Used Alfa Romeo Tonale for sale: everything you need to know

If you’re wondering, it’s pronounced “toe-nah-lay”, rather than “toe-nail”. The name is a little more awkward and less evocative than the larger Alfa Romeo Stelvio, but it’s just as significant to the Alfa Romeo brand, as the firm’s first fully hybrid and plug-in hybrid car.

The Tonale majors on its styling, and a responsive and dynamic feel to the way it drives, though the real-world performance of the regular hybrid stretches Alfa’s sporty credibility. Still, Alfa drivers have always been prepared to make a few sacrifices to drive something a little more interesting than the norm.

Premium rivals for the Tonale include the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA, while the Lexus UX and Range Rover Evoque are all more left-field alternatives, like the Alfa itself. Expand your horizons to include more mainstream family SUVs and there’s huge choice out there.

Should you buy an Alfa Romeo Tonale?

Buying an Alfa Romeo has often been something of a heart-over-head decision. To buy a Tonale is to consciously avoid the usual (and usually German) premium SUV alternatives, just as the buyer of an equivalent Volvo, Jaguar, or Lexus might also do.

However, you still want to know you’re getting a good car, and while the Tonale isn’t a class-leader, it’s still a well-resolved product. It’s thoroughly modern in offering a pair of hybrid powertrains, one being a plug-in, is packed with safety gear, has a quick and genuinely usable infotainment system, and is decently practical too.

With the plug-in you do take a hit in terms of carrying capacity thanks to its larger battery - boot space drops from 500 litres down to 385 - but the cabin is spacious and Alfa continues to improve the quality of its cars, so it feels well-made and generally pretty nicely trimmed too, especially in higher-spec models.

Quick, light steering makes the Tonale feel very agile, there’s not a lot of body lean, and the ride quality isn’t bad at all, at least on the smaller wheel options. The 1.5-litre hybrid can feel frustratingly unresponsive though, so try before you buy. Alfa Romeo has a shaky reputation for reliability, but like its quality, this too is improving.

The Tonale competes in the same market as the Audi Q3, BMW X1, and Mercedes GLA, which are all probably better all-rounders than the Alfa, but undoubtedly less interesting. Other premium rivals include the Volvo XC40, Lexus UX, Jaguar E-Pace and Range Rover Evoque, while one model that matches the Alfa’s sporty feel, and indeed styling, is the Mazda CX-30.

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What’s the best used Alfa Romeo Tonale model to buy?

There’s not much to pick between the two powertrains in the Tonale. The plug-in hybrid clearly has better performance but you’ll need to make sure you can plug in regularly and maximise its EV range to really see the best from it - otherwise you’re just dragging around a bigger battery to get no better economy than the regular hybrid.

Entry-level Ti or Sprint trim is probably the sweet spot in the range, already offering excellent levels of standard equipment while avoiding the larger alloy wheel options that start to chip away at the Alfa’s ride quality. Consider Veloce if you want heated seats and a heated steering wheel.

Used Alfa Romeo Tonale economy and performance

• Alfa Romeo Tonale 1.5 MHEV 160: With electric assistance the Tonale MHEV sends 160PS to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. 0-62mph is the work of 8.8 seconds, and combined economy is up to 49.6mpg.
• Alfa Romeo Tonale 1.3 PHEV 280: The plug-in hybrid Tonale uses a smaller 1.3-litre engine but with an extra electric motor at the rear wheels (for all-wheel drive), combined output is 280PS through a six-speed automatic gearbox. 0-62mph takes 6.2 seconds and with 43 miles of electric range to help out, Alfa claims up to 217.3mpg combined.

What used Alfa Romeo Tonale trim levels are available?

The Tonale has been offered in five trim levels so far, with Veloce model in the range since the start. Ti made way for Sprint and Speciale for Tributo Italiano, but these entry level and top-spec models have otherwise offered similar kit throughout.

• The Alfa Romeo Tonale Sprint gets 18-inch alloy wheels, a 10.25-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 12.3-inch driver instrument cluster, three driving modes, auto LED headlights and wipers, keyless go, dual-zone air conditioning, adaptive cruise control, and privacy glass in PHEV versions. Earlier Ti-badged cars have a very similar specification.
• The Alfa Romeo Tonale Veloce upgrades to 19-inch alloys, 8-way electric driver and passenger seats, heated and ventilated front seats, upgraded suspension, privacy glass on all models, a heated steering wheel, and heated windscreen washers.
• The Alfa Romeo Tonale Tributo Italiano features 20-inch alloys, body-colour arch extensions, a hands-free power tailgate, Harman Kardon audio, and black and red leather sports seats. The trim was previously sold as the Speciale, without the upgraded audio system.

Used Alfa Romeo Tonale dimensions and boot size

The Alfa Romeo Tonale’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4528mm 
• Width: 1841mm (without mirrors), 2082mm (with mirrors)
• Height: 1612mm

The Alfa Romeo Tonale’s boot size is:

• 500 litres (MHEV)
• 385 litres (PHEV)
• 1600 litres with the rear seats folded (to roof, MHEV)
• 1430 litres with the rear seats folded (to roof, PHEV)

Used Alfa Romeo Tonale road tax

Several Tonale models cost more than £40,000 brand new, which for a used buyer more than offsets the advantage of them all being hybrid powered and therefore attracting a small discount over fully combustion alternatives. Cars that cost more than £40,000 brand new will set you back £560 per year in tax, while those that sneak under this figure are a much more reasonable £170 per year. The more expensive cars drop down to this lower figure from their seventh year onwards.

How much is it to insure an Alfa Romeo Tonale?

With the 1.5-litre mild hybrid powertrain a Tonale starts in insurance group 28 in Sprint spec and group 29 for a Ti, while a Speciale or Tributo Italiano rises to group 38 with the plug-in hybrid setup. This compares with groups 20 to 38 for an Audi Q3, or 26 to 40 for a Range Rover Evoque.

Read our full Alfa Romeo Tonale review