Alfa Romeo Tonale vs Mini Cooper

What's the difference?

If you’re an ‘Alfa Romeo person’, or even just an ‘Italian car person’, you’ve got this on your short list and there’s little I can say that will change your mind. 

And you wouldn’t be making a bad decision if you did pick up a Tonale.

But if $80,000 sounds like a lot for a small SUV and you still want something that looks stylish and feels special, the mild-hybrid Tonale Veloce should do, if the likes of the X1, Q3, or XC40 don’t scratch that left-of-centre itch.

And a fun small SUV? A Mini Countryman JCW, Audi SQ2 or VW T-Roc R are all different sizes, but all more powerful than the Alfa and all fall below the $70,000 mark.

But, if you’re keen on that plug-in hybrid drivetrain and have a day-to-day lifestyle that’ll allow you to make the most of its electric range (and most major city-dwelling Australians do to some extent), then the outlay might just be worth it to be able to check out the Tonale in your garage or driveway every day.

The new petrol Cooper range very gently evolves the upmarket Cool Britannia cliché BMW invented with the R50 back in 2001 and fostered with every iteration since.

More of the same, only slightly updated and just improved enough to justify trading the old one in. If this appeals to you, then go for it. This is the best petrol version yet. Probably.

But the Cooper’s real spark literally and metaphorically lies within the EV version.

Two very different Minis indeed.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.

If Alfa any traditionalists are hesitant to embrace the Tonale’s hybrid drivetrain, surely the Tonale’s styling has the opposite effect.

Small SUVs can fall victim to trying to look too much like a hatchback, or being plastered with lots of little trim details to break up large areas. The Tonale, on the other hand, looks like an SUV regardless of size, and its styling elements are decidedly restrained.

Most notably, at the front, Alfa Romeo has employed the ‘scudetto’ shield-shaped grille and horizontal lower grilles to form the ‘trefoil’, a face as familiar as BMW’s kidney grille or the Porsche 911’s round headlights.

The aforementioned ‘3+3’ headlights are sleek, and somewhat mirrored by similarly styled tail-lights that flank a light bar across the middle of the boot. Badging is minimal, the ‘Tonale’ on the rear in a cursive ‘Alfa’ typeface and the small ‘Veloce’ lettering found only on the front three-quarter panels.

The 20-inch wheels are so Alfa Romeo in their ‘teledial’ circular design, though all three wheel options for the Tonale fit into this theme. In a car park or on the driveway, they’re certainly eye-catching to those not expecting them - a friend said upon sight of this test car, "Look at the wheels. They’re silly! I love them!".

Inside, the cabin space isn’t too ‘busy’ with visual elements, though some of those that are there - the row of buttons for climate control or the multimedia screen, for example - are possibly a little too simple. The buttons could be from any old car, and the screen looks like a ‘tacked on’ rectangle.

Just about everything else looks suitably restrained but relatively elegant for a small SUV, though, with elements like the steering wheel remaining rather simple and (in modern terms) timeless. The paddles behind it are a bit of visual theatre, too.

Like the exterior, the interior adopts some circular cues like the air vents, door speakers, DNA drive mode dial, and even the cowl over the driver display. 

The second row is a little more spartan, with little in the way of visual ‘wow’ and a disappointingly basic vent (albeit adjustable in two different directions) and USB ports mounted in hard grey plastic.

For the most part, the interior looks quality, and with relatively minimal hard or scratchy plastic, feels it too.

You’ve got to hand it to BMW.

The new nose and triangular tail-light treatment on the 2013-vintage midsection look as if they were designed to all go together back in the day.

You could even mistake it for the previous Cooper EV, though side-by-side that’s less likely, since the latter ditches the upright windscreen for a more raked item, clamshell bonnet opening, horizontal bumper shutlines for shorter and more-angled ones, plastic wheel arch surrounds and pull-out door handles for flush units.

The wheels are further apart, the overhangs shorter and the lower-side surfacing broken up by an artful sheetmetal crease.

