2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale Starts at $42,995

Sean Tucker 01/18/2023 8:14am

Alfa Romeo has begun accepting orders for its upcoming 2024 Tonale compact luxury SUV, with a starting price of $42,995 plus a $1,595 destination charge.

The Tonale is a curvaceous compact SUV meant to compete with the BMW X1, Cadillac XT4, and other small luxury crossovers. No one outside Alfa Romeo has test-driven the car yet. On paper, its most obvious virtues are a sleek, sporty design and two power levels, both of which should provide some fun behind the wheel.

Gas or Plug-in Hybrid Options

The entry-level powertrain will use a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine good for 256 horsepower, mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. A step up will bring a plug-in hybrid powertrain pairing a 1.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with an electric motor for all-wheel-drive capability and 285 horsepower. Alfa Romeo says it can travel “more than 30 miles” on electric power alone.

Alfa Romeo’s parent company Stellantis borrowed much of the Tonale’s design for the upcoming Dodge Hornet, which shares similar specifications. Hornet prices start at just $30,590.

Three Trim Levels; Two Available Now

Alfa plans to sell the Tonale in three trim levels, but just two are available for pre-order today. Both use the hybrid powertrain.

The Ti model gets sport cloth seats (heated in the front row), a leather steering wheel, a 10.25-inch central touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a hands-free power liftgate. The top-of-the-line Veloce model adds an adaptive suspension, perforated Alcantara faux-suede seats, and a stylish darkened grilled exterior trim.

A company press release notes that “customers choosing to lease the Alfa Romeo Tonale can take advantage of a $7,500 Federal EV tax credit.” Buyers can’t claim the credit because Alfa Romeo builds the Tonale in Pomigliano d’Arco, Italy. The credit is available only in cars built in North America.

But a recent IRS decision treats leased cars as commercial vehicles for tax purposes, letting dealers offer the credit under a different set of rules for commercial sales.