automotivebriefs
13:50in productionCh. 1 · A New Beginning/ 13:50 · ceiling 15 min
Electric · Road

Alfa Romeo Tonale

Alfa Romeo Centro Stile · 2022

Alfa Romeo’s first hybrid is a compromise dressed as continuity — and it had to be.

The Alfa Romeo Tonale is a compact luxury crossover SUV launched in February 2022. It is Alfa Romeo’s first hybrid vehicle and first new model in six years. It sits between the Junior and Stelvio in the SUV lineup. It uses a modified SCCS platform shared with the Jeep Compass. It offers mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants, the latter with a 15.5 kWh battery and 48 km electric range. It was delayed from 2021 to 2022 due to semiconductor shortages and drivetrain requirements. A rebadged version, the Dodge Hornet, launched in North America in August 2022.

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Chapters & takeaways6
  1. 1:07
    A New Beginning

    The Tonale is Alfa Romeo’s first hybrid and first new model in six years — a strategic reset, not a stylistic evolution.

  2. 2:24
    Shared Bones

    It shares its bones with the Jeep Compass — a modified SCCS platform, not a clean-sheet Alfa architecture.

  3. 3:26
    First Plug-In

    Its plug-in hybrid delivers 48 km of electric range — Alfa’s first, and only, EV-capable system so far.

  4. 4:33
    Position and Name

    It sits between the Junior and Stelvio — and takes its name from a mountain pass in Northern Italy.

  5. 5:34
    Delayed Launch

    Production delayed from 2021 to 2022 due to semiconductor shortages and demands for better drivetrain performance.

  6. 6:45
    Dual Identity

    A rebadged version launched as the Dodge Hornet in North America in August 2022.

Worth your time?

Yes. Drive the whole thing.

3/ 5
What works
  • establishes Alfa Romeo’s hybrid entry point clearly
  • positions itself precisely in the SUV lineup
  • names its origin in the Tonale mountain pass
What does not
  • deliver a distinct Alfa Romeo driving experience
  • introduce a new platform or powertrain architecture
  • break from shared FCA underpinnings
Drive it if
  • buyers prioritising brand heritage over mechanical distinction
  • those needing a compact, electrified luxury crossover
Skip it if
  • drivers seeking Alfa’s traditional rear-wheel-drive dynamics
  • enthusiasts expecting bespoke engineering
The written brief1 min read

What the car is and where it came from

The Tonale is a compact luxury crossover SUV produced by Alfa Romeo since February 2022. It is internally designated 965. It was developed under FCA ownership and built on a heavily modified SCCS platform shared with the Jeep Compass.

How it works, in terms someone would actually use

It uses a mild-hybrid (48 V) system or an optional plug-in hybrid with a 15.5 kWh battery for 48 km of electric-only range. It drives through a modified SCCS platform shared with the Jeep Compass.

What it gets right

It establishes Alfa Romeo’s hybrid entry point clearly. It positions itself precisely in the lineup — above the Junior, below the Stelvio — and names its origin in the Tonale mountain pass.

What it does not

It does not deliver a distinct Alfa driving character. Its platform is shared with the Jeep Compass. It lacks a unique powertrain architecture or chassis innovation.

What it changed

It changed Alfa Romeo’s product strategy: first hybrid, first new model in six years, first SUV between Junior and Stelvio, and first step toward full electrification by 2027.

Who it is for, and who it is not

It is for buyers who prioritise brand heritage over dynamic differentiation and want a premium-badged, electrified compact SUV. It is not for drivers seeking Alfa’s traditional rear-wheel-drive engagement or bespoke mechanical identity.

Is it worth your time

Yes — if you need a compact luxury crossover with hybrid capability and want to understand Alfa Romeo’s pivot from sport sedans to electrified SUVs.

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