Driving report Alfa Romeo Tonale TI
Cuore Jeepo
Alfa Romeo tonal
© press-inform – the press office
Under the attractive shell of the Alfa Rome Tonale hides the technology of the Jeep Compass, which the Italian engineers have spiced up and especially made the drive train and chassis. While the improvements are bearing fruit in the latter, the engine lacks the lively attitude of an Alfa engine.
Italian brands have not had good experiences with badge engineering, i.e. extensively taking over the technology of a car and disguising it in their own design. The fact that Lancia put an Italian hat on a Chrysler 300C and turned it into a topic contributed in no small part to the near-death experience of the traditional brand. Alfa Romeo is not (yet) that far. However, it will be exciting to see how the Stellantis Group’s money-saving, equal part strategy will affect the Scudetto brand. But that’s music for the future. The Alfa Romeo Tonale currently shares the platform with the Jeep Compass.
You can’t see the relationship visually. In this category, the thumb goes up for the Alfa. The Tonale is chic and should find its fans, especially among female drivers. But certainly not only with them. When it comes to the powertrain, things look different. The heart of every Alfa, the engine also provides propulsion in the Compass: Both crossovers combine front-wheel drive with a 1.5-liter petrol engine that works according to the Miller principle, which increases thermodynamic efficiency. The engine is supported by a belt starter generator with a 48-volt electric motor that has an additional 15 kW / 20 hp and 55 Newton meters of torque, so that the bottom line is a system output of 118 kW / 160 hp (22 kW / 30 hp more than the Jeep Compass) come out with a maximum torque of 240 Nm.
So no more Cuore Sportive, more Cuore Jeepo. For a true Alfista, such a statement is pretty close to blasphemy. The responsible engineer Maria Grazia Lisbona contradicts with southern vehemence. “The 160 hp variant was specially developed for Alfa Romeo!” The Italian tuning includes a new cylinder head and double variable valve control. The fuel is injected at 350 bar and the turbocharger has variable geometry. In combination with the electric motor, this ensures better response and increases drivability by maintaining the torque plateau over a wider torque range. At low speeds in stop-and-go traffic, the electric motor is enough to move the 1,525-kilogram Alfa Romeo crossover.
It all sounds wonderful with the friendly technician who enthusiastically praises her product. But the powertrain does not always follow up the passionate plea with action. As long as you’re on the road with a light foot on the accelerator, everything is wonderful. As soon as you want to use the entire power of the engine, the mildly hybridized combustion engine has a much harder time and growls. Especially since the spread of the Alfa-typical driving modes dynamic, normal and all weather is pronounced and the power development in the two less sporty programs is significantly more restrained. The tonal performs best in the dynamic setting. If you want to save fuel, the all weather mode is the best choice. Alfa Romeo states an average consumption of 6.3 l/100 km, during our first test drive the on-board computer spat out 2.9 l/100 km more.
The chassis is by no means overwhelmed with the 160 hp. The perfect weight distribution and stiffening of both McPherson axles with an element below between the spring struts binds the body better, reduces torsional rigidity and thus increases agility. The fact that the technicians increased the camber on the front axle and used the wheel bearings from the higher-class Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Giulia siblings helps the light-footedness on corner entry and the fairly direct steering ratio of 13:61 with agility. However, the controls hold back more when talking to the driver than is necessary. So that everything runs smoothly, assistance systems reliably monitor the Tonale. Even if the Alfa has the usual class to offer here, electrical helpers such as the blind spot assistant, a lane keeping function, the 360-degree camera and an emergency brake assistant convey security.
The Italians have put a lot of effort into infotainment. This is also urgently needed if you look at the little contemporary entertainment program of the Giulia and the Stelvio. With a more lifestyle-oriented representative like the Alfa Romeo Tonale, the occupants are happy about clear, unambiguous displays and menu navigation that is not too fancy on the 12.3-inch instrument panel and the 10.25-inch touchscreen. The round instruments in the deep tubes show that tradition and modernity can also be combined in a digital cockpit. With voice control, Google’s Alexa and a 4G module help ensure that the data gets into the car quickly and wireless updates are possible to keep the system and car up to date. That it can be integrated via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. With a price of 42,000 euros, Alfa Romeo can pay well for the car including the beautiful living ambience in the TI version.