Future Proof
Dodge’s rebadged Tonale has ruffled Paul Horrell’s feathers – and reflects badly on Alfa Romeo
ILLUSTRATION: PAUL RYDING
I find myself sad and angry on multiple levels since clapping eyes on the new Dodge Hornet. You might have seen it, but if not, here’s the elevator pitch so you too can join me in righteous indignation. It’s an Alfa Romeo Tonale with a nose job. Same interior as the Alfa, same profile and glass and all that. Just a slapped-on fake Dodge front end and tail lamps.
It’s exhausting how often we’re obliged to get pissed off with Alfa Romeo. The Tonale itself is, sickeningly, basically on a stretched Fiat 500X underneath. But I tell myself to forgive it because it has different engines from the Fiat, somewhat different suspension, and crucially feels different (if not exactly excellent) to drive. And it has a full done-in-Milan Alfa styling job. Anyway, we have to allow the Tonale a bit of a free pass because if it didn’t exist Alfa would surely go under. Too few people are willing to buy the pedigree Giulia and Stelvio, so the cheaper mongrel Tonale is here to keep the tills ringing. But while compact crossovers as a breed sell like superheated patisserie, I don’t care for any of them and if Alfa were to aim one at me it would be peeing in the wind. So as I say I’ll let the Tonale stand.