► It’s an Alfa Romeo
► But it’s also a practical crossover
► Read month 5 here
The Tonale must conquer a new type of customer, one not swayed by the romance of the Alfa badge.
So, how’s it going? To find out, I asked my mother Grace to drive it for a few weeks. She’s owned everything from a Volvo 850 T5 to a 1978 MG B. Now, she just wants a car that’s ‘fun to chuck around’ while also feeling luxurious and with an exterior that looks premium.
She likes the styling and the colour. The interior, however, is ‘disappointing for the money’ while the boot is ‘tiny’ but the most damning verdict concerns the gearbox: ‘Sometimes it lurches forward – and sometimes it sounds like a truck.’
The Tonale’s biggest issue?
‘I’d never have even thought of considering an Alfa.’
Logbook: Alfa Romeo Tonale 1.3 PHEV Veloce (Month 6)
Price £48,495 (£51,595 as tested)
Performance 15.5kWh battery plus 1332cc four-cylinder, PHEV, 276bhp, 199lb ft, 6.2sec 0-62mph, 128mph
Efficiency 217mpg (official), 40.9mpg (tested) 29g/km CO2
Energy cost 15.7p per mile
Miles this month 882
Total miles 6471