This week I bring you the refreshed 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale (rhymes with tamale). My review SUV this week is the base version of the slightly-bigger than compact crossover, so it is not the super-loaded version, which I like. Alfa’s can get pricey when you get into some of the special edition models, so I was super surprised when I saw the MSRP. I’ll reveal that at the end.
Performance
For 2025, Alfa offers a new 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that puts out 268-horses and a strong 295 pound-feet of torque, more than enough to get this smallish SUV moving in a hurry.
You can get the Tonale in plug-in hybrid version, too. All Tonale’s come as all-wheel drive. It has a nine-speed automatic transmission.
Exterior
The exterior of the Tonale is attractive with the classic Alfa triangular grill, the stunning 3+3 LED headlights, and the very sharp-looking LED lighting in the rear. Always proud of its emblem, designers built the hood around the emblem.
It has beautiful 18” diamond-cut wheels, huge brake calipers, and a rear spoiler. As much as I like white cars, somehow this Milano White paint doesn’t do this SUV justice.
Interior
The surprise came with the very driver-focused interior that features comfortable cloth sport seats that are heated and power on both sides. The seats are bolstered and have the Alfa snake pattern in them, and the Alfa Romeo logo embossed in the headrests. It is quite fetching.
Like all Alfas, the start button is attached to the left side of the flat-bottomed, heated steering wheel. As you start the car, you’ll see a huge 12.3” digital gauge cluster that is easy to read and quite colorful. It can be configured from the attractive steering wheel, but you don’t get many ways to change it.
Center dash, up high is a 10.25” infotainment screen that operates the sound system, climate controls, navigation system, Bluetooth, and vehicle settings. This is also where you operate the wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto. There are also performance pages, and pages to monitor the power to the drive train. I’ve been a big fan of the Stellantis infotainment system, and this Uconnect 5 system does not disappoint, except if you want to change the radio when driving. It won’t let you go from AM to FM for instance, or to SiriusXM until you stop, a major annoyance.
The center console has a built-in phone charger, and this is where you change the DNA drive modes, and each one changes the Tonale noticeably. The D is for dynamic, of course my favorite, N is for neutral which is normal driving, and A is for Advanced Efficiency if you want a less responsive feel but want to maximize fuel economy.
Back seat room is fairly small, but was larger than I expected, and headroom is good for all occupants, even with a moon roof. Rear seat occupants get air conditioning vents and USB ports, along with a fold down armrest. Cargo area is actually quite good and has a retractable cover to hide valuables. There is storage underneath the load floor and there is 12-volt power back there as well. Major bummer: No power liftgate and no place inside to pull it down to close it.
Standard Features and Options
This Tonale trim comes completely loaded with privacy glass, LED trilobe headlights/taillights/fog lights, rain-sensitive wipers, heated power-folding mirrors, Keyless Enter ’n Go, sport cloth seats with Biscotto stitching, heated 8way power front seats, 60/40 rear split with ski passthrough, dual-zone climate, leather-wrapped heated steering wheel with pushbutton start, 12.3″ digital cluster, 10.25″ touchscreen with Uconnect 5 Nav, six-speaker audio, GPS navigation, wireless phone charging, rear auxiliary power outlet, and remote start.
My tester has one option, the power moon roof which is $1,400 and it comes with a power sliding cover, but I would not classify it as a panoramic roof.
Safety
On the safety front, my test vehicle Forward Collision Warning with Active Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control Plus, Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Path Detection, Traffic Sign Recognition, a rearview camera, electronic stability control, traction control, and multiple airbags (front, side, curtain, driver’s knee).
Ride and Drive
The Tonale has terrific handling and a nice ride thanks to the Sport tuned Suspension system. Acceleration is adequate but it does have a little more interior noise than I like. The Start/Stop system is quite annoying in this car, but it can be defeated by staying in the "A" mode on the DNA drive mode selector. The problem is that if you have a heavy foot like me, you'll want to stay in Dynamic mode for the power.
MSRP and MPG
Fuel economy is rated at 21 city/29 highway/and 24 combined. Total MSRP on this SUV is $39,930, which is actually much less than I expected.
Verdict
Let me sum this up. If you want something different than you see every day, with little Italian flare, the Tonale is fine, and it is a very good value for the price. Alfa resale is typically not good, but if you are going to keep it awhile, that doesn’t matter. This is a very crowded segment and to just be completely honest, it rates pretty low on my list of favorites due to no start/stop disable button and no power tailgate.
2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale AWD Review
- What I Liked Most: The driving characteristics and the value.
- What I would change: A must-have is a power tailgate and a start/stop disable button.
- MSRP: $36,495 base price/as equipped $39,930 with transportation.
- Fuel Economy: Rated at 21 city/29 highway/24 combined.
- Odometer reading when tested: 4,600 miles.
- Weight: 4,133 pounds/4,960 pound GVWR.
- Spare tire: Inflator kit.
- Length-Width-Height: 178” long/72” wide with mirrors folded/63” high.
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 13.5 gallons with the filler on the passenger side.
- Towing Capacity: 2,000 pounds.
- Official Color: Milano White.
- 2025 Tonale in a few words: Great value and a fun to drive SUV.
- Warranty: 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper with roadside assistance.
- Final Assembly Location: Pomigliano, Italy.
- Manufacturer's website: Alfa Romeo
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