2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale Veloce 2.0T AWD - Bottom Line Review

MOUNTAIN PASS DUE MACCHINA: Italians have ample reason to be proud of their land, as it hosts among the world's most coveted art for the eyes, delicacies for the palate, and libations for the gullet. If in more recent times, it has yielded among the finest examples of automotive machinery, one need look no further than the circuitous Alpine routes, some of which may have stranded Hannibal's elephants.

In the golden age of endurance motorsport, Alfa Romeo had few peers in pitting driver against machine, conquering both Cavatappi configured Stradale and Corsa in frenzied fashion, rightfully earning its place among the sporting car pantheon.

Previously under FIAT Chrysler and now, Stellantis, umbrella stewardship, the Italian automaker has sought to recapture its Mille Miglia heritage in modern and more versatile daily driving wrappers. When it entered the sport utility vehicle fray, tributes were appropriately paid to the Mountain Passes which honed the heritage. The tidier proportioned of the two sold to Amerigan is the 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale Veloce 2.0T AWD, now offered with the non-hybrid petrol powertrain.

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WHAT: 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale Veloce 2.oT AWD, sibling of the Dodge Hornet GT. This compact SUV is the brand's entry model in America, below the larger Stelvio, (but above the European Junior EV), and is built on the FCA Small Wide 4x4 LWB version of the Small Common Components and Systems. also underpinning the Jeep Compass.

WHAT PROPELS IT : turbocharged 2.0L 16V DI petrol I-4 engine, 9-speed torque converter automatic planetary transaxle, viscous clutch differential all-wheel drive

• Net Power: 268 horsepower, 295 pound-feet torque @ 1850 r.p.m.

POWERTRAIN HITS and MISSES

• +1 Useful torque; D.N.A. drive modes change character; Likes to be revved out; Decent fuel economy; Oversized magnesium steering wheel shift paddles
• -1 Long throttle step-in; Hard transmission shifts; Lack of traditional Italian engine sounds; No offroad / trail drive mode(s)

WHAT (A) STYLING DIFFERENCE(S):

Presumably, the 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale is supposed to be the emotional alternative to the all-business Dodge Hornet. However, distintive exterior Latin flair is limited to the inverted triangle center grille, cross & green serpent badging, segmented headlighting, , and the color & wheel options. Thus, the Tonale lacks the panache of the bigger Stelvio brother.

The tandem deep valley hood features prominent shoulder creases. The traditional Alfa Romeo inverted triangle center grille is the calling card. Amber DRLs underscore the segmented matrix LED headlamps . Honeycombing resumes at the deeper lower hexagonal maw, flanked by corner creases with straked inserts.

The Coke bottle body has a subtle beltline crease emanating from the fender and flared lower spats. Wheel arches field the tandem dual lip for the optics of muscularity without flaring.

The requisite sporty roof spoiler sits above a slight Kammback with lower lateral fold. Mid liftgate there is the brand's full spanning wrap-around raceway taillight assembly, chipped in the center. The bumper cover, housing the license plate bowl in the middle, bumps out at the bottom to fully encapsulate the large chrome exhaust outlets at the corners.

WHY: An emotional option among compact crossover SUVs

WHEN: On-Sale (in the U.S.) since Autumn 2024

WHERE: Alfa Romeo new vehicle dealers

WHERE MADE: Pomigliano d' Arco, Campania prefecture, Italy

WHERE TO: All-wheel drive, with just the barest ground clearance lift, all-season road tires and no snow mode, trail mode or differential lock, implies inclement weather, on road go.

HOW ROADWORTHY: This year debuts the non plug-in hybrid version of Alfa's compact SUV to a correspondingly lower price point. Rather than lament the loss of a whopping nearly 100 pound feet of electric torque, there should be rejoicing over the nearly three hundred pounds shed and the relatively snappy nine-speed conventional automatic standing in for the hybrid's CVT.

While lacking the electric torque and exhaust bark it's PHEV sibling, the 2025 Tonale Veloce all of a sudden has become a sweeter grand touring crossover with ample thrust to juke in traffic at whim. The long throttle tip-in takes some getting used to and some may find the torque converter abrupt in locking up and then releasing. But it's very good at being in the right gear for more enthusiastic maneuvers, without any observable turbo lag. And yes, it is recommended to defeat the bothersome start/ stop idle in the media display.

HOW LIMBER: An immediately apparent advantage that the Tonale owns over the Dodge Hornet is the exclusive DNA drive interface which offers programmed engine, transmission, steering and variable damping combinations corresponding to the driver selected modes. The dampers gain Pista capable rigidity in Dynamico mode. Glassy surfaces celebrate a taught, ripple-free ride. However, cobblestone condition Stradas do not complement the short wheelbase, hence jostling about. Disappointingly, the Michelin Pilot Sport AS all-seasons, fitted to Quadrofoglio style 5-hole 20" wheels, dispatch a bunch of

One has to wonder how much more compliance the base 18" wheels would benefit the 2025 Tonale ride compliance. That is because the performance rubber jostle aplenty over incongruous roadway. In turn, on glassy surfaces there is graceful composure and lane change turn-in is crisp, though the steering wind displays artificial sportiness. Brembo multi-piston calipers on the front rotors, exhibit the consistent brake force monoblocs are known for, although pedal travel is longer than preferred.

