Game Theory
I’ve just driven the 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale. I’m going to tell you everything I like about it. And then we’re going to play a game.
Starting at Square One, the Tonale is a subcompact luxury SUV. When it first came out, the only drivetrain was a plug-in hybrid. This variant dispenses with electric motors and hybrid batteries, and comes solely with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. It makes a perfectly acceptable 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. My test vehicle came in the top Veloce trim with all-wheel drive as standard and leather upholstery. Nice seats, actually — easily comfortable for 100 miles at a time.
Perhaps I should start at Square Minus One and explain that Alfa Romeo is an Italian marque and, over the course of its long history (115 years in 2025), has produced many cars that I think are truly gorgeous. Another Alfa trait is nimble handling. There’s a liveliness to how Alfa Romeo models drive.
It’s still there in this latest offering. The quoted standstill-to-60 mph acceleration time of 6.5 seconds seems fine, but feels a bit brisker in real life. I’m also glad not to have the added weight of the hybrid hardware.
Gene Editing
On the Tonale’s center console is a rotary control called DNA. This isn’t the entire key to the Tonale’s poise (the suspension plays a big part), but it selects driving modes that affect throttle, steering, and transmission responses. This all adds to the fun.
D stands for Dynamic, N is for Natural (it’s the default setting) and A is for Advanced Efficiency. This third mode is for low-grip situations as well as maximizing fuel economy. The Tonale is sporty enough in Natural mode, while Dynamic is great for those occasional jaunts on canyon roads.
Curves Ahead
Which brings us to corners. The Tonale laps them up like a cat with a cream addiction. It feels much sportier than a typical subcompact SUV, punchy and poised. The closest rival would be something like the BMW X1. During my time in the Tonale, I wanted to take every curve a bit quicker than the last one, confident in the knowledge that the chassis would deliver.
Miscellany
While talking about things I like, let’s explore the styling. Just as BMW has its famed double-kidney grille and Rolls-Royce has the Flying Lady, there are certain special elements to Alfa Romeo design. The shield-shaped grille for one, the “telephone dial” wheels being another. On the Tonale, these elements manage to look contemporary while still evoking the company’s heritage. I also found the cargo space sufficient for the class, with 27 cubic feet behind the rear seats (four cubes more than the PHEV version). Similarly, rear legroom of 38.2 inches is fine. I’m an adult male of average size, and with me in the driver’s seat, my hypothetical twin brother could fit behind and not complain.
Play Pen
Now it’s game time. It’s called Quirk or Flaw. Some aspects of the 2025 Tonale might be considered idiosyncrasies an Alfa Romeo fan would be prepared to live with for the joy of having a sporty luxury subcompact SUV that looks arguably great and isn’t the same as everyone else’s. Other aspects, however, could be deal-breakers.
The first item is ride quality. This test car has optional 20-inch alloys and rides way too firm on anything other than a perfectly smooth road surface. And bear in mind that I usually like a taut suspension and will often keep a car in Sport mode as personal preference. So if I think it isn’t sufficiently supple, then most people will dislike it. I’d say this was a classic case of an overly large wheel/tire combination impacting ride quality adversely, and recommend sticking with the standard 18-inch alloys. The way this particular vehicle is set up, it’s a flaw. Without the big wheels, the suspension tune could be a quirk.
Let’s turn our attention to the rear doors. Where the window comes up against the rear pillar, there’s a protrusion — like a U shape on its side, with the bend aimed toward the tail. Some Kelley Blue Book colleagues have narrowly missed hitting the side of their head when opening the rear door — they might even have made contact on occasion. That hasn’t happened to me during my interactions with the Tonale, but I could imagine one moment of inattention or distraction when putting someone or something onto the back seats resulting in a bump. Let’s call this a quirk, a little design detail for the sake of it.
For a luxury vehicle, I’ve found heat insulation to be somewhat lacking — even with the (tinted) glass sunroof and its shade closed. For someone living in Arizona, this would be a flaw. For someone living in Maine, it could just be a quirk.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
With all its options and destination charge, this 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale Veloce comes to $46,625. Fuel economy works out to 24 mpg in combined city/highway driving. For comparison, the BMW X1 xDrive28i starts at $42,525, returns 28 mpg, enjoys 241 hp, and hits 60 mph in 6.2 seconds. BMW has a larger dealer network as well. But if you’re a big Alfa Romeo fan (and this marque has a way of endearing itself to enthusiasts), none of that may matter.