Compare the2024 Subaru SolterraVS 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Solterra 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.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Solterra are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Tonale doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Solterra has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies 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.

Both the Solterra and Tonale have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Solterra has 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 Solterra and the Tonale have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger 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.

The Subaru Solterra has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Tonale has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Solterra 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Alfa Romeo covers the Tonale. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Tonale ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 5 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Solterra’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 Solterra’s reliability 17 points higher than the Tonale.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Alfa Romeo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 43 more problems per 100 vehicles, Alfa Romeo is rated below average.

On the EPA test cycle the Solterra gets better mileage than the Tonale running on electricity:

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

The Solterra can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 222 to 227 miles. The Tonale has to start its internal combustion engine after only 33 miles.

The Solterra’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 Solterra has larger tires than the Tonale (235/60R18 vs. 225/55R18).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Solterra’s wheelbase is 8.4 inches longer than on the Tonale (112.2 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Solterra is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Tonale.

For better maneuverability, the Solterra’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the Tonale’s (36.7 feet vs. 37.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Solterra has a 2.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Tonale (8.3 vs. 5.6 inches), allowing the Solterra to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the Solterra uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Tonale doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Solterra has .4 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front hip room, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Tonale.

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

The Solterra has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Tonale with its rear seat up (23.8 vs. 22.9 cubic feet). The Solterra has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Tonale with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Alfa Romeo. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 10% lower rating, Alfa Romeo is ranked 11th.

When the Solterra Limited/Touring 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 Solterra and the Tonale have standard heated front seats. The Solterra Limited/Touring also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Tonale.

The Solterra Limited/Touring’s 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 Subaru Solterra outsold the Alfa Romeo Tonale by over four to one during 2023.