Compare the2024 Volkswagen TaosVS 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Taos deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Taos’ side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Tonale’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Taos has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, 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.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Taos’ standard Hill Descent Assist allows you to creep down safely. The Tonale doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

Both the Taos and Tonale have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Taos has Rear Traffic Alert (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 Taos and the Tonale have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, available all wheel drive and rear parking sensors.

The Taos’ corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Tonale’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Taos for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Alfa Romeo only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Tonale.

There are almost 5 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Taos’ warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Alfa Romeo With 28 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Alfa Romeo.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Taos uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Tonale requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Taos FWD’s standard fuel tank has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tonale (13.2 vs. 11.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Taos AWD’s standard fuel tank has 3.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tonale (14.5 vs. 11.2 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Taos higher (7 out of 10) than the Alfa Romeo Tonale (6). This means the Taos produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Tonale every 15,000 miles.

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

The Taos offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Tonale doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Taos 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 Taos’ wheelbase is 1.7 inches longer than on the Tonale (105.5 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Taos’ turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the Tonale’s (35.1 feet vs. 37.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Taos has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Tonale (7.6 vs. 5.6 inches), allowing the Taos to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Volkswagen Taos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 950 pounds less than the Alfa Romeo Tonale.

The Taos has 1.9 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Tonale.

The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Tonale with its rear seat up (27.9 vs. 22.9 cubic feet). The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Tonale with its rear seat folded (65.9 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

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

The Volkswagen Taos outsold the Alfa Romeo Tonale by over 28 to one during 2023.