Alfa Romeo Tonale vs Lexus RX

The Alfa Romeo Tonale starts from $56,900 before on-road costs, while the Lexus RX opens at $90,350. That makes the Alfa Romeo Tonale the more affordable entry point by $33,450.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $62,590 and $99,385 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

Both the Alfa Romeo Tonale and Lexus RX hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 84% for the Alfa Romeo Tonale and 90% for the Lexus RX.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Alfa Romeo Tonale packs more ADAS features with 7 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 6 in the Lexus RX.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the Alfa Romeo Tonale and 8 in the Lexus RX.

The Alfa Romeo Tonale features a 10.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Lexus RX gets a 14-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Lexus RX counters with head-up display, wireless charging, panoramic roof, heated front seats, ventilated seats and Lexus Premium Sound audio that the Alfa Romeo Tonale does not offer. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Alfa Romeo Tonale gets cloth upholstery while the Lexus RX offers synthetic leather. Climate control is 2-zone in the Alfa Romeo Tonale and 3-zone in the Lexus RX.

The Alfa Romeo Tonale uses a Petrol MHEV producing 118kW and 240Nm of torque, sent through a dct to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.8 seconds.

The Lexus RX responds with a Hybrid making 184kW and 239Nm, paired to a automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.7 seconds.

The Lexus RX has the clear power advantage at 184kW vs 118kW. In the real-world sprint, the Lexus RX is 1.1s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Alfa Romeo Tonale measures 4,528mm long on a 2,636mm wheelbase, 362mm shorter than the Lexus RX at 4,890mm (2,850mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Lexus RX generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 500L in the Alfa Romeo Tonale and 612L in the Lexus RX, giving the Lexus RX a 112L advantage.

For towing, the Lexus RX leads with a 1,500kg braked capacity vs 1,250kg. That 250kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,596/year for the Alfa Romeo Tonale and $1,539/year for the Lexus RX. That is a $57 annual difference in favour of the Lexus RX.

Estimated annual total: $1,596 (Alfa Romeo Tonale) vs $1,539 (Lexus RX). The Lexus RX saves you roughly $57 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 150,000km (Alfa Romeo Tonale) vs 4 years / 100,000km (Lexus RX). The Alfa Romeo Tonale has longer coverage. Capped-price servicing: —4yr (Lexus RX).