It's hard to believe, but the Alfa Romeo Tonale debuted over a year ago. Perhaps it's not so hard to believe for our friends in Europe, where Tonales are already road-tripping across the old continent. Meanwhile in the US, we're still waiting to sample this sharp compact crossover. Now that production is beginning for North America, that wait will soon be over.
Built at the Alfa Romeo plant in Naples, Italy, the Tonale is the automaker's first plug-in hybrid. It's also available in pure combustion format with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, but North America will only see the PHEV version. To refresh your memory, the powertrain pairs a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine with a single electric motor, producing a snappy 285 combined horsepower. All four wheels get power; the electric handles the rear while the engine manages the front. A six-speed automatic transmission changes gears, and for zero-emission operation, a 15.5-kWh battery offers a range of over 30 miles.