The overall length at 3876mm, width at 1744mm and height at 1432mm have increased by 55mm, 17mm and 18mm respectively over the old model, but the 2495mm wheelbase stays the same.

And that’s not all.

Inside, the Tonale feels relatively spacious for a small SUV, with possibly more places to put things than you might expect from a traditionally enthusiast-focused brand. 

In both front and rear seats, no part of the body or console impedes on passenger space - though the door armrests feel like they're a little far to comfortably rest an elbow on - and nothing gets in the way when reaching controls or the centre console.

Ergonomically, everything falls well to hand and no far reaches are really required, though the cupholders in the centre are a little narrow for some relatively normal-sized cups or bottles, and have rubber grips inside that require a little extra pull to retrieve items from.

Other options for bottles include the door pockets, or for a small bottle even the centre console bin is quite deep (albeit narrow).

Smartphones, even fairly tall ones, will rest securely in the angled - a nice touch - wireless charging bay, though while having the phone in a position it won’t slide out from is a plus, angling a phone screen to be visible to the driver might be too tempting for some. It is, mercifully, a little obscured by the gear shifter.

On controls, the steering-wheel design hasn’t changed for more than half a decade which, honestly, is so, so fine. Really, Alfa’s steering wheel has few buttons including the engine start, a relatively timeless (read: simple) visual style, and a thin rim with moulded thumb rests that encourage 9-and-3 hand positions.

The buttons on the wheel are easy, clear, and feel nice, and controlling the driver display is relatively easy as there aren’t really sub-menus to get lost in.

The main multimedia screen is also relatively well laid out, marking a nice step up from previous Uconnect systems (Jeep and Fiat owners will also know), though the connectivity with wireless phone mirroring, Android Auto in my case, was a little laggy and dropped out occasionally, seemingly in the same spot on the same Melbourne CBD street during my commute each morning.

The downsides are relatively few on the practicality front, but there is another: the boot space in the hybrid suffers due to the battery space needed, so 500 litres for the non-plug-in Tonale variants is down to 385 litres for the PHEV.

That’s still less than an electric Volvo XC40 Recharge (claimed to be 418L), though fortunately it grows to a spacious 1430 with the seats folded down, and is accessible via an automatic electrically opening boot door.

Another important point, while we’re in the boot, is the lack of spare tyre. Instead, a repair kit is provided - something those who enjoy a road trip might lament.

The previous Mini 3DR featured a messy and quite overbearing dashboard design from 2013 that’s aged about as well as Robin Thicke’s videos from that year.

In contrast, the new model's is far simpler and less protruding, dramatically boosting the sense of space and light.

That said, all four occupants still sit low, with an upright windscreen ahead and beside high window sills. There’s an oversized, circular screen in the middle of a pared-back dash and a neat row of toggle switches below. It’s still pure Mini in theme.

As before, there’s enough space for even the tallest people up front, reflecting the British icon’s German packaging, with plenty of head and legroom, as well as ample width. It’s only when you jump from the EV to the petrol Cooper that you realise this feels noticeably narrower.

All Coopers regardless of fuel share the 240mm (9.4-inch) central OLED display. It might seem like visual overload at first glance, with so much going on, but after a brief period of familiarisation, the touchscreen becomes a cinch to decipher and navigate. The colour-coded driving modes, pleasingly slick screen swipe action and ultra-crisp graphics are especially noteworthy.

Revel, too, in the twist engine starter and toggle gear selector actions, that also save space and are super natural to operate. This is button-lite dashboard de-cluttering done right.

As with the previous model, the Mini’s driving position has you sitting upright, but it’s comfortable enough on the S’ sports seats we sampled this on, and everything is within reach. There’s sufficient storage. The ambient mood lighting is fun. And kudos for the deployment of animal-free materials. In fact, the Cooper’s fresh textures are quite remarkable.

