2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale Ditches PHEV, Gains Sharper Style

2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale Ditches PHEV, Gains Sharper Style​

Refreshed Compact UV Focuses On Design, Performance, and Premium Refinement​

The Alfa Romeo Tonale is undergoing a significant refresh for the 2026 model year, one that brings sharper styling, a more premium interior, and a renewed focus on performance. While the brand’s smallest SUV hasn’t made as big a splash in the U.S. and Canada as Alfa hoped, this mid-cycle action (MCA) gives the Tonale a stronger identity and a more refined, driver-focused edge. For 2026, Alfa Romeo has made a significant strategic change: the discontinuation of the 1.3-liter plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain.

2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale Ditches PHEV, Gains Sharper Style

Explore the 2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale, featuring sharper style and a focus on performance without the PHEV powertrain.

moparinsiders.com

 

[patfromigh]

With the Dodge Hornet out of the way, maybe the Tonale can do better here. I notice that the North American version has a different power-train combination from the EU market ones. The Europeans get a choice of either a mild hybrid with a 1500 GSE or the PHEV setup from previous years, but with a slight horsepower loss due to tighter emissions rules.

Rumor has there will be a new Alfa Romeo model built on the STLA-Medium platform to be introduced next year.

 

[bill burke]

I have seen a few around and they are a very stylish compact SUV.
I had reservations on the Hornet because it created a tension, a competition with the Tonale that was predictable and forced Dodge to keep prices too high for their market niche. Being built in Italy also did not sit well with blue blooded American Dodge customers. Just an awkward situation all around. Now it’s up to Alfa Romeo to market this SUV as it should have been initially. A luxury and pricey compact SUV from Italy can work well going forward.
As for Dodge, it still needs an SUV in this market segment and that one is already designed for them in the Jeep Compass designated to be built in Belvedere and an easy spinoff solution for Dodge. Probably a name change would be needed, but maybe not as pricing, American build and the disconnect from Alfa Romeo might be enough to give the Hornet what it too initially needed to market this SUV. To be fair, the Hornet has a lot going for it, it seems that the unnecessary and awkward baggage it carried likely depressed sales. A new Hornet from America and a new Tonale from Italy might just be the right formula for both. Call it a win-win.

 

[patfromigh]

The solution is to build, in America, a Hornet replacement using the STLA Medium platform. Much of the engineering work has been done by Alfa Romeo for a rumored vehicle on that same medium platform. The engineering work is done for the stuff people don't see, such as structural elements. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if the Dodge shared suspension tuning with the Alfa. Building the Dodge here and the unnamed Alfa in Italy allows the Dodge Gang to use American built engines and styling reflecting the Dodge heritage. If structural elements are shared the cowl might be the same, but the styling can be very different between the two. Dodge could also offer an entry level trim package to compliment a performance focused trim. What they did with the Hornet was a bad idea. The name Hornet is probably tarnished, so Dodge might have to use a different name.

I should also add they need to make the Dodge as different from the Jeep Compass as well. I would hate to see another Jeep Liberty/Dodge Nitro situation.