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Long-term review

Alfa Romeo Tonale - long-term review

Prices from

£48,495 / as tested £53,345 / PCM £534

Published: 14 Nov 2023
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SPEC HIGHLIGHTS

  • SPEC

    Alfa Romeo Tonale Veloce 1.3 280 PHEV AT EAWD

  • ENGINE

    1332cc

  • BHP

    276.3bhp

  • 0-62

    6.2s

Argh! The Alfa Tonale's offset numberplate can be very annoying

It’s far too early in my tenure of the Alfa to be complaining, but I find myself with the unpleasantly real need to moan.

You see the front numberplate? The way it’s jauntily set to the side, with typical Italian flair and style? Bet you can read it just fine. No trouble at all. Well, that’s because you are a human. If, however, you were a smart car park camera system, you would not find it so simple. No, instead you would huff around complaining the numberplate wasn’t recognisable, wasn’t attached to a booking, wasn’t even a full numberplate, that obviously you were trying to get out of the car park without paying. Outrageous. CALL THE POLICE!

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This is an issue I also faced when I drove a Giulia – also with an offset numberplate. It was annoying then, and it’s no less frustrating now.

I totally get the grille with its special shield shape makes it awkward to place the numberplate front and centre of the car, and I know it’s been an Alfa ‘thing’ for years, but that does not make being stuck at a barrier with many people blaring their horns behind you any less troublesome. What would be a huge improvement is the relocation of the numberplate to a place where alleged ‘smart’ cameras can read the whole thing and allow anyone who has organised and paid for their parking in advance to leave dungeon-like car parks with dignity.

Front numberplate placement aside, the Tonale is doing wonderful work. It’s super smooth to drive, easy to place on the road and immensely comfortable. Genuinely no other complaints at all. It also has heated seats (part of the Winter Pack) and I suspect they will be put into action many times over the coming few weeks – a quick look at the weather forecast shows my area of the UK is due to be on the receiving end of a good dose misery and desolation. Heated seats will make that much better.

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