We’re less fond of the glass roof with no sunlight block; there are blind spots due to the thick side pillars; and some of the lower-placed plastics do not seem $60K’s worth in a supermini this expensive.

Rear-seat access isn’t graceful, with a narrow aperture to squeeze past and a slow-moving electric seat to wait for, but that should surprise nobody given this car’s size. There’s enough space for two adults and not much else really. It’s pretty basic back there.

And even further back, Mini quotes just 210 litres VDA of luggage capacity, rising to 725L with the twin backrests dropped.

Don’t forget, though, that no spare wheel exists. Just an ever-fiddly tyre repair kit.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the Cooper…

For the duration of the original BMC/BLMC/Leyland/Austin/Rover era, the Mini was often the cheapest new car around. We’re talking bare bones motoring here, for the people.

Obviously, BMW bothers with no such democratic notion today.

The new Cooper comes in two models differentiated by engine size – the C with a 115kW 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo and S with a 150kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo. Both are carryover units, and automatic only, sadly. 

Which helps explain why the base C Core starts from a steep $41,990 (all prices are before on-road costs). Much the same car cost $10K less just five years ago.

The Core includes climate control air-conditioning, an OLED circular touchscreen, a head-up display, a reverse camera, parking sensors, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, DAB+ digital radio, a smartphone charger, ambient lighting, a heated steering wheel, 17-inch alloy wheels and a basic cruise control set-up.

You’ll need to step up to the $44,990 Cooper C Classic for adaptive cruise control, a surround-view monitor, interior camera, 'augmented reality' satellite navigation, front seat warmers, seven rather than four colour choices, 18-inch alloys, a glass roof and more.

'Sun Protection Glazing' for the latter, along with a Harmon/Kardon premium audio system, John Cooper Works (JCW) sports seats with electric adjustment and memory, fancier interior materials and a broader palette of options are part of the Cooper C Flavoured package from $47,990. 

Meanwhile, the more-powerful Cooper S auto bypasses Core and kicks off with the Classic from $49,990, Favoured from $52,990 and the JCW Sport from $54,990.

The latter includes a JCW body/interior styling, steering wheel and stripes, along with adaptive suspension, paddle shifters and uprated brakes.

Going for the 5DR Cooper equivalents adds $2000 to the price.

All up, then, with drive-away pricing, the Cooper before options is priced between $47,000 and $63,000.

Obvious rivals are the Audi A1, Fiat/Abarth 500, Citroen C3 and even Suzuki Swift Sport, though alternatives with a retro bent and driver focus might also be in BMW’s crosshairs, including the Toyota GR86, Subaru BRZ, Mazda MX-5, Ford Mustang and Nissan Z.

Engaging driving is key to an Alfa Romeo justifying being somewhat on the pricier end of the cost spectrum, so numbers like ‘208kW’ for a total system output in a small SUV are welcome to see on paper.

The Tonale’s 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine alone makes 132kW and 270Nm, aided by an electric system outputting 90kW and 250Nm. The 208kW is its total useable peak, with Alfa not stating a peak torque figure, but a 0-100km/h claim comes in at a fairly impressive 6.2 seconds.

That’s helped by the Tonale’s all-wheel-drive nature, the front wheels driven by the engine via a six-speed torque converter automatic, and electricity powering the rears.

Compared to the previous model, the new one brings more performance to the table.

The Cooper C uses BMW’s 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine, and pumps out 115kW of power at 6500rpm and 230Nm of torque from 1500rpm to 4600rpm. Previously it was 100kW and 220kW.

With a power-to-weight ratio of 91.3kW per tonne, it’s enough for a zero to 100km/h time of 7.7 seconds (previously 8.1s), on the way to a 225km/h top speed.

Mounted transversely, it drives the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT).

It’s still difficult to imagine Mini buyers not outraged by the manual’s disappearance. But don’t worry. There’s always the Suzuki Swift.

Stepping up to the Cooper S, you’ll find a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol unit delivering a useful 150kW at 6500rpm and 300Nm between 1450rpm and 4500rpm. It was 141kW/280Nm in the old version.

