Buongiorno from Asheville, NC, where we spent a week with the new Alfa Romeo Tonale to be spoiled by the luxurious Italian experience. This spicy SUV blends various specs to craft an authentic experience, but it’s a lot to take in. So, we’ve broken down the 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale EAWD into 10 crucial facts you need to know. 

What is the 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale EAWD? 

The 2024 Alfra Romeo Tonale is a fine Italian stallion that shares a few parts in common with the Dodge Hornet, Jeep Compass, and Jeep Renegade. But it’s the only one with distinct, luxurious flavors and tons of Italian influence for luxury refinement and racing. 

This SUV is a PHEV, or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. It can be plugged in, run on pure electricity, use a hybrid blend of gas and its charge, or only gas. Plus, the fully independent suspension and available dampers make things pretty addicting. 

1. The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale EAWD has Italian DNA 

The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale is filled with Italian heritage. Alfa Romeo was established in Milan, Italy, in the summer of 1910. Enzo Ferrari started a racing team under Alfa Romeo in 1939, and the first Ferrari didn’t come out until 1949. 

The DNA is literal because it refers to three distinct driving modes with noticeable differences. The D is for Dynamic, and it’s the sportiest mode. It makes the steering more responsive with faster acceleration times and stiffer brakes. 

You can adjust the suspension to be soft or firm. The firm mode feels a little heavier and bogged down compared to the soft mode. 

The N stands for Normal, which is a more relaxed driving mode for daily activities. The steering can be loose at lower speeds. 

Last but not least, the A refers to Advanced E and is designed for loose gravel and slippery situations. It enhances control for more confidence but requires a charge to use. Our favorite mode is Dynamic with the soft suspension. 

2. The 2024 Tonale has an excellent fuel economy 

The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV gets an EPA-estimated range of 35 miles on a single charge. This is more than the average driver travels per day. It also has an efficiency rating of 77 MPGe while using a blend of gas and energy. 

When the charge is depleted, you get about 29 mpg. It can travel about 320 miles between fill-ups. The regenerative brakes are robust and impressive. Tons of energy is returned to the battery. 

Also, with the E Save mode, you can prioritize your electric charge to use it last, and a charging cable comes standard. 

3. Attention to detail is present 

The sleek Alfa Romeo Tonale has a well-planned design with unique touches everywhere you look. For example, the Italian flag can be spotted on the side mirrors and under the gear shifter. Also, the red brake calipers have Alfa Romeo written in white cursive to draw the eye. 

You’ll find the Alfa Romeo badge on the rims, steering wheel, embroidered on the headrests, and on the center console. Like the Italian flag, the badging on the front and rear includes red and green. 

The customizable interior ambient lighting comes through the silver rim pieces on the grille. The plus leather-wrapped steering wheel has a textured pattern where your hands rest for a racing-centered feel. The metal brushed pedal covers and paddle shifters add to the racing-centered ambiance. 

4. The Alfa Romeo Tonale has a driver-focused layout 

We’re still not over the layout of the 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale interior. It’s designed in a way that allows drivers to focus on driving and keep their eyes on the road. For example, the start button is located near the center of the steering wheel. 

The driving mode selector sits close by on the left and is placed within view of the steering wheel. Also, the infotainment screen isn’t too big, and the interior has an elegant yet simple design that’s attractive without being distracting. 

Everything you need to control the vehicle, like the safety settings, voice commands, infotainment controls, and driver settings, can be controlled by buttons on the steering wheel. 

5. Some features are missing 

Our 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale Veloce trim has an MSRP of $51,000. While it has luxury touches such as vegan leather-trimmed seats, faux suede upholstery, vibrant accent stitching, and rear tinted windows. 

However, for this price, things such as a panoramic sunroof, ventilated seating, a head-up display, soft-touch covered surfaces, a 360-degree camera display, and more than only five ambient color options could be included. 

Some of the textured plastics feel underwhelming when you picture Italian luxury. But the performance that includes 285 hp makes up for the difference. 

6. Alfa Romeo Tonale storage space is limited 

There isn’t much room for personal items in the new Alfa Romeo Tonale. The glove box is tight and shallow, the seat pockets are limited, the door pockets can hold a drink but not much else, and the center console is a little small. 

However, the tray in front of the center console, where the massive wireless phone charging pad is located, can be useful. You can access up to 22.9 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and up to 50.5 cubes overall. The seats fold flat, but the cargo cover can be in the way. 

7. The 2024 Tonale has a tight rear seat 

Space in the backseat of the 2024 Alfa Romeo is limited. At 5’1″, I could fit comfortably with about two inches of knee space left over. 

But I felt cramped without the ability to stretch out, and only one other shorter person could fit in the back. The middle seat is for tiny children only. 

You can fit a child seat in the back, but it might be a squeeze. The backrest sits at an upright angle, that’s fine for shorter trips, but we can see people getting restless during longer adventures. 

8. The Romeo Tonale has massive paddle shifters 

The aluminum paddle shifters are the biggest steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters that we’ve ever seen. They make a bold statement and draw the eye. Every passenger we had felt the need to comment on them. 

They are positioned a bit far behind the steering wheel, which is only a problem for smaller hands, and have a nice weight and click while being used. Don’t push them back. You pull them in from the top or bottom. 

9. The tech could be more intuitive 

The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale is modern and advanced, with a 12.3-inch digital guage cluster 10.3-inch infotainment screen. Both are customizable with up to five user profiles, and it can connect two smartphones at once. 

However, there are only physical controls for the climate system, and the only physical radio tuner button is on the steering wheel. The system isn’t exactly intuitive, but it’s easy to quickly adjust your driving and safety settings. 

We couldn’t figure out how to get along gauges to appear on the digital guage cluster, but we did use it to display our navigation settings. The system works quickly, with attractive graphics, and the backup camera has an excellent resolution. Everything just has a bit of a learning curve. 

10. The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale looks great

Everyone that saw the 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale mentioned that it has an attractive style. Aerodynamic lines provide attractive curves, and the pointed nose adds a handsome level of confidence. 

It feels masculine without being too brawny for a sense of upscale refinement. It draws the eye with an athletic attitude. The 20-inch five-hole wheels provide a nod to the classic Alfa Romeo design and even match some Ferrari designs. 

Plus, the adaptive LED Trilobo headlights and taillights are striking to attract the eye with a modern, evolved take on its classic racing-inspired dynamics. 

Stay tuned as we continue processing our week with the 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale. A full-length review is in the works.