Alfa's new baby! 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale price and specs: New small SUV to rival Audi Q3, Volvo XC40 and Mercedes-Benz GLA

Alfa Romeo’s long-awaited new SUV, the Tonale, is now available to order in Australia with pricing for its two-variant range now confirmed.

Set to arrive in Australian dealerships from February 2023, the Alfa Romeo Tonale will start with a sub-$50k variant in a familiar trim name, Ti, for $49,990 before on-road costs. The Ti is joined by the higher-spec but mechanically identical Veloce for $56,400.

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As the first electrified model from Alfa Romeo, the Tonale marks a turning point in the brand’s philosophy, albeit gently. The Tonale isn’t a full hybrid in the traditional sense, pairing a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a 48-volt battery in an arrangement Alfa admits is a ‘mild hybrid’.

However, the Tonale does have EV-driving capabilities under 15km/h for parking, useful for silent startup and departure.

For those hoping for something with more electric car attributes from the storied Italian brand, late-2023 will see the arrival of a proper Alfa Romeo Tonale plug-in hybrid variant with a smaller 1.3-litre engine and an expected near-50km EV range - though pricing and specs are still to be confirmed.

For now, the 118kW/240Nm mild-hybrid Ti and Veloce will have to sate Alfa-hungry SUV buyers, with the engine of both variants paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission driving the front wheels. Fuel economy is pegged at 5.6 litres per 100km for both Ti and Veloce.

The Tonale’s design, following on from the acclaimed Giulia and Stelvio, features traditional Alfa elements like the narrow headlight clusters and triangular grille, while familiar ringed wheels feature in 18-inch size on the Ti, or 19-inch on the Veloce.

Inside, a few new Alfa interior elements include a 'Cannocchiale' (or telescopic) 12.3-inch instrument cluster for the driver and a 10.25-inch touchscreen multimedia display central to the dash.

Alfa Romeo, keen to spruik the Tonale’s safety features, says it is capable of Level 2 autonomous driving - if you opt for the Veloce - through the use of the front radar and a steering wheel sensor to detect whether the driver has hands on the wheel. The Ti still benefits from adaptive cruise control.

Euro NCAP has rated the Alfa Romeo Tonale five stars, though ANCAP will test the Tonale locally later this year before tougher standards are introduced in 2023.

In terms of visual differentiation between the trim levels, the Veloce can be spotted with its dark body trim elements and matt black body kit inserts, as well as bright red Brembos behind its larger wheels.

Inside the Veloce, black Alcantara and leatherette seat trim features the Alfa ‘Biscione’ snake logo, with red stitching through the cabin and aluminium trim for the door sills and shift paddles. It also gets active dual-stage suspension instead of fixed dampers.

The Veloce also gains extra parking sensors and a surround-view cameras, as well as additional blind-spot and rear cross-traffic detection.

An option pack is available for the Ti to bring the tech elements from the Veloce with it, though an additional luxury pack for both variants can add heated and ventilated black leather-accented front seats and a heated steering wheel, and a 14-speaker 465-watt Harman Kardon sound system.

Interested customers are able to order an Alfa Romeo Tonale now, with first deliveries expected from early 2023 onwards.