Toyota BZ4X vs Alfa Romeo Tonale

What's the difference?

Toyota finds itself in a very unusual position - playing catch-up.

Usually the Japanese brand dominates any market segment it is in - or at least has one of the more popular offerings. But when it comes to mid-size electric SUVs, Toyota finds its bZ4X trailing well behind several rivals including the BYD Sealion 7, Geely EX5, Kia EV5, Tesla Model Y and Zeekr 7X. 

There’s a very clear reason for this, too. Toyota was late to the party. The brand has taken a very slow approach to the electric vehicle (EV) market, launching its first battery-powered model, the bZ4X SUV, in early 2024.

Up until the start of 2026 and a price drop that coincided with surging petrol prices and a spike in EV demand, the bZ4X was something of a bit-player in the EV market. But with sales up more than 300 per cent in 2026 the time seems perfect to expand, with the bZ4X Touring reaching dealerships.

So is this the right SUV at the right time? Or is it too little too late?

This is the first hybrid Alfa Romeo, and its most efficient model yet - two things those historically loyal to the brand might be hesitant to embrace - but like the Giulia and Stelvio it joins in the line-up, this plug-in hybrid Tonale is extremely important to the Milanese brand.

The Tonale, still a relatively new nameplate, must establish itself as a new ‘accessible’ point to the brand in the popular small SUV segment. 

But this, the Veloce plug-in hybrid (PHEV), must prove that even in the more attainable small SUV segment, the brand can still produce something to gain the tick of approval from the rusted-on ‘Alfisti’ - Alfa Romeo’s loyalists.

On top of keeping Alfa’s existing fans happy, the Tonale must also contend with existing segment favourites like the BMW X1, Volvo XC40 and Audi Q3.

Alfa surely knows it won’t reach sales figures to contend with those mentioned, but what the brand can aim for is to be a sexier, desirable alternative.

So, is the Tonale PHEV the right piece of kit for the job?