Alfa Romeo, a brand with a lot of soul, found itself with only two models in its arsenal.
As fine as the Giulia and Stelvio are, it's not enough in the current multi-RPV era.
The Alfa Tonella, then, is one of the significant and important vehicles of the Italian brand and essential for its continued existence.
Because a brand wants to sell, and cars like the Tonale are exactly what the public wants.
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The model in front of us is the weakest in the range, stronger models are just beyond the mouth.
This powertrain is defined as a mild hybrid, which helps to save a little on fuel consumption and mainly gives the Tonale its low pollution rating score.
This is the first hybrid Alfa ever and in this version the drive unit includes a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, turbocharged, with a power of 130 hp and 24.5 kgm.
Next in line will be a more powerful version of this unit with a power of 160 hp and even a unit with significant electric boost, 275 hp and dual drive in the future.
The engine is mated to a new automatic gearbox with 7 gears, double clutch, and the "light hybrid" part is a small electric motor, built-in 48 volts, with a power of 20 hp and a torque of 5.6 kgm.
The exterior design is a modern Alfa Romeo, quite a beautiful design, which includes designed LED headlights, sporty-looking rims, 18 inches in diameter.
The designers tried very hard to make Alpha look right in front of our eyes.
It's not a classic alpha, but it's from the family, an alpha that poses well for Instagram and Tiktok, especially in its stunning green color.
Inside, there is a clear feel and reminders of the one that is Alpha.
The typography on the classically designed clock face, the air vents with metallic silver touches, the huge shifters behind the steering wheel, the driving mode selector on the steering wheel, familiar to us from the Alfa Giulia.
The quality of the finish changes the lower you go, but the result is definitely unique.
Within Alpha's human engineering, there are some 'interesting' corners.
We encountered a charging surface on which you cannot place the phone, because the way to it is not comfortable at all.
Other than that, no complaints.
We lived in peace with the prominent piano switches that control the climate control, and the new multimedia system was also understandable enough and easy to operate.
And we were happy to see that Alfa has made a lot of progress in terms of technology, and placed a colorful and large enough touch screen on the front, measuring 10.25 inches, and a modern, sharp and informative clock face measuring 12.3 inches.
When traveling in Tonala, you realize very quickly that the power produced here is sufficient and nothing more.
We also lack a more immediate response.
Moving the driving mode selector to "Sport" mode, improved the response of the engine and transmission at the expense of fuel consumption (11 km/l).
The steering wheel is already more reminiscent of Alfa.
The steering stiffens in sport mode and in general the whole experience improves by selecting this mode.
This Tunala feels a little too soft under load, while at slow speeds it doesn't dampen roads with sharp breaks well enough.
Beyond that, and as mentioned, the responses here are measured and good and gives the impression that this chassis simply asks for a more powerful engine and is capable of it.
Bottom line, Alfa Tonella places the Italian manufacturer in the hottest segment in the automotive field today.
At its core, it sits on a platform that originates from the FCA corporation, but the many changes and adjustments made here, completely make this product feel current.
The main complaint is directed mainly at the engine in this version - it's just not alpha enough.
Engine
4 cyl, turbo, micro-hybrid 1,469 cc
power
130 hp at 5,250 rpm
torque
24.5 kgm at 1,500 rpm
weight
1,600 kg
0-100 km/h
9.6 s
Maximum speed
200 km/h ,
price
NIS 249,000
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