Compare the2024 Lexus NXVS 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus NX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Alfa Romeo Tonale doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Lexus NX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Tonale doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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

Both the NX and Tonale have rear cross-traffic warning, but the NX offers optional Parking Support Brake (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 NX 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, 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.

The Lexus NX achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Tonale has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the NX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Alfa Romeo covers the Tonale. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Tonale ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The NX’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Tonale’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are almost 2 times as many Lexus dealers as there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the NX’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 Lexus NX’s reliability 19 points higher than the Tonale and the Lexus NX Hybrid is rated 43 points higher than the Tonale.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Alfa Romeo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Alfa Romeo is rated below average.

The NX 450h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 19 more horsepower (304 vs. 285) than the Tonale’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the NX 450h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Alfa Romeo Tonale:

On the EPA test cycle the NX 450h running on electricity gets better mileage than the Tonale running on electricity (93 city/75 hwy vs. 77 city/77 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the NX running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Tonale running its gasoline engine:

The NX 450h can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 37 miles. The Tonale has to start its internal combustion engine after only 33 miles.

The NX has 3.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tonale (14.5 vs. 11.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The NX has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port on the 450h with a power remote release convenient to the driver and which locks and unlocks with the power locks, respectively. The Tonale doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

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

The NX offers an available continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Tonale doesn’t offer a CVT.

The NX’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Tonale are solid, not vented.

The NX stops shorter than the Tonale:

For better traction, the NX has larger tires than the Tonale (235/60R18 vs. 225/55R18).

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the NX can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Tonale doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the NX’s wheelbase is 2.1 inches longer than on the Tonale (105.9 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the NX is 1 inch wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than on the Tonale.

For greater off-road capability the NX has a 2.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Tonale (7.7 vs. 5.6 inches), allowing the NX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Lexus NX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 450 pounds less than the Alfa Romeo Tonale.

The NX has 2 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room and .3 inches more rear headroom than the Tonale.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the NX’s rear seats recline. The Tonale’s rear seats don’t recline.

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

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Alfa Romeo. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 96% lower rating, Alfa Romeo is ranked 32nd.

The NX’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Tonale has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

The NX offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Tonale doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The NX’s standard Smart Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless-Enter-n-Go standard on the Tonale doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The NX offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Tonale doesn’t offer headlight washers.

When the NX 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 NX and the Tonale have standard heated front seats. The NX 350/350h 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 NX 350h/450h+’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Tonale’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The NX is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Tonale doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus NX, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Alfa Romeo Tonale isn't recommended.

The Lexus NX outsold the Alfa Romeo Tonale by almost 36 to one during 2023.