Alfa Romeo Tonale Veloce, for the love of Italy

Not so long ago, there was a Dodge Hornet, an all-American SUV, but it was assembled on the Alfa Romeo assembly line in Italy. There is no doubt that a more Italian version had to follow. This is how its close cousin, the Alfa Romeo Tonale, also appeared on the market. If the mechanics and platform are the same, the Italian version still has more personality.

Special collaboration, Marc Bouchard, Automotive journalist

The compact SUV, the Alfa Romeo Tonale Veloce (pronounced in your head with an Italian accent, of course) is comparable in dimensions to the Volvo XC40 in luxury cars, or the popular Mazda CX-5 in larger cars. Simply put, it is not a large SUV, far from it.

It benefits from a 106-inch wheelbase, the same as Volvo. But the interior design, while slightly different from the Hornet, presents the same problem. We really feel that the clearance in the front seats is not quite perfect. The shoulders of passengers who, like me, have shed their sandy form for several years find themselves a little cramped, as do the legs, which are disturbed by the impressive central cone.

Interior space is not so important for suits either. And its 500 liters, it is average. Fortunately, it compensates with a 2,000-pound towing capacity that at least lets you tow a small trailer.

Real personality

But all this is just an explanation. Because what makes this car an SUV worth considering is Alfa Romeo’s personality. It’s true – those who know me will attest to it – that I have a weakness for all things Italian. So, Alfa is part of the family that I basically positively hate.

Discrimination that is betrayed mainly thanks to the great design of the car. The reduced headlights that extend to the hood ridges and the V-shaped grille that, for decades, and Alfa Romeo trademark are some of the eye-catching features.

Another aspect is the driving of the car itself. Its 2.0-liter 268-horsepower 4-cylinder engine shows good power and some fear. Even though the 9-speed automatic gearbox is sometimes a bit slow when downshifting, everything is fine and does not hinder driving.

Instead it’s the precise steering and firm suspension when the car is put into dynamic mode that gives the compact SUV more depth than others. Like all SUVs in the world, in the Eco Tonale version it becomes sluggish and unattractive. More economical for sure, but less exciting to drive.

The truth is that even if the platform is shared with the Hornet, the Tonale relies on revised steering and a well-tuned suspension to provide sporty driving, albeit without overdoing it.

Alfa purists are probably not won over. After all, we customized every little bit despite being built on an Italian assembly line. However, it must be admitted that when comparing Tonale with rivals in the category, the driving sensation is more interesting and the overall power is more obvious.

Which does not come without compromise. The observed consumption of 10 liters per 100 km is an example of this. There is a plug-in hybrid version, which I have not yet tried in the Alfa Romeo version, but only in the Dodge version, and the electric load is not closed by the electric motor.

Basically, even the electric, plug-in hybrid version isn’t much fun to drive, despite its 53 km of electric range and its eligibility for certain government rebates.

I admitted from the beginning, I love Italian things. Even if the Alfa Romeo Tonale leaves aside some of the brand’s historical characteristics, it is still the most approachable SUV. And that’s what we appreciate!

In the podcast

Here, of course, we are talking about Alfa, but William also turns to the electric Genesis GV70, a car that has not given up on his desires. There is also a lot of talk about the New York show, and a lot of news!

Good listening!