Alfa Romeo Tonale Euro NCAP crash test

5 stars. Overall excellent performance in crash protection and well equipped with comprehensive and robust crash avoidance technology

The passenger compartment of the Tonale remained stable in the frontal offset test. Dummy numbers demonstrated good protection for the knees and femurs of both the driver and passenger.  Alfa Romeo demonstrated that a similar level of protection would be provided to occupants of different sizes and to those sitting in different positions.  Protection of the front passenger dummy was good for all critical body areas.  Analysis of the deceleration of the impact trolley during the test, and analysis of the deformable barrier after the test, revealed that the Tonale would be an aggressive impact partner in a frontal collision. In the full width rigid-barrier impact, protection of all critical body areas was good for the driver and good or adequate for the rear seat passenger.  In both the side barrier test and the more severe side pole impact, protection of all critical body areas was good and maximum points were scored. Control of excursion (the extent to which a body is thrown to the other side of the vehicle when it is hit from the far side) was found to be marginal. The Tonale does not have a counter-measure to mitigate against occupant to occupant injuries in such impacts. Tests on the front seats and head restraints demonstrated good protection against whiplash injuries in the event of a rear-end collision.  A geometric analysis of the rear seats also indicated marginal whiplash protection.   The Tonale has a standard eCall system which alerts the emergency services in the event of a crash, but not the more advanced system which is rewarded by Euro NCAP.  A multi-collision avoidance system applies the brakes after an impact to avoid secondary collisions.

In the frontal offset test, protection of all critical body areas was good or adequate for all critical body areas, for both the 6 and 10 year dummy, and maximum points were scored for this part of the assessment.  In the side barrier test, protection was good or adequate for all body areas.  The front passenger airbag can be disabled to allow a reward-facing child restraint to be used in that seating position. Clear information is provided to the driver regarding the status of the airbag and the system was rewarded.  All of the child restraint types for which the car is designed could be properly installed and accommodated.

The protection provided by the bonnet to the head of a struck pedestrian was good or adequate at its centre but areas of weak or poor protection were noted around the edge and on the stiff windscreen pillars.  The bumper provided good protection to pedestrians’ legs at all test locations but protection of the pelvis was mixed.  The autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system of the Tonale can detect vulnerable road users, as well as other vehicles.  The system performed adequately in tests of its response to pedestrians and well in its reaction to cyclists.

The AEB system performed adequately in tests of its response to other vehicles, with impacts avoided or mitigated in most test scenarios.  A seatbelt reminder system is standard and the car is equipped with a system which monitors lane position and issues a warning when a pattern characteristic of drowsy or impaired driving is detected.  At present, a combined camera/navigation system is standard which identifies the local speed limit and provides the information to the driver, allowing the speed limiter to be set accordingly.  In the future, a camera-only system may be introduced.  Euro NCAP will test that system in due course to ensure that performance is adequate to maintain the current star rating.  If the car is drifting out of lane, a lane keep assist system gently corrects the vehicle’s path.  The system also intervenes in some more critical situations, to avoid road departure for example.