Compared: 2024 Acura RDX vs. 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale

Acura's value-driven luxury compact SUV holds its own against the sharply styled Alfa Romeo.

Matthew Askari | 

Feb 1, 2024 | 3 min read

Acura | Alfa Romeo

Acura's compact RDX SUV for years has offered an accessible entry point in the luxury SUV segment. But a sharply styled new entrant into the category, Alfa Romeo's plug-in hybrid Tonale, now checks in at a similar price to the RDX. Although the subcompact Tonale is slightly smaller, it has no shortage of European personality.

Alfa Romeo

Acura RDX and Alfa Romeo Tonale Have Similar Costs and Different Features

Acura charges just over $45,000 for the base RDX, which has standard all-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine making 272 horsepower. Alfa Romeo's entry-level Tonale starts just below $45,000 and features a 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine paired to an electric motor, creating a plug-in hybrid system capable of emissions-free short-distance driving. The plug-in hybrid pairing combines for 285 horsepower.

To get into the top-of-the-line RDX A-Spec Advance, you'll need to spend about $55,000, which gets you, among other things, 20-inch alloy wheels, an acoustic glass windshield designed to reduce sound intrusion, adaptive dampers, automatic windshield wipers, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. The A-Spec Advance also features ventilated front seats with perforated leather, ultrasuede trim, and contrast stitching and piping. It also comes with a moonroof and an ELS Studio 3D audio system with 16 speakers.

The top Tonale Veloce trim costs more than $50,000, and it doesn't include some features found on the RDX A-Spec Advance. On the top-tier Tonale Veloce, for example, a power moonroof will cost an additional $1,200. You'll also need to add the Premium Interior Package for another $1,500 if you want ventilated leather seats or spend $2,500 for the Premium Interior and Sound Package in order to get an upmarket Harman Kardon audio system.

The least expensive Tonale still includes handy features such as remote start, a perk that will cost nearly $500 as an add-on in the RDX. A wireless device-charging system also comes standard on the Tonale, while Acura charges a few hundred more for a wireless charging pad.

The base RDX has a few notable feature advantages of its own. All RDX models come with 19-inch wheels standard, while the base Tonale Sprint runs on 18-inch wheels — you can upgrade to 19-inch wheels for $1,500. Every RDX gets a nine-speaker stereo system standard, while the Tonale's entry system is a six-speaker setup.

Acura

The Alfa Romeo Tonale Isn't as Spacious as the Acura RDX

At 187 inches, Acura's compact SUV is about 9 inches longer than the subcompact Alfa Romeo. The RDX's wheelbase stretches nearly 5 inches longer as well.

Despite that extra length, legroom is nearly identical to the Tonale's in the front and for rear passengers. The RDX is slightly wider, and that translates to a few extra inches of shoulder room for everyone in the cabin. Headroom is similar on both models.

Where you do see a substantial difference is in cargo room. With the seats folded up, the Tonale offers about 23 cubic-feet, while the RDX offers nearly 30 cu-ft. The RDX has a space advantage when the second-row seats are folded down, as well, offering 8 cu-ft more cargo space than the Tonale.

Alfa Romeo

The Alfa Romeo Has Better Fuel Economy

The Tonale's standard plug-in hybrid design means you can drive up to 33 miles purely using the electric motor. The hybrid setup pays dividends in overall fuel economy, too, as the Tonale's estimated 77 MPGe and 29 mpg significantly bests the RDX's 21/27/23 mpg city/highway/combined.

Matthew Askari

Matthew Askari has written for more than 30 leading publications, both in print and online. His topics of expertise include travel, adventure, luxury, design, and especially all things automotive. At 14, he tried making a driver's license test appointment for his 16th birthday and was told by the DMV they only book nine months out. His eventual birthday appointment was a success, and he's since driven in more than 40 countries on five continents. Among the many cars he's owned, his favorites include a first-generation BMW Z4 and Mark IV VW Golf 1.8T. He's always cooking up that next great road trip.