Refreshed Alfa Romeo Tonale revealed with mildest of mild updates

Unveiled just over two years ago as its then smallest SUV, a position since taken by the Junior, Alfa Romeo used the media day of the Paris Motor Show on Monday (14 October) to officially reveal the facelift Tonale.

Inside changes

Delayed numerous times before its mentioned debut in 2022, the revisions comprise no aesthetic or mechanical upgrades as all of the changes have taken place inside.

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Besides the 12.3-inch digital instrument featuring what Alfa Romeo calls “optimised” readouts and graphics, the main redesign involves the gear lever being dropped in favour of a rotary dial on the centre console.

Seemingly, nothing else has changed as the short worded press release names no structural updates to any other mechanical components.

Same powertrains

In Europe, the Tonale will continue to offer three engine options; the 48-volt mild-hybrid 1.5-litre turbo-petrol producing 118kW/240Nm and the long-serving 1.6-litre Multijet turbodiesel rated at 96kW/320Nm.

Remaining the flagship, the all-paw gripping Q4 combines the Brazilian-made 1.3-litre turbocharged Firefly engine with a 15.5-kWh battery pack powering a 70 kW electric motor.

The result is a combined output of 206 kW, not 202 kW as previously reported, a top speed of 206 km/h and 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds. The claimed all-electric range is rated between 60 km and 80 km.

In terms of transmissions, a seven-speed dual-clutch comes standard on the former and a six-speed dual-clutch on the diesel, with the Q4 getting a model specific six-speed torque converter automatic.

Outside Europe, the Tonale also gets the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol from the Giulia and Stelvio as an alternative to the plug-in hybrid with outputs of 191kW/400Nm. A nine-speed automatic gearbox is standard fare, as is the Q4 system.

What’s more, the updates will seemingly be expanded at a later stage to the Tonale’s rebadged North American twin, the Dodge Hornet, which, apart from the 2.0-litre, offers the plug-in hybrid with 210 kW plus an overboost function called PowerShot that releases an additional 18 kW for 15 seconds.

Confirmed awaited

On-sale from next year in two trim levels, Sprint and Veloce, the facelift Tonale, for now, remains unconfirmed for South Africa where sales have gradually increased since its arrival at the end of 2022.

According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa’s (Naamsa) sales figures, the Tonale’s first full year netted only 37 units sold.

More than likely as a result of improved stock and reduced waiting times, sales for 2024 have dramatically improved to 73 units between January and September.

As a reminder, the current line-up comprises Ti and Veloce grades, both powered by the mild-hybrid 1.5-litre turbo, and priced from R799 000 to R881 900.

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