Alfa Romeo Giulia vs Alfa Romeo Tonale

Enthusiasts are the target audience for Alfa’s sole non-crossover. For starters, it’s a sedan in a world gone mad for SUVs. Also, crash-test ratings are nonexistent, making it a non-starter for anyone who cares about safety. But the elephant in the room is wearing a hat that says reliability and, depending on which publication or research organization is doing the reporting, all the signs point in the wrong direction.

Verdict: With only a four-year/50,000-mile warranty protecting Alfa Romeo owners from potential doom, buying a Giulia is a gamble. Leasing one might be fun, as long as it spends more time in your driveway than in the shop. If only the Giulia boasted the dependability of a Toyota Camry, it could be the most desirable car in its class.

Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: It’s pronounced “toe-NAH-lay.” The name refers to the high-mountain pass in the Rhaetian Alps, and while there may be sophisticates who are unfamiliar with the source, there aren’t any teeing up jokes about phalanges and their keratin tips.

The 2024 Tonale is also the first-ever car to be offered with a non-fungible token, or NFT, certificate, though what that means for the purchaser “IRL” remains to be seen. Alfa suggests that it will improve the car’s resale value, for one thing, because the NFT tracks the vehicle’s life and will serve as digital proof that it has been properly maintained.