Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV Q4: plug-in hybrid and all-wheel drive

With the Tonale plug-in hybrid Q4, the Italian brand is taking the next step towards electrification. The model is intended to shorten the waiting time for the electric car.

Externally, the plug-in hybrid Q4 from Alfa Romeo can hardly be distinguished from the entry-level model. Only the fuel bill should show that the new is significantly more economical.

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Alfa Romeo wants to be completely emission-free by 2027, according to CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato, who came to the Italian brand from Peugeot. In just three years, the entire range of the Turin manufacturer should consist of electric cars.

As an intermediate step, the compact SUV Alfa Romeo Tonale is now being supplemented by a model variant with a plug-in hybrid drive (PHEV). The combination of a four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor results in all-wheel drive and 280 hp combined peak performance, also known as system performance.

The special feature of the all-wheel drive system is the permanent connection to an electronic power distributor, which always distributes the necessary torque to all wheels in order to make good progress on different road surfaces. Spinning wheels are practically impossible. However, the system is only new for Alfa Romeo, other manufacturers have been offering it for years.

The Tonale can be considered an acceptable PHEV, as it is said to cover an average of almost 70 kilometers in electric driving mode. With daily use, you can drive for an average of two days before the battery needs to be recharged. According to the manufacturer, a full battery charge should be possible in 2½ hours.

Alfa Romeo touts the Tonale as the most efficient car in brand history.

Alfa Romeo touts the Tonale as the most efficient car in brand history.

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If this does not happen, the four-cylinder without turbocharger with 180 hp has to struggle to move the 1.8-ton car forward. It is by no means efficient. And then the tested fuel consumption of 1.4 liters per 100 kilometers is impossible to achieve. This can only be achieved in the official WLTP test procedure.

From the outside, the PHEV can hardly be distinguished from the base model of the Tonale, which is already being sold as a full hybrid. The four-wheel drive and the greater drive power thanks to the more powerful electric motor are new. A second fuel filler flap is also new, under which the electrical connection for recharging the battery is hidden.

On the test drives in the new model, there were further clear differences. First of all, it shows that the Alfa-typical rotary knob not only allows you to choose between the programs D (dynamic), N (natural) and A (advanced efficiency). It brings about significant changes in the steering and the response of the accelerator pedal.

Alfa Romeo DNA can be clearly felt in the Tonale PHEV.

Alfa Romeo DNA can be clearly felt in the Tonale PHEV.

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So we drive off in N mode. The first few meters are electric and largely silent. In the first corner it is noticeable that the steering is very light. We almost crashed into the crash barrier on the inside of the curve, it’s so easy to steer too much. But you quickly get used to it.

We step on the accelerator. The petrol engine starts immediately, loud and grumpy, but without any jerks. Other plug-in hybrid cars, such as the Lexus models, handle the use of the combustion engine a little more discreetly.

The route leads to a medium-sized town. We switch to A for Advanced Efficiency, the Tonale is now only electrically powered. This actually works without any problems throughout the entire city crossing. That more than 60 kilometers can be driven seems plausible.

A mountainous passage follows, on which we try out the dynamic mode. The precise steering is now a little heavier, which is ideal for brisk cornering. Thanks to electronic power distribution, the sovereign traction of the Tonale, which is now only rear-wheel-driven, is evident in the serpentines. All-wheel drive is only available in Natural mode.

A moderate body roll shows that the Tonale was designed with comfort in mind.

A moderate body roll shows that the Tonale was designed with comfort in mind.

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When cornering quickly, however, it is also noticeable that the Tonale PHEV has a slight tendency to roll over. Since the car does not have an adaptive chassis, the slight rolling when driving dynamically cannot be prevented. A compromise in favor of the vehicle price.

When driving from the top of the pass back to the level, a downhill assistant switches on to protect the brakes. That’s commendable, because downshifting is less effective than the brakes with the Tonale’s six-speed automatic. Alfa Romeo has dispensed with a manual transmission in the Tonale in order to keep the production of the car lean.

The overall impression of Alfa Romeo’s Tonale PHEV Q4 is good, although the car shows little sportiness. The pleasing body remains as well-behaved as before, the interior offers four tall people enough space. The hybrid battery packs under the rear seats without restricting rear passenger space. The test consumption is an acceptable 3.5 liters per 100 kilometers. Even the expected price of a good 50,000 francs should fit the package.

Electrified and economical: the Tonale has an acceptable electric range.

Electrified and economical: the Tonale has an acceptable electric range.

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And yet the question arises: Wouldn’t it have been better if a fully electric version of the Tonale had been brought out right away? The Stellantis Group has the know-how to do this. But Alfa Romeo boss Imparato wipes such concerns off the table: “Compare the Tonale with the Volvo XC40, the BMW X1, the Peugeot 3008 and others,” he says. “The car is so good: I no longer have any friends with the competition.”

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