Alfa Romeo has style, legend but new 2025 Tonale falters

Amid the lucrative sales of vintage Ferraris last August at Monterey Auto Week, an Alfa Romeo surprisingly infiltrated the top-10 list. A 1938 8C 2900B Lungo Spider sold for $14.03 million and provided a one-car jolt of automotive pride for the struggling Italian carmaker.

The 1938 Lungo Spider had eight cylinders, a four-speed manual transmission and cost $9,457 new. Seven were made and they were street legal. With embellishment, the odds of seeing one of the 115-year-old company’s icons is about the same as viewing a 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale.

Founded in 1910, Alfa Romeo returned to the United States market in 2017. Announced in 2022 but debuting last year, the Tonale arrived as a five-seater sub-compact crossover sport utility vehicle. The carmaker hoped the SUV would lead a sales rebound. It was the carmaker’s first new car in six years.

The Guilia was the manufacturer’s debut vehicle in its U.S. return. The sedan is stylish, luxurious and has sporty handling, all strong Alfa Romeo traits. A year later, the Stelvio arrived with the carmaker joining the bustling SUV segment.

Named after a mountain pass in Northern Italy, the Tonale hasn’t gained any significant momentum as the carmaker’s second SUV. Only 3,383 sold in the U.S. last year.

With low sales, Tonale trims have been streamlined from four to two, the Tonale and Tonale Hybrid. Premium, Veloce, and Active Assist option packages are available; the carmaker also offers the Intensa and the reviewed Tributo Italiano special editions in 2025. The latter is only available with the Tonale Hybrid.

The gas-only model features a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with a nine-speed automatic. It has 268 horsepower. The PHEV powertrain is a 1.3-liter turbocharged inline-four engine, a six-speed automatic transmission electric motors to combine 285 horsepower. Both options are all-wheel drive.

According to the carmaker, acceleration from 0 to 60 miles per hour takes 6.5 seconds in the gas-only version, 6.0 seconds in the PHEV option.

The marks aren’t sub-standard for the segment, but the Tonale rarely seems like it hits its stride. An acceleration hesitation, often called turbo lag, is prominent. Gas mileage averages are 29 miles per gallon in combined gas-only driving and a 77 MPGe rating.

Italian carmakers do interiors stylishly. The Tonale features quality materials and a strong selection of standard features. The Premium package has leather upholstery, ventilated front seats and an odd ambient lighting display. It illuminates on a panel in front of the front passenger.

Seating is comfortable for all, but the five-person capacity is wishing thinking as it is in most sub-compact SUVs. The Tonale provides 22.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the second-row seats up, 50.5 cubic feet with seats down. There’s also a convenient pass-through in the 60/40-split rear bench. A hands-free power liftgate is available.

Standard features include 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control with air filtration, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. The Tributo Italiano starts at $52,730, with a closing total of $58,125.

If coolness factors count, there are several. The five-ring wheels are edgy. The Tonale name is beautifully centered across the tailgate in a hipster cursive font. The Alfa Romeo emblem — a man-eating snake, coat of arms and Milan, Italy’s flag — adds mystery. The small front grille is the antithesis of the currently massively aggressive styles.

But there are also annoyances. The engine start button is located on the steering wheel rather than in a static location. Paddle shifters are oddly shaped and positioned in front of the turn signal indicator. The stereo volume control is a small thumbwheel awkwardly located to the right of the shift lever.

Buy the Tonale for something different. You may never see another. There may also be only a few left in 50 years, although not likely worth $14 million.

James Raia, a syndicated automotive columnist in Sacramento, also contributes business, lifestyle and sports content to several print and online publications. E-mail: james@jamesraia.com.