If the Tonale was meant because the automotive to save lots of Alfa Romeo – and, let’s face it, there have been a number of – you wouldn’t actually know as a lot from a pair of electrified powertrains whose outright efficiency and drivability every leaves a good bit to be desired.
Alfa’s engineers will inform you that the small electrical motor and drive battery of the mildhybrid mannequin are ‘right-sized’ for the automotive – however in observe they really feel undersized to supply a really convincing hybrid driving expertise. The engine cuts in in a short time and it will get fairly buzzy when it’s pushed. It feels barely stronger and maybe a shade extra refined than some hybrid choices, however a standard petrol 2.0-litre BMW X1 is quicker and extra refined nonetheless.
Largely the identical is true of the gentle hybrid’s seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox: it’s okay, however when you’re coming from a BMW eight-speed auto, you received’t be impressed with the smoothness, velocity or shift factors it chooses.
In the case of the extra highly effective PHEV, outright efficiency actually feels extra responsive and guaranteed; however right here, the Tonale’s tempo and drivability relies upon quite a bit on the situation of its drive battery.
When absolutely charged, our efficiency assessments confirmed that the automotive will certainly hit 60mph from relaxation in 6.3sec, and go on to crack a standing quarter mile in a shade beneath 15sec; each creditably athletic markers. But once we tried the identical assessments once more with the battery absolutely depleted, the automotive wanted a second longer to hit 60mph, and greater than 2.5sec longer to hit 90mph from standing.
The subjective efficiency of the Tonale PHEV feels much more adversely affected by a flat battery. Part-throttle responsiveness is dulled fairly noticeably when the combustion engine’s crankshaft is being ‘dragged’ so as to high the battery again up, so it feels somewhat as when you’re driving by treacle – that’s, a minimum of, till you get to the decrease reaches of the accelerator pedal’s journey, when the automotive’s powertrain calibration switches. Rivals actually do a greater job of delivering a constant driving expertise no matter battery situation.
Refinement within the PHEV ranges from first rate to mediocre. The combustion engine runs in fairly reedy-sounding, tappetty trend, and Alfa’s cabin insulation measures aren’t very efficient. We recorded 71dbA of cabin noise at a 70mph motorway cruise, the place some premium-brand choices within the class get to 67dbA or under.
Brake pedal development, through Alfa’s electromechanical brake booster system, is somewhat smooth, however doesn’t really feel overly synthetic, and permits you to handle power regeneration and friction braking properly sufficient.