Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Alfa Romeo Tonale review - MPG, CO2 and running costs

Company car drivers will flock to the plug-in hybrid Tonale thanks to 8 per cent BiK rate and impressive fuel economy

MPG, CO2 and running costs rating

4.0

How we review cars
RRP
£37,175 £54,465
Avg. savings
£3,138 off RRP*
Find your Alfa Romeo Tonale
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The Tonale is Alfa Romeo’s first hybrid, and the first step towards its all-electric future. There are two flavours to choose from: the mild-hybrid model uses a new 1.5-litre petrol engine and a small electric motor that’s fed by a minute 0.8kWh battery. 

This combination, according to Alfa Romeo, will return up to 47.9mpg and emit around 135g/km of CO2. Both figures are on par with the stats for a mild-hybrid BMW X1 or Volvo XC40, and allows it to attract a 32% Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rate. That means company car drivers will pay £2,452 a year to run the base Tonale.

But if it’s low running costs you’re after, then the plug-in hybrid Tonale Q4 will be the one for you. Its 1.3-litre petrol engine is paired with a larger electric motor powered by a much larger 15.5kWh battery. As the name suggests, you need to plug this version in to charge the battery, which using a standard 7.4kW home wallbox will take two and a half hours.

Advertisement - Article continues below

CO2 emissions in the plug-in Tonale are much lower at 29-32g/km, while Alfa Romeo says it can return up to 217mpg. If you don’t charge the battery or run it flat on a longer journey you’ll see around 41.5mpg in the plug-in hybrid Tonale, as we experienced first hand when we pitted one against a similarly electrified Volvo XC40 T5 Recharge

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Tonale

2025 Alfa Romeo

Tonale

15,739 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £23,995
View Tonale
Tonale

2022 Alfa Romeo

Tonale

9,927 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £22,995
View Tonale

Regular charging will also allow you to cover up to 42 miles on electric power alone, or 50 miles if you’re just driving around town. 

One of the big benefits of the Q4’s 40-mile-plus electric-only range is that it allows the Tonale to dip into the eight per cent BiK tax band, compared to the 14 per cent rate the Volvo XC40 Recharge attracts. As a result, a 20% income taxpayer will face annual deductions of close to £700 to run a Tonale Q4, while higher income taxpayers will have to fork over roughly £1,500 a year.

Insurance groups

Sorting out insurance coverage for the Tonale won’t be particularly cheap as even the mild-hybrid Alfa Romeo Tonale lands in insurance groups 28 to 29, while the plug-in hybrid Tonale Q4 sits in groups 37 to 38. 

In 2022, our example quote for a Tonale Q4 in Veloce trim, based on a 42-year old male living in Oxfordshire with three penalty points on their licence, came to £626. 

Check your tax status and renewal date in seconds. Check your VED car tax now...

Depreciation

Analysts predict that the Alfa Romeo Tonale will retain between 52 and 55 per cent of its value after three years and 36,000 miles come trade-in time. In comparison, both the BMW X1 and Volvo XC40 should hold onto as much as 64 per cent of their original value after the same three-year period, although that depends a lot on the specification you go for.

To get an accurate valuation on a specific model check out our Free Car Valuation tool...

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Alfa Romeo Tonale

Alfa Romeo Tonale

RRP £37,405Avg. savings £3,138 off RRP*Used from £22,995
Alfa Romeo Stelvio

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

RRP £47,030Avg. savings £3,756 off RRP*Used from £17,400
Cupra Formentor

Cupra Formentor

RRP £32,315Avg. savings £5,713 off RRP*Used from £15,897
BMW X1

BMW X1

RRP £36,430Avg. savings £3,145 off RRP*Used from £25,800
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Have you considered?

Ford Capri review
Ford Capri - main image

Ford Capri review

In-depth reviews
30 Apr 2025
Skoda Enyaq Coupe review
Skoda Enyaq Coupe - front

Skoda Enyaq Coupe review

In-depth reviews
30 Apr 2025

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025