Boasting 117kW/tonne, this one needs just 6.6s to 100km/h and can achieve a 242km/h V-max.

Now known as the FAAR platform, it is an evolution of BMW’s UKL (Untere Klasse, German for ‘lower class’) modular architecture that debuted in the previous model.

Suspension is via MacPherson-style struts up front and a multi-link independent rear end.

A 42.5-litre petrol tank and a 15.5kWh lithium-ion battery combine to provide an electric driving range of 60.5km that’s backed up by the ability to charge or save power for when it’s needed by letting the internal-combustion engine (ICE) kick in.

And while this has the potential to mean essentially no fuel is used in short-run, day-to-day driving, anything resembling a longer trip means you’re unlikely to reach the kind of efficiency figures Alfa Romeo claims.

The official combined fuel consumption figure for the Tonale PHEV is 1.5L/100km, though achieving this would require stopping and recharging the battery every 100km of driving, and the driving would need to be in perfect conditions for battery range - i.e. relatively low speeds.

The Tonale PHEV is efficient, yes, but it’s not ‘1.5L/100km efficient’ in the real world if you need to take a drive longer than a standard work day with maybe an errand or two.

After 23 kilometres of real-world driving, the indicated battery range dropped from 65km (odd given Alfa’s spec sheet provided claims a 60.5km range) to 30km, an indicated drop of 35km.

A 12 km discrepancy between over just 23km of standard driving isn’t ideal, though the trip included some highway driving - not an electric drivetrain’s best stage.

Alfa Romeo says a household-style 3.0kW charger should fill the battery from empty in 5.5 hours, while a ‘fast’ charger at 7.4kW should take 2.5 hours via the Type 2 charging port.

The new Coopers enjoy a drink more than before. By almost half a litre per 100km more, in fact.

Rated at Euro6 and running on 95 RON premium unleaded petrol, the Cooper C averages 6.0L/100km (F56: 5.6), while the more-powerful Cooper S ups that to 6.3L/100km (F56: 5.8).

In terms of carbon dioxide emissions averages, this translates to 137 and 145 grams per kilometre, respectively. With a 44L fuel tank, the potential range-average is up to around 730km.

This might be the make-or-break topic for a select few Alfa Romeo customers - is the Tonale fun to drive?

Yes, thankfully.

Where the mild-hybrid was sometimes criticised for being slightly underwhelming for a car wearing the snake-adorned badge from Milan, the extra power, all-wheel-drive grip and electric torque delivery make the Tonale feel spirited enough for a sporty-leaning small SUV.

The DNA dial really does come into play plenty, too. 

D, for dynamic, is pretty much reserved for when you’re actually ‘driving’ the Tonale - its stiffened suspension and relatively greedy power draw isn’t for low-speed commuting or daily efficiency.

N, or natural, is best for most long-ish commuting or trip situations, particularly highway driving where relying fully on the battery range isn’t ideal, as mentioned.

A, for advanced efficiency, is the ‘EV mode’ and best suits anyone whose daily commute takes them between urban or suburban areas which can be done under EV driving, though it can be used up to 206km/h.

If you don’t mind the petrol engine kicking in on occasion, leaving ‘natural’ to its own devices will result in some relatively frugal driving - a week of testing, commuting, filming and enjoying the Tonale used less than a tank of fuel, including one round trip of more than 140km.

Commuting in the Tonale proved comfortable enough - the steering is light and the dual-stage valve suspension in its softer mode combined with the electric drivetrain resulted in a calm and controlled feeling.

Its suspension soaks up bumps well, though a consistently uneven road surface can feel a little jittery (though not harsh or crashy) after a while.

Getting more dynamic (yes, the D on the dial), however, brought out some interesting characteristics of the Tonale. That light steering is paired with a quick rack (a 14.8:1 ratio, or two-and-a-half turns lock to lock), meaning the Tonale is easy to turn in hard, and a 53F/47R weight distribution provides enough balance (paired with a low centre of gravity thanks to the battery) to keep on top of the small SUVs movements.

