stellantis, a global conglomerate housing 16 auto brands all under one roof.
Stellantis has seen impressive growth in the past 21 months. In early November, it announced that net revenues were up 29% compared with Q3 2021. At the Paris Motor Show in October, CEO Carlos Tavares said Alfa was looking better than it had in years.
“The business has been turned around and it is profitable. It is now in a position to fund its own future – it’s safe. The turnaround was done even before the launch of Tonale.”
This latest Alfa that I got to drive is named after a northern
Italian mountain pass, and it is exactly what the brand needed as a possible volume seller.
At the recent press briefing, one got the sense of how important this new product is for the local Alfa brand. It finds itself jostling for attention in the highly competitive C-SUV (medium-sized) arena among the likes of the Audi Q3, the Merc GLA, the BMW X1, the Volvo XC40 and perhaps even the Range Rover Evoque.
When it comes to aesthetics, the Tonale has definitely turned my head. With its svelte curves, slim front and rear LEDs, and iconic grille and badging, it is a stunner.
Inside, there is harmony and quality in its layout. The multifunction leather steering wheel takes centre stage with its all-aluminium gear shift paddles.
The tech is easy to work out via the 10.25inch Uconnect infotainment system, which all models get as standard. It’s a relief to see handy physical buttons, and I was impressed by the body-hugging heated electric seats that felt like an ode to Alfa’s legendary driver-focused approach.
In terms of safety, the Tonale scored five stars during its rigorous Euro NCAP crash testing. Systems include stuff like forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, front and rear park sensors, a 360-degree camera and six airbags.
On the engine front, the Tonale is available in a single 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, offering a respectable 118kW and 240Nm. The kicker here is that the Tonale is a hybrid. “What?” red-blooded fans might splutter. “A silent Alfa? Have the Italians gone pianissimo?”
So, during its one-day Cape launch, once I’d settled into the driver’s seat, I took a deep breath and pushed the start button. Nothing. Just church-like silence. Like ghost mobiles, we exited the parking lot. “Is an Alfa still an Alfa if it’s gagged?” I wondered.
But the decision to introduce a hybrid drive in the Tonale is a reflection of these carbon-averse times we are living in, with all manufacturers having to push towards a “clean, carbon-zero” not-so-distant future.
Until the arrival of the Tonale, the petrol-thirsty brand had offered nothing electrified, causing its fleet to post unacceptably high CO₂ averages, according to the carbon emission cops.
Don’t get me wrong, hybrids have many merits and in the Tonale the system is impressive with its lightweight 11kg battery and 48V motor. Importantly, it offers handy frugality when driving in the city. Relying solely on its hybrid engine, the system can get the car manoeuvring and crawling through low-speed traffic using zero fuel.
Thankfully, to satisfy my need for thrills, there’s a handy dial with the choice of three drive modes: dynamic, natural and advanced efficiency. And so, with a quick rotation, one can opt for the speedy option, whereby the petrol engine gives the battery a middle finger and we’re back into classic Alfa drive.
When it comes to performance, it’s clear that the Tonale has been designed to make drivers smile, albeit that it could do with an extra 20kW to make you really grin.
The power delivery via its 7-speed auto gearbox is relatively smooth, despite there being a slight lag at times between gear changes when on the incline. In dynamic mode, the engine produces a reminiscent Alfa sound on acceleration.
There are three trim levels in the Tonale lineup: the Ti, the Speciale and the top-of-range Veloce. They are not vastly different in price and the list of standard features is extensive.
In the final analysis, the Tonale must be seen as a triumph for the Italians. With its drop-dead gorgeous looks, quality cabin, fair pricing and a marriage between efficiency and pleasure, Alfa’s latest child holds the iconic brand’s flag high.
There’s a handy dial with the choice of three drive modes. And so, with a quick rotation, one can opt for the speedy option, whereby the petrol engine gives the battery a middle finger and we’re back into
classic Alfa drive