Alfa Romeo has just found a way to make its Tonale crossover a whole lot cheaper. The Italian automaker is doing it without adding any discounts or more cash on the hood for buyers. Instead, Alfa is bringing us a model it had promised before and then revoked. The gas-only version of the Alfa Romeo Tonale is coming to the US for 2025, and it will have a price tag $10,000 cheaper than the PHEV model.

Tonale Gas Engine Arrives At Last

When Alfa Romeo first launched the Tonale SUV, it said that the US market would get a 2.0-liter gas model and a PHEV with a 1.3-liter four-cylinder. Somewhere along the way, the gas-only model disappeared. The automaker said it was to reduce the company’s emissions footprint in the US. If buyers had to go for the PHEV, it would lower the fleet-average CO2. Plus, its Dodge Hornet sibling was suddenly revealed, and it had both engines. Making the Alfa PHEV only helped make it a bit more premium.

Alfa Romeo has reversed course for 2025. Now the 256-horsepower gas version will be sold here. The starting price for the gas crossover, which will come standard with AWD, is $36,495 plus destination ($1,595).

That’s nearly $10,000 less than the plug-in hybrid model, which starts from $45,995 before any incentives. Alfa is offering a $7,250 EV incentive at the moment on 36-month leases.

For the PHEV, that’s an increase of $2,150. The increase is at least partly related to Alfa’s move to remove trim levels and sell one grade with a few option packages instead. PHEV Tonales offer 272 horsepower thanks to the 180-hp engine and a 121-hp motor. The Tonale delivers an EPA-estimated range of 33 miles.

Lower Price Point Should Help Improve Tonale Sales

With the Tonale selling slowly, this new variant could give it a much-needed boost. It will also offer Alfa a significantly lower entry price to the brand without the need for discounts. A quick look at 2024 Tonale PHEV models shows dealers offering discounts of $8,000 or more to try and help move inventory. Alfa has only sold 2,737 copies of the Tonale in the first three quarters of 2024. That’s about the same number of Cherokees that Jeep dealers have sold this year and that model went out of production in March 2023.

Standard equipment levels are similar for the two. The gas Tonale gets standard 18-inch wheels and 8-way adjustable heated power seats plus a heated steering wheel. A 10.25-inch center screen is standard, along with a 12.3-inch digital dash.

There’s no word on when the gas-powered models will arrive at dealers, but some dealers have already listed them as on the way.