All four wheels being driven under its ‘dynamic’ hybrid mode means grip and acceleration in cornering is plenty useful, though braking coming into the corners via the Tonale’s ‘brake by wire’ system could be a little more feelsome.

The gearbox is very eager under acceleration, too much so for commuting, but if it doesn’t suit your needs even for spirited driving then the manual mode is there.

It’s worth noting that those huge brushed alloy shift paddles come into play here, though being attached to the column steering rather than the wheel presents a key ‘pro’ and ‘con’ each: the paddles are always in the same place, just not always in relation to your hands.

So far, similarities in design, packaging, dashboard presentation and suspension layout suggest that the electric Cooper and petrol Cooper would be like fraternal twins from behind the wheel.

But in reality, the petrol-powered Mini feels much the same as the previous model, whilst the EV is more akin to what we secretly wish the fantasy Tesla Model 1 would be like. From the future.

Now, we never had a chance to drive the Cooper C, but the closely-related (though larger and heavier) Countryman C sibling – complete with the same powertrain – proved to be a willing and feisty performer once on the go, after what seemed like protracted turbo and DCT lag.

Why the hell can’t Mini just offer manuals again?

The Cooper S, meanwhile, completely lived up to brand expectations, with the familiar, revvy snarl of BMW’s sophisticated 2.0-litre four-pot turbo providing punchy of throttle response and effortless cruising capability, though there’s still some initial acceleration hesitation.

Thankfully, the Mini’s steering is always alert, offering precision and agility by the bucketful, backed up a chassis that seems permanently glued to the road – even in the wet and wintry conditions we had to endure.

Yet, other than a ride quality that seemed better than any previous-gen Mini we’ve ever encountered and so genuinely surprised us, the Cooper S seemed a little… stale compared to the glorious SE EV we had just (reluctantly) surrendered.

A bit like having a favourite dish as leftovers for two nights in a row, it felt a bit passé in 2024, even when surrounded by that dazzling OLED dash and glitzy ambient lighting.

In every important metric – performance, handling, roadholding, ride quality, packaging and (particularly) refinement – the battery-powered Cooper is the more vibrant and alive option. And truer to the vision of the original’s creator, Alec Issigonis, as a result.

There are no crash-test ratings for the 2024 Cooper at the time of publishing.

The previous F56 managed four out of five stars with ANCAP. 

On the driver-assist tech front are AEB, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with braking, rear-collision prevention, driver-attention monitor, tyre-pressure monitor, auto high beams and an exit warning.

However, at the time of publishing, no AEB operating parameter data was available.

Other safety features include adaptive cruise control with automatic speed-limit assistance from Classic-grade and up, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability and traction controls and nine airbags (front/side/head and interaction centre-front airbags).

A pair of child seat tether latches and twin ISOFIX latches are fitted within the rear seats.

Alfa Romeo has a relatively industry standard five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty for its models, and the Tonale falls under this, with five years of free roadside assistance thrown in, too.

Being a plug-in hybrid, the battery does have its own specific warranty, that being eight years or 160,000km, whichever comes first.

The first five services are priced at a maximum on Alfa Romeo’s website, listed at a top of $500 for the first (15,000km/12 months), $600 for the second (30,000km or 24 months, as the intervals go), while the third is $500, the fourth a whopping $1000 max, and the final capped price back to $500.

Like all Minis, the Cooper comes with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and five years of roadside assistance.

There are no set service intervals, as the car’s onboard computer will alert the driver based on condition and wear/tear. That said, we recommend going every 12 months or 10,000km, just to be on the safe side.

Mini also promotes several prepaid service plans on its Australian website. According to BMW, “… both new and used Mini owners can upgrade to a MINI Service Inclusive plan for 5-years/80,000km (whichever comes first).”