HOW FAR: 24 combined miles per gallon; 324 miles (13.5 gallons)

• -1 Loses out on it's PHEV bro's all-electric range

HOW BIG/ LITTLE: Aligned as a premium European compact, the 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale more closely shadows the Mazda CX-30 Turbo footprint, yet offers greater second row space.

• -1 Wide second row seat bench elevated center perch

HOW USEFUL: √ Liftgate accessed cargo bay; √ 60/40% split folding rear seat backs w/ ample center pass-through; √ Demi-carpeted cargo bay walls

• +1 Ample lower center stack wireless device shelf
• +1 Deep, dual height cargo bay floor (owing to lack of PHEV battery)
• +/- Long raked Kammback reduces cargo bay load height
• -1 Erratic liftgate remote cabin power actuation
• -1 Tall cargo load liftover sill
• -1 Sparse door pocket & center console bin space

HOW SAFE: IIHS - NOT TESTED (related 2022 Jeep Compass scored Top Safety Pick) = √ 8 airbags, √ Rear camera w/ fixed gridlines, √ Fore & aft sonar park audible park assist

Driver assist technology: √ STANDARD = Pedestrian & daytime cyclist detection braking; Forward collision avoidance braking; Blind spot & rear cross traffic warning; Lane departure; Road edge & Sway Warning, Lane Keep Assist; Cruise control, Automatic High Beam headlights; 2nd Row occupant minder

• AVAILABLE: Optional:^{(included on tested 2024 Hornet R/T Track Plus)} ♦ Adaptive cruise control w/ full stop, resume and speed limit influence; ♦ Trafffic jam speed & steer assistance; ♦ Lane centering control; ♦ Blind spot & Rear Cross-traffic avoidance braking; ♦ Driver attention monitor
• -1 momentary driver eye movement away from road de-activates Level 2.0 driver assistance

HOW PEOPLE FRIENDLY:  Though the 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale exterior bears some Boticelli lines and drives with some Italian gusto, the interior assumes more Rationalist influences.

Premium Alfa Romeo kit amounts to handsome oversized magnesium steering column transmission shift paddles, a proper sport thickness helm, contrast stitched leatherette trimmed upper dashboard, backlit hammered metallic middle dash, and Cross & Serpent embossed first row headrests. Aping the trend, many of the luxury amenities must be accessed through the center dashtop infotainment screen. The Tonale thwarts intuition with an over-cluttered array on a screen that is least two diagonal inches shy of comfortably spacing. A quick visual survey betrays some FIAT door switchgear, doing little to evoke a premium performance environment.

√ 12.3" drive mode variable Digital cockpit cluster; √ Leather auto heated + cooled 1st Row 8-way power sport bucket seats; √ Heated leather tilt + telescoping steering wheel; √ Power windows, full auto operation x 4; √ Keyless approach access, push button ignition; √ 2-Zone automatic climate control; √ 2nd Row climate registers + USB power supply

• +1 Impressive front seat torso & hip support
• +1 Instrument cluster drive mode dependent variations x 3, including map migration
• -1 Seats hard to get comfy in given pedal right offset

Cool Gizmo(s): √ Alfa Connect 5 infotainment widgets, app store

Details Done Right: √ Oversized magnesium steering column shift paddles; √ Aluminum pedal covers; √ Knurled aluminum climate duct registers & center console audio volume barrel; √ Dense pile carpet; √ Tight mesh headliner + upper cabin pillars; √ Matte black center console bezel; √ Tucked seam smooth leatherette soft mid dash and upper door panels; √ Tandem red contrast stitching.

Nearly Non Descript: -1 Loose poorly fitted cabin A-pillar cover; FIAT door, steering wheel and center console switchgear

HOW CONNECTED:  √ 10.25" inch Alfa Connect 5.0 center dash top, tri-pane landscape capacitive touch LCD infotainment screen; √ Bluetooth & voice command hands-free communications x 2 active devices; √ Voice to text SMS messaging; √ Amazon Alexa commands; √ USB-A x 2, USB-C x 2; 12V x 2 (includes cargo)

• +1 Usable performance displays, customizable widgets
• -1 Screen icons too cluttered to easily tap;
• -1 Shift lever set to Drive blocks view of center console audio volume barrel
• -1 Steering wheel spoke cruise control speed toggle and audio volume barrel not illuminated at night

HOW AUDIBLY: √ 465 watt, 14-speaker, 12 channel Harman Kardon Quantum-Logic 7 DSP premium audio

HOW "APP" -LICABLE:  √ Android Auto / Apple Car Play smart phone projection; √ Alfa Connect 5.0 6 GB RAM, 64 GB HD storage; √ Apps and App Store + over the air updates

• Alfa Connect voice commands for climate, audio, voice to text SMS and navigation inputs
• By Subscription: √ Sirius XM (90 days included); √ Wi-Fi hot spot (2GB trial by AT&T Wireless); Connected Services assistance, navigation, remote vehicle access (3 years trial).

HOW MUCH: $46,625 = as tested 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale Veloce AWD

WHAT'S MISSING: Greater exterior & cabin distinctiveness; Simpler instrument cluster selection sequencing; Less abrupt start / stop idle; More pliant seats; Shorter throttle tip-in

ANY COMPETITION: BMW X1: Dodge Hornet GT: Stellantis sibling of an Italiano name; Mazda CX-30 Turbo: greater cabin finish distinctiveness; Volvo XC40 B5