Alfa Romeo's Smallest Crossover Becomes a Police Car in Italy

Said to feature "ballistic and shatterproof protection," the Alfa Romeo Tonale police vehicle features the typical livery that mixes white and blue and a hint of the Italian flag. It comes with emergency lights, a radio, and all the necessary gear to help it fight crime. Powering it is the 1.5-liter electrified mill with 163 horsepower and a 7-speed automatic transmission.

In total, Stellantis will have to supply a total of 850 cars to the Italian State Police in the first half of 2024. The Tonale follows in the footsteps of other Alfa Romeos that took on this role over the decades, including the Giulia and its predecessor, the 159, as well as the 1900 Super TI, Giulietta 1300, Giulia Super 1600, and others.

This isn't the Tonale's first venture into the world of crimefighting, as it also joined Italy's Carabinieri earlier this year as part of a lot comprising 400 cars. Just like the one used by the State Police, it packs the same engine in the same configuration, taking under eight seconds to hit 100 kph (62 mph). Partial armoring is on deck, alongside a slightly modified interior to house long firearms and bulletproof vets, and the usual strobe and emergency lights, siren, and the Carabinieri attire on the outside.

A sibling to the Dodge Hornet, the Alfa Romeo Tonale entered production last year. It builds on the same platform as the second-gen Jeep Compass and sits under the Stelvio in the brand's lineup. In the United States, the company offers it in three trim levels, including the Sprint, Ti, and Veloce. Pricing starts at $43,845 for the most affordable variant, $46,155 for the mid-spec, and $50,195 for the range-topper, excluding the $1,595 destination charge.

Regardless of your choice, all versions of the Tonale pack an electrified 1.3-liter gasoline engine that enjoys a combined output of 285 horsepower. This model comes with a six-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive, returning 77 MPGe on average, no matter the grade.

The Dodge Hornet comes with a 2.0L straight-four rated at 268 horsepower in the GT and GT Plus trim levels, with a nine-speed automatic transmission and AWD. Pricing starts at $31,400 and $36,400, respectively. The RT and R/T Plus feature the 1.3L hybrid with 288 hp, and they carry respective MSRPs of $41,400 and $46,400. The average fuel consumption of the latter two is identical to that of the Alfa Romeo Tonale, whereas the more affordable versions return 24 mpg.