Compare the2025 BMW X3VS 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the BMW X3 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 X3 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Tonale doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The X3 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Tonale doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the X3 and the Tonale have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, plastic fuel tanks, 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 and available around view monitors.

The X3’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Tonale’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X3 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Alfa Romeo doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Tonale.

There are almost 3 times as many BMW dealers as there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the X3’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Alfa Romeo vehicles. With 20 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Alfa Romeo.

The X3 M50 xDrive’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 108 more horsepower (393 vs. 285) and 81 lbs.-ft. more torque (428 vs. 347) than the Tonale’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the X3 30 xDrive gets better fuel mileage than the Tonale running its gasoline engine (27 city/33 hwy vs. 29 city/29 hwy).

The X3 has 6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tonale (17.2 vs. 11.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the BMW X3, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Tonale.

The X3 M50’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Tonale doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the X3 M50 xDrive’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Tonale:

The X3’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.

For better traction, the X3 has larger standard tires than the Tonale (245/50R19 vs. 225/55R18). The X3’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Tonale (F:255/40R21 & R:285/35R21 vs. 235/45R19).

The X3’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Tonale’s 55 series tires. The X3’s optional 285/35R21 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Tonale’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X3 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Tonale. The X3’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Tonale.

The X3 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 X3’s wheelbase is 9 inches longer than on the Tonale (112.8 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X3 is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Tonale.

For greater off-road capability the X3 M50 xDrive has a 2.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Tonale (8.3 vs. 5.6 inches), allowing the X3 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The X3 30 xDrive’s minimum ground clearance is 2.9 inches higher than on the Tonale (8.5 vs. 5.6 inches).

The X3 has 1.7 inches more front headroom, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Tonale.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the X3’s rear seats recline. The Tonale’s rear seats don’t recline.

The X3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Tonale with its rear seat up (31.5 vs. 22.9 cubic feet). The X3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Tonale with its rear seat folded (67.1 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the X3’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Tonale doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the X3. The Tonale doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Standard Trailer Stabilization Control on the X3 uses the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Tonale doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The engine in the X3 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Tonale. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The X3 offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, 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 X3’s standard Comfort Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, 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.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the X3 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Tonale doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the X3 is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Tonale’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the X3 and the Tonale have standard heated front seats. The X3 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 X3’s Parking Assistant can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling the transmission and speed with the brake pedal. With its available fully controlled system, the driver just activates it and it parks autonomously, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Tonale’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

The BMW X3 outsold the Alfa Romeo Tonale by over 30 to one during 2023.