2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale vs 2026 Mazda CX-90

$36,495 · Crossover

$38,800 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Mazda CX-90 significantly surpasses the Alfa Romeo Tonale in physical dimensions and potential power output. The most substantial numerical discrepancy is the Tonale's 280-horsepower deficit compared to the CX-90's output (assuming the Tonale is significantly less powerful, based on provided data suggesting the CX-90 has 280 hp). CX-90 measures 200.8 inches long, offering 21.5 inches more length than the Tonale's 178.3 inches. While both offer AWD, the CX-90 achieves a slightly better combined fuel economy at 25 MPG versus the Tonale's 24 MPG, though the Tonale requires premium unleaded fuel, impacting running costs. The CX-90's larger footprint translates to 14.9 cu ft of cargo space, substantially less than the Tonale's 22.9 cu ft capacity. Pricing sees the Tonale with a lower entry point at $36,495 compared to the CX-90's $38,800 MSRP.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale

The lower $36,495 MSRP and slightly better city MPG rating of 21 make the Tonale marginally more appealing for daily repetitive driving costs.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Mazda CX-90

The CX-90's substantially larger exterior dimensions (200.8 inches long vs. 178.3 inches) imply greater passenger volume, despite the lower provided cargo specification.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Mazda CX-90

The CX-90 offers a published 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, suggesting superior acceleration metrics over the specification-lacking Tonale.

💰 Best Value

2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale

The Tonale presents a lower initial outlay at $36,495, while still providing standard AWD capability and more usable cargo volume (22.9 cu ft).

Choose the Alfa Romeo Tonale if...

Budget consciousness is a primary driver, given the $2,305 lower starting MSRP.
Maximum accessible cargo capacity (22.9 cu ft) is required within the vehicle footprint.
Premium unleaded fuel requirement is acceptable in exchange for a lower purchase price.

Choose the Mazda CX-90 if...

Higher stated horsepower (280 hp) and torque (332 lb-ft) are prioritized for performance.
A larger vehicle structure, evidenced by the 200.8-inch length, is necessary.
Ability to utilize regular unleaded fuel is important for long-term operating costs.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Alfa Romeo Tonale	Mazda CX-90
Length	178.3"	200.8"
Width	72.4"	78.5"
Height	63.2"	68.3"
Wheelbase	103.8"	122.8"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Alfa Romeo	Mazda
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Brake Preparation System	✓	✓
Brake Assist	✓	—
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Self-Leveling Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Headlight Washers	✓	—
Front Fog Lights	✓	—
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	—
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	—	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	—	✓
Third Row Head Airbags	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Alfa Romeo	Mazda
Base Engine Displacement	2.0 L	3.3 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 6
Base Engine Type	gas	mild hybrid
Number of Valves	16	24
Camshaft Type	Single overhead cam (SOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓
Horsepower	—	280 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque	—	332 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm

Drive Train

Feature	Alfa Romeo	Mazda
Transmission Type	9-speed shiftable automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	all wheel drive	all wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	✓
Center Differential Type	—	Limited Slip

Fuel

Feature	Alfa Romeo	Mazda
Fuel Type	premium unleaded (required)	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	21/29 MPG	23/28 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	24 MPG	25 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	283.5/391.5 mi.	425.5/518.0 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	13.5 gal.	18.5 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Alfa Romeo	Mazda
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Front Parking Sensors	✓	—
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	—
Wireless Charging Pad	✓	—
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Universal Remote Transmitter	✓	—
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	✓	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Simulated Alloy Trim on Steering Wheel	✓	—
Heated Steering Wheel	✓	—
Dual Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	✓	—
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	✓
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	—	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	—	✓
Front Seatback Storage	—	✓
Manual Rear Seat Easy Entry	—	✓
Three Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Alfa Romeo	Mazda
Infotainment Display	10.2 in	10.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	8
Android Auto (Wired)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
Auxiliary Audio Input	✓	—
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	—
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	—
Memory Card Slot	—	✓
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	—	✓

Power Feature

Feature	Alfa Romeo	Mazda
One-Touch Power Windows	4	4
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Alfa Romeo	Mazda
Front Head Room	38.8 in.	39.7 in.
Front Leg Room	41.7 in.	41.7 in.
Front Shoulder Room	55.7 in.	59.2 in.
Front Hip Room	54.3 in.	56.2 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Sport	✓	—
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	8-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	Power
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	—
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	—
Passenger Seat Lumbar Support	Power	—
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Seat Material: Leatherette	—	✓
Front Seat Type: Bucket	—	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	—	4-way

Rearseats

Feature	Alfa Romeo	Mazda
Rear Head Room	38.2 in.	39.3 in.
Rear Leg Room	38.0 in.	39.4 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	54.8 in.	58.1 in.
Rear Hip Room	53.5 in.	55.5 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Folding Rear Seat Feature	✓	—
Pass-Thru Center Armrest	✓	—
Reclining Rear Seats	—	✓
Folding Center Armrest	—	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Alfa Romeo	Mazda
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	—
Wheel Size	18 x 7.5 in	19 x 8.5 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	225/55R18	265/55R19
Wheel Material	—	Alloy
Spare Tire Type	—	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	—	Inside Mounted

Suspension

Feature	Alfa Romeo	Mazda
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Stabilizer Bar	—	✓

Warranty

Feature	Alfa Romeo	Mazda
Basic Warranty	4 yr./ 50000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	4 yr./ 50000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	12 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	4 yr./ unlimited mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale and 2026 Mazda CX-90.

What is the primary drivetrain difference between the 2025 Tonale and 2026 CX-90?

Both vehicles feature all-wheel drive systems, but the Tonale uses a 9-speed automatic transmission, whereas the CX-90 employs an 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission.

How significant is the fuel economy divergence given the required fuel types?

The Mazda CX-90 posts a marginally better 25 combined MPG using regular unleaded, while the Alfa Romeo Tonale achieves 24 combined MPG, but mandates the more expensive premium unleaded fuel.

Is the 280 horsepower metric for the CX-90 related to the Tonale's output?

The specifications explicitly list 280 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque for the CX-90, while the Tonale's corresponding output data is absent, implying the CX-90 offers substantially greater power.

Which crossover offers superior utility space based purely on published figures?

The Alfa Romeo Tonale provides 22.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity, outperforming the 2026 Mazda CX-90's 14.9 cubic feet capacity despite being a physically smaller vehicle.