Alfa Romeo Tonale review: I always wanted a little Alfa - but can a SUV bring the same sporting thrill?
Ever since seeing Dustin Hoffman drove his Alfa Romeo Spider in the classic film The Graduate, I've coveted one of these Italian sports cars. There's something romantic even in its name.
I once got close to buying a second-hand Spider, though the tantalising soft-top's £2,500 asking price proved too much for my meagre budget at the time.
Adventurous youth gave way to wisdom and, instead, I am having fun living with the more sporty SUV incarnation of the Alfa Romeo stable — the Tonale crossover.
Hot stuff: The Tonale that Ray was driving came in a fetching shade of Alfa Red
With fewer Alfas on the road than other brands, you can better exhibit your individuality
The Alfa Romeo Tonale
The Alfa Romeo Tonale is the Italian brand's smaller SUV, sitting under the Stelvio. WAGs are said to have dubbed it the 'toenail' but the correct Italian pronunciation is 'toe-nah-lay'.
Its face combines beauty and menace in equal measure. And with fewer Alfas on the road than other brands, you can better exhibit your individuality.
It is available as both a mild self-charging hybrid with a 1.5-litre petrol engine at its heart, or as a 280hp, petrol-electric plug-in hybrid (PHEV) marrying a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor, 15.5kWh battery and a six-speed automatic gearbox.
This is what I have been driving in a fetching shade of Alfa Red, one of three colours for the special edition model, Tributo Italiano.
The others are Montreal Green and Banchise White. Riding on 20 in alloy wheels, it has a claimed electric power range of 39 miles and I was getting very close to that.
I have my own Pod Point domestic charger so can top up at home to get cheap, emissions-free driving for most local runs.
If you are not so fortunate, there is the insurance blanket of knowing that at least if the battery power runs out, the petrol engine will keep you going.
And the regenerative hybrid system means you can generate a bonus charge as you drive.
The Alfa Romeo Tonale is nimble on country roads and nifty on motorways
Well-appointed and stocked with safety and tech kit, it has comfortable supportive seats, 10.25-in touch screen and manual buttons for air conditioning
The regenerative hybrid system means you can generate a bonus charge as you drive
Ray has his own Pod Point domestic charger so can top up at home to get cheap, emissions-free driving for most local runs
Boot space is compact but adequate and rear seats fold down for more
What is the Alfa Tonale like to drive?
It's nimble on country roads and nifty on motorways. If the sporty performance and pulling power fully matched the sizzling looks, it would be truly unbeatable.
My Tonale accelerated from rest to 62 mph in 6.2 seconds up to a top speed of 128 mph.
However, I kept it in the sportiest of three drive settings, as anything less (comfort and eco modes) felt unfulfilling.
Prices for the Tonale PHEV start from £43,495 to £51,995. Mine, as driven, was £44,945. The mild hybrid version starts at £35,995.
Well-appointed and stocked with safety and tech kit, it has comfortable supportive seats, 10.25-in touch screen and manual buttons for air conditioning.
Boot space is compact but adequate and rear seats fold down for more. Bellissimo.
