Alfa Romeo introduced its Tonale subcompact crossover for the 2024 model year, and it didn’t take long for its least-expensive model to become its most popular offering. While it’s mechanically related to the Dodge Hornet, the Tonale is styled, equipped and priced to compete against premium rivals such as the Acura ADX, the Audi Q3, the BMW X1 and X2 twins, the Lexus UX, the Mercedes-Benz GLA and the Volvo XC40.
2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale
The Alfa Romeo Tonale rolls into the 2026 model year with light exterior restyling focused mostly on the front fascia and grille, new wheels, and an optional red leather interior. The plug-in hybrid powertrain has been dropped for the new year, while a Sport Speciale special edition sits atop the lineup with 20-inch wheels, silver exterior accents and a black and pearl Alcantara interior.
Design
Alfa Romeo’s “Scudetto” grille (which translates to “little shield” in English) has long been a trademark feature of the Italian automaker’s exterior design language. For 2026, the Tonale’s triangular grille now has a concave design that was inspired by the limited-edition 33 Stradale supercar. The rest of the car’s fascia, including its unique trilobe lower intakes, has been given a makeover. It’s an aggressive look, and one that’s complemented by a slightly wider stance than before. The top-shelf Sport Speciale’s silver accents and optional contrasting black roof make it the meanest Tonale from a visual perspective.
Powertrain
There’s only one engine powering all Alfa Romeo Tonale models for 2026, as the plug-in hybrid powertrain that was offered in 2024 and 2025 is no longer available in the United States. The Tonale’s remaining 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine spins out 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque and is hooked up to a nine-speed automatic transmission. All Tonale models feature Alfa Romeo’s Q4 all-wheel-drive (AWD) system.
Interior
All Alfa Romeo Tonale models benefit from dual digital displays, heated power front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The base Sprint comes with black cloth seats, and the sporty Veloce model gets upgraded black or red leather seating surfaces. The new-for-2026 Sport Speciale trim level’s two-tone Alcantara seats and dashboard coverings lend it a premium feel, while its ambient lighting gives it some customizable flair.
Technology
The Tonale’s 10.3-inch touchscreen display runs Uconnect 5, the infotainment package that proliferates through Stellantis’s automotive lineup. It’s a fairly intuitive system and also offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 12.3-inch digital dashboard sits directly in front of the driver in a double-bubble instrument cluster that looks smart and sporty.
Safety
The 2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale comes standard with a suite of driver-assistance technologies including blind-spot assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, drowsy driver detection, full-speed forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, and rear cross-path detection. An optional Active Assist Package includes active driving assist (a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system that requires the driver to pay attention), a surround-view camera, parking assist, and auto-dimming exterior mirrors.
Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has crash-tested the Tonale since its introduction for the 2024 model year.
Pricing and Release Date
Pricing for the 2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale starts at $36,995 for the Sprint trim level, but a hefty $3,250 destination charge brings that up to $40,245. The Active Assist Package adds $1,250, a Harmon Kardon audio system adds $750, and a power moonroof runs $1,500. Stepping up to either the Tonale Veloce or the Tonale Sport Speciale will cost $44,745 (including destination), and adding Dual Mode Suspension to the Sport Speciale adds a reasonable $350.
The 2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale should arrive on dealer lots by early 2026.
