Compare the2024 Volvo XC40VS 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Volvo XC40 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Alfa Romeo Tonale doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The XC40’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Tonale doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the XC40 and Tonale have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The XC40 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Tonale’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The XC40 has a standard Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WHIPS allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. At the same time the pretensioning seatbelts fire, removing slack from the belts. The Tonale doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The XC40 has standard Post-impact braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Tonale doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the XC40’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Tonale doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the XC40 and Tonale have rear cross-traffic warning, but the XC40 has Braking Intervention (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 XC40 and the Tonale have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the XC40 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 207 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Tonale has not been tested, yet.

The XC40’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Tonale’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the XC40 for 4 years and 40,000 miles. Volvo 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 over 2 times as many Volvo dealers as there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the XC40’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 XC40’s reliability 16 points higher than the Tonale.

The XC40 has 3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tonale (14.2 vs. 11.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Volvo XC40, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Tonale.

For better traction, the XC40 has larger standard tires than the Tonale (235/55R18 vs. 225/55R18). The XC40’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Tonale (245/45R20 vs. 235/45R19).

The XC40 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Tonale; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the XC40’s wheelbase is 2.6 inches longer than on the Tonale (106.4 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the XC40 is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than on the Tonale.

The XC40 B5 Plus handles at .86 G’s, while the Tonale Veloce pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the XC40 has a 2.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Tonale (8.1 vs. 5.6 inches), allowing the XC40 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Volvo XC40 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 250 pounds less than the Alfa Romeo Tonale.

The XC40 is 3.5 inches shorter than the Tonale, making the XC40 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The XC40 has .2 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front hip room, 1 inch more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more rear hip room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Tonale.

The XC40 has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Tonale with its rear seat folded (57.5 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the XC40. The Tonale doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The XC40’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Tonale’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

When the XC40 is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Tonale’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the XC40 and the Tonale have standard heated front seats. The XC40 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Tonale.

The Volvo XC40 outsold the Alfa Romeo Tonale by over 13 to one during 2023.