2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale Review
Our automotive expert shares opinions and new photos of the 2026 Tonale.
Perry Stern
- Pros: The 2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale is surprisingly enjoyable to drive, with good power, a sporty suspension, and a comfortable cabin.
- Cons: It's disappointing that the hybrid version is no longer available, and the Tonale is less fuel efficient than its competitors.
- The Takeaway: It may be the entry point to the Alfa Romeo brand, but the 2026 Tonale doesn't look or feel like an entry-level model.
Alfa Romeo showed us that an SUV can deliver proper Italian performance and style with the compact Stelvio crossover, and the more affordable 2026 Tonale follows that same road. With classic Alfa Romeo styling, an upscale interior, and sporty driving dynamics, the Tonale stands out among premium entry-level crossover SUVs. Changes for the model year mean it no longer offers an efficient plug-in hybrid drivetrain, but it's undeniably enjoyable to drive.
What's New for the 2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale
The design changes are subtle, but the 2026 Tonale gets a restyled front end featuring a new version of the classic Alfa grille. Bringing more Italian style to the model lineup, the new Sport Speciale trim rides on distinctive three-hole, 20-inch wheels and includes a special interior treatment. Unfortunately, Alfa Romeo no longer offers the Tonale with the more powerful and efficient plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Perry Stern
About the 2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale Sport Speciale Review Vehicle
The 2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale comes in Sprint, Sport Speciale, and Veloce trim levels, and base prices range from about $41,000 to around $45,000, including the destination charge for shipping the SUV from its Pomigliano, Italy, assembly plant to a dealership.
For this Tonale review, I test-drove the new Sport Speciale in Michigan and Wisconsin. The optional equipment's biggest highlight was the Active Assist Package, bringing the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) to $46,495, including the $3,250 destination charge. Alfa Romeo provided the vehicle for this Tonale review.
Perry Stern
Design, Quality, and Interior Layout
Alfa Romeos wear a distinctive look, highlighted by a classic grille that's set Alfas apart for decades. This year's styling updates emphasize that element of the Tonale's styling, while the new 20-inch, three-hole wheels on the Sport Speciale help the SUV stand out even more.
Look inside the Tonale Sport Speciale, and it immediately conveys an upscale vibe, with soft Alcantara trim on the seats and dashboard set off with stylish contrast stitching. Black/Pearl two-tone is the only interior color choice for the Sport Speciale, but it looks good.
A patterned horizontal panel splits the dashboard, featuring the Tonale logo at the right, which lights up nicely at night. The leather-wrapped steering wheel, with its large Alfa Romeo logo at the center, has a nice feel, but the metal paddle shifters are so large that they block the wiper controls and turn signals.
The infotainment touchscreen seems to float on the dashboard, and although the display is clear and easy to use, it doesn't integrate well with the rest of the design. I appreciate that the climate controls are separate, with physical buttons for easy access, and that there is a volume dial on the center console. The Alfa Romeo logo on the wireless charging pad is a nice touch.
Perry Stern
Comfort, Convenience, and Cargo Space
The Sport Speciale's front seats have a distinct look, and while they feel stiff at first, they're actually comfortable for a long drive thanks to nice bolstering, excellent support, and multiple power adjustments.
Storage for the front-seat passengers is reasonably good, with two large cupholders in the center console, although the storage bin under the center armrest is rather small. The wireless charging pad is located at the front of the center console, while the door pockets accommodate large water bottles.
In back, the outboard passengers enjoy good legroom and headroom. The rear of the center console and a small hump in the floor make the center seat better suited for folks with shorter legs.
With a wide-opening rear liftgate, loading gear into the Tonale is easy, and with 27 cubic-feet of space, it can handle multiple suitcases. For larger items, you can use the ski pass-through or fold the 60/40-split rear seats to expand volume to 54.7 cu-ft. A hard tonneau cover rises with the hatch, moving out of the way during loading and keeping items out of sight when closed.
Perry Stern
2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale Infotainment System Review
All Tonales feature a 10.3-inch touchscreen display running a Uconnect 5 infotainment system. Accompanying the central touchscreen is a 12.3-inch configurable digital driver's display. The infotainment system includes:
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity
- GPS navigation
- Six-speaker audio system
- Sirius XM satellite radio (three-month trial)
- Alfa Connect connected services (three-year trial)
Regardless of the trim level, shoppers can also upgrade to a Harman Kardon premium audio system.
The 10.3-inch touchscreen is simple to use, and shortcuts for media, navigation, and vehicle settings remain static on the left, even when Android Auto is active. My favorite feature is that you can program the home display to show navigation, technical gauges, or media.
