Compare the2024 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In HybridVS 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Tonale doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

Both the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid and Tonale have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Tonale’s Rear Cross-Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid and the Tonale have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 67 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Tonale has not been tested, yet.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Tonale’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Alfa Romeo covers the Tonale. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Tonale ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Tonale’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Alfa Romeo only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Tonale.

There are almost 6 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s reliability 18 points higher than the Tonale.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Alfa Romeo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 97 more problems per 100 vehicles, Alfa Romeo is ranked 29th.

On the EPA test cycle the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the Tonale running on electricity (87 city/74 hwy vs. 77 city/77 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the Tonale running its gasoline engine (35 city/35 hwy vs. 29 city/29 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Tonale requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Alfa Romeo Tonale (6). This means the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Tonale every 15,000 miles.

For better traction, the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has larger tires than the Tonale (235/55R19 vs. 225/55R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Tonale.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s wheelbase is 4.7 inches longer than on the Tonale (108.5 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 1.7 inches wider in the rear than on the Tonale.

For greater off-road capability the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has a 2.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Tonale (8.3 vs. 5.6 inches), allowing the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Tonale doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has 1.3 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front hip room, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 1.5 inches more rear legroom, .4 inches more rear hip room and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Tonale.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s rear seats recline. The Tonale’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Tonale with its rear seat up (31.9 vs. 22.9 cubic feet). The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Tonale with its rear seat folded (66.3 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

Both the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid and the Tonale have standard heated front seats. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Limited also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Tonale.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Tonale’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.