Alfa Romeo Tonale review – An intriguing alternative to the mainstream, more obvious crossover SUV choices

There was a time when you knew from the get-go what a brand stood for, whether it was luxury goods, fizzy drinks, high fashion or even cars. But between what strategists call ‘vertical integration’ and marketeers call ‘collaboration’, it’s no stretch today to find a Dior Vespa, Coca-Colaon a £300 designer shirt, Versace jockstraps (amen) and — case in point — one of the most famous Italian sports car insignia on a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).

None of that, if it’s done well, is a bad thing. I like the idea of a designer scooter for whizzing from the St Tropez harbourside restaurant to the yacht moored nearby. Coke is an iconic soft drink logo, what’s not to like about posh backless pants and, if Mums and Dads can justify an Alfa as it’s “for the family”, then there’s more money in the kitty to make new sports cars.

Just let’s not talk about the Balenciaga range of hi-vis clothing that makes those with more money than is reasonable look like a litter collector on the M1. That’s plain stupid.

But an Alfa Romeo SUV is not. Because if — within the market’s favoured high-rise, five-door format — you can pack some of the Italian marque’s legendary design flair, zest for life and pep about the primary controls then nirvana might well beckon. For such things are generally more ordinary, and at whatever level Alfa rarely does ordinary.

Pictured here is the just-arrived Tonale (pronounced tow-nah-lay, rather than toenail, for reassurance), a new kid brother SUV to its existing (and rather lovely) big brother Stelvio. And though compact, with upright proportions, there’s no denying — with big wheels, six headlamps up front and slim light clusters out back — it’s a lovely looking thing that’s recognisable as an Alfa Romeo. Good start.

It’s decent inside, too — the dual-cowl instrument binnacle that looks back at you has 60s echoes, the starter button on the fat-rimmed steering wheel feels special (and a bit racy), plus the fit and finish holds up to scrutiny. Typically of the class you sit high, but the seats are a good perch, both comfy and supportive.

Our press drive — fittingly enough for a car that is debuting with hybrid powertrains — started on the shores of Lake Como at the Tempio Voltiano, a neoclassical edifice that’s now a museum dedicated to the prolific scientist Alessandro Volta, who was born here in 1745 and invented the first electric battery. He’d have approved of the evolution of his invention, I imagine.

Ditto the route that marries lakeside vistas with countryside switchbacks and a mix of traffic conditions. Throttle pick-up is instant from standstill, the seven- speed automatic transmission smooth enough although, just occasionally, there’s some momentary lag as the hybrid system takes half a second to join the party.

But the dynamics of the drive are good — the steering is unusually quick at 2.3 turns lock-to-lock, and so is especially responsive without wanting to ping you into the shrubbery, and there are big metal paddles that enable you to take manual charge of the gearshifts, even if you’ll end up working everything pretty hard to extract the 160 horses on tap.

Alfa Romeo’s engineers are at pains to point out they’ve sought to make the Tonale handle and feel “like a real Alfa”, and suggest they’ve arrived at a balance that’s more fun to drive and yet more comfortable than a mystery “best competitor”. Which is hard to quantify when the alternative is invisible. It’s certainly true, though, that there’s enjoyment to be had for an enthusiastic pilot and the passengers will have little to grumble about in the process.

In short, this is a compelling and intriguing alternative to the mainstream, more obvious crossover SUV choices. The Tonale may not be what you’d expect an Alfa Romeo to be, but we’re more than fine with that.

Alfa Romeo

1.5-litre, four-cylinder hybrid
158bhp (petrol), 20bhp (electric)
177lb/ ft torque (petrol), 41lb/ft (electric)
0-62mph in 8.8 seconds
130mph
up to 49.6mpg
130-144g/ km CO2
circa £35,000

For more information, visit alfaromeo.co.uk