The Alfa Romeo Tonale isn’t that old, but the automaker is already giving the compact SUV a makeover for 2026. While not much has changed visually, something is missing under the hood—the hybrid option.
The 2026 Tonale will come with just a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which produces the same 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque as before. It pairs with a nine-speed automatic transmission and Alfa’s Q4 all-wheel-drive system.
What is new is the exterior, or bits of it. The Tonale features a redesigned front fascia, a new concave scudetto—little shield—grille inspired by the 33 Stradale, and more aggressive lower intakes. Alfa designers also reduced the front overhang and widened the front and rear tracks.
Inside, the Tonale’s cabin remains unchanged, although Alfa now offers new trim options. Red leather seats are now available, while every crossover will feature contrast stitching on the dash, door panels, and armrests.
Alfa will offer the 2026 Tonale in three trims: Sprint, Veloce, and the new Sport Special.
The Sport Special sits at the top of the Tonale lineup and comes with silver side skirts and bumper accents, gloss-black Brembo brake calipers, and the new 20-inch three-hole wheels, which Alfa claims are lighter than the outgoing five-hole alloys.
Inside, the Sport Special features exclusive black-and-pearl Alcantara-trimmed seats with white stitching and an Alcantara-wrapped dash, a contrast to the standard fabric seats in the entry-level Tonale Sprint.
The seats feature contrast stitching and the snake logo on the seats. You’ll have to get the Tonale Veloce if you want leather seats. The Veloce also comes with a dual-mode suspension, aluminum shift paddles, and red Brembo brake calipers.
Photo by: Alfa Romeo
Three new colors—Rosso Brera, Verde Monza, and Giallo Ocra—join Alfa Black, Milano White, Grigio Ascari, Verde Fangio, and Misano Blue that have been available since launch. Alfa is also offering a new contrasting black roof option.
The updated Tonale will begin arriving at dealers before the end of the year, and Alfa says it will announce pricing close to its on-sale date. The 2025 Tonale starts at $39,785, which includes the $3,250 destination charge. The 2025 Dodge Hornet, which shares a platform with the Alfa and offers the same engine, costs $31,990 for the entry-level GT.
The Tonale might need more than a mild makeover to reverse the model’s poor sales, which are down 23 percent in the first nine months of the year, with just 2,049 sold. The Tonale first went on sale in the United States for the 2024 model year.