The Tonale has a voice interface, and while it's entirely serviceable, it can't match the capabilities of Google Assistant. After several tries, I was unable to get the system to understand my navigation request; however, it placed a hands-free call for me, and when I told it I was cold, it increased the cabin temperature.
I prefer the familiar smartphone mirroring. My Samsung Galaxy S23+ connected quickly, with wireless Android Auto launching automatically every time I started the Tonale.
Perry Stern
Safety Features and Ratings
Alfa Romeo equips the Tonale with a collection of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) as standard equipment:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Forward-collision warning
- Automatic emergency braking
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Lane-keeping assist
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Driver-attention alert
In addition to those features, my test car added:
- Lane-centering assist
- Active Driving Assist (a semi-autonomous hands-on driver-assistance system)
- Surround-view camera
During my time with the Tonale, I took a lengthy drive north of Detroit, putting the Active Driving Assist (ADA) system to the test. While this isn't a hands-free system, ADA uses the adaptive cruise control and lane centering to provide a semi-autonomous driving experience. The tech smoothly adjusted its speed to match the slower traffic ahead, while keeping the Tonale centered in the lane with minimal back and forth between the stripes.
With its combination of front and rear parking sensors and a surround-view camera, the Alfa Romeo Tonale is a breeze to park, even in tight spaces. When reversing, the rear cross-traffic alert was useful, alerting me to vehicles coming from the side that I couldn't see.
Unfortunately, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has performed crash tests on the Tonale, so its ability to protect occupants in a collision was unknown as of publication.
Perry Stern
2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale Sport Speciale Specs and Fuel Economy
While Alfa Romeo used to offer a plug-in hybrid powertrain in the Tonale, for 2026, the only choice is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. A nine-speed automatic transmission is standard, as is all-wheel drive (AWD). A DNA drive mode selector allows the driver to choose from Dynamic, Natural, and Advanced Efficiency settings.
According to the EPA, the Tonale should return 24 mpg in combined city and highway driving. Along my standard city-highway loop, the trip computer showed 25 mpg, and on a 75-mile exclusively highway drive, I achieved 27 mpg.
Perry Stern
2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale Sport Speciale Test Drive
I fully expected the Tonale Sport Speciale to be sporty and special, but not necessarily substantial. I'm pleased to say my expectations were set too low. With its strong turbocharged engine delivering plenty of torque at low RPM, the Tonale feels quick off the line. Its responsive throttle is easy to modulate, providing smooth performance while delivering power when you need it.
Heading out of town to some of my favorite twisty back roads, I found the Tonale enjoyable to drive, with excellent dynamics and a suspension that kept the ride stable even on rough pavement. At the same time, the Tonale proved to be a great road-tripper, providing a quiet, comfortable ride while cruising effortlessly at 70 mph.
I also had the opportunity to push the Tonale to its limits on the track at Road America in Wisconsin, and came away even more impressed with the small crossover's performance. Steering response is excellent, and with good power, AWD, a sport suspension, and powerful Brembo brakes, the Tonale was fast and agile, feeling right at home on the track.
But for the majority of life outside the racetrack, the Alfa's small footprint makes it easy to maneuver around town, and its surround-view camera makes parking simple.
Perry Stern
Alternatives to the 2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale
The 2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale has the look of a sporty crossover both inside and out, and I was pleased to discover that it delivered performance to match its looks. Whether driving in the city, cruising on the highway, tackling twisty back roads, or even wringing it out on the racetrack, the Tonale is an appealing choice among premium subcompact crossovers.
Rivals such as the Audi Q3, BMW X1, and Volvo XC40 offer similar performance and niceties, but the Alfa Romeo Tonale has a lower starting price. It's also fun to say you drive something Italian.
Perry SternAs a small child, Perry was constantly playing with toy cars and trucks, and that enthusiasm for anything motorized with wheels never faded. After college, he moved to Seattle and began his long automotive career working in an automotive consulting firm, helping customers choose the right vehicle for their needs. In the late 1990s, Perry joined Microsoft to work on CarPoint, part of the new Microsoft Network (MSN). He went on to become editor of the site, remaining on staff for 20 years before venturing out on his own. Today, in addition to his work on Capital One Auto Navigator, he still contributes to MSN, as well as J.D. Power, TrueCar.com, and U.S. News & World Report. Perry lives in the small town of Dexter, Michigan, with his wife and dog, and he still smiles when he sees his 2006 Mazda Miata in the garage.
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