CASH COW

Look past the name, and the fact it's yet another midsize family crossover... because Alfa's new SUV matters more than you know

- PAUL HORRELL

The launch of any new Alfa Romeo triggers massive spikes of interest. And here's a new Alfa Romeo. So, now we've got your attention... here's a new midsize family crossover. A type of vehicle for which enthusiasm is in rather shorter supply. Still, it's pretty, and it's an Alfa.

You'll remember the Tonale concept car (three syllables, rhymes with finale) from the last time the Geneva show was a thing, back in 2019. The production version has the same name and its design has survived very much unscathed. Well, apart from the usual concept-toshowroom peripherals - smaller wheels, bigger lights and mirrors, actual windscreen wipers and doorhandles.

In brief, it's the size of an Audi Q3 and comes with petrol and diesel front drive, and a powerful PHEV with electric drive to the rear wheels, totalling 271bhp. Alfa is confident enough in the reliability to offer a five-year warranty on the Tonale, and eight years on the hybrid battery.

OK, but you might be wondering what Alfa Romeo is doing here. This is the company that once competed on a level with Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Bugatti. That invented the modern sports saloon, and endless pretty coupes. That provided flat-12 engines for Gordon Murray's winning Brabhams. And which gave rise to the Top Gear dictum that you're not a car enthusiast unless you've owned an Alfa.

Everyone wants Alfa Romeo to thrive. But here we strike Alfa's stubborn problem. It has a wonderful sports saloon. It has the best-driving big crossover. But it can't shift them. Sales worldwide are swamped by the German equivalents. So Alfa has decided to go where the buyers are and build a mildly sporty crossover.

Why can't Alfa Romeo thrive by doing what history says it's good at - beautiful fast cars, rather than getting into this workaday part of the market? Let's ask the boss, Jean-Philippe Imparato. “I need stability.