By Len Ingrassia
Automotive columnist

Alfa Romeo has pulled out the stops, producing a limited-edition luxury subcompact SUV aptly called Tonale Tributo Italiano.

Not only is it cute and fun to drive, the four-door all-wheel drive hatchback is a plug-in hybrid with an electric motor spread underneath. A 15.5 kWh lithium-ion battery charges overnight with house current or in two hours with a 240-volt line.

The hybrid will run 33 miles in pure electric mode at any speed before seamlessly switching to its gasoline engine – a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Together they output 280 horsepower and an exceptional 350 pound-feet of torque while mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

It makes for a sporty ride reaching 60 miles per hour from a dead stop at our test track in a respectable 5.5 seconds. We found the Tributo easily handles curvy roads and straightaways with added grip from its 20-inch paws and fully independent suspension with adaptive dampers.

Off the line under acceleration, the Tonale Tributo emits a throaty exhaust note that exceeds expectations. We did notice some intermittent turbo lag but mostly the engine was responsive and delivered smooth acceleration.

The plug-in hybrid places Tonale in a rare segment including Volvo XC40 and Mercedes-Benz GLA 250. Parent company Stellantis, also owns Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Maserati and RAM, and if interested its Dodge Hornet is a Tonale clone for a whole lot less coin.

Little known fact – Stellantis is the fourth largest automaker in the world ahead of GM, Ford and Hyundai.

Tonale’s lineup for 2025 includes two base trims – a mid $30s gasoline only and a mid $40s plug-in hybrid and the much pricier Tributo. Our optioned-out test car flirted with $60,000.

Available in three colors, the Tonale copies Italy’s flag – green, white and red. Our Verde Fangio Metallic (green) SUV got lots of smiles from passers-by.

Alfa Romeo’s share a distinctive front grille – a vertically oriented, triangular grille coming to a point, similar to a shield. Triple matrix headlights, fender flares and wheel moldings set the Tonale apart along with diamond cut five-hole alloy wheels adding a sporty presence.

Leather and microsuede surfaces fill most interior surfaces along with aluminum trim. A 12.3-inch gauge cluster monitors engine vitals while a 10.25-inch digital color touchscreen contains a plethora of apps, cabin climate, entertainment and navigation controls with only a slight learning curve to become familiar with its operation.

A three-spoke steering wheel has redundant controls and oversize paddle shifters are mounted behind for the enthusiast who enjoys a manual shift experience.

Aside from limited headroom for front passengers, the cabin is upscale with retro air vents, steering wheel mounted start/stop engine controls and wireless connectivity for AppleCarPlay and Android Auto. Lumbar support is optioned for driver and passenger and our tester added surround view camera system, parallel and perpendicular park assist with stop and remote start.

A full suite of driver assist features includes an active driving assist system, front and rear sensors, automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection.

What was reviewed:

2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale Tributo Italiano EAWD

Engine: 1.3-liter turbocharged I-4, 15.5 kWh battery, 285 combined horsepower

MSRP/as tested: $51,995/$59,590

EPA mileage: 33 miles electric, 77MPGe combined, 29 mpg combined fuel economy

Assembled: Pomigliano, Italy. U. S. / Canadian parts – 0 percent; Major source of foreign parts, Italy – 56 percent, China -12 percent. Country of origin, engine – Poland and transmission – Italy.

Crash test ratings: Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had tested the Tonale as of this writing.

Warranty: 4 year/50,000-mile bumper to bumper; 4 year/50,000-mile powertrain; 8 year/100,000-mile – hybrid system and high voltage battery.

Contact independent automotive columnist Len Ingrassia at editor@ptd.net)