Alfa Romeo Tonale vs Mini Cooper Countryman vs Volvo XC40: Which one has the lowest running costs?

It's the battle of the left-field premium crossovers as the Alfa Romeo Tonale takes on the Mini Countryman and Volvo's XC40 in a running costs battle!

Sean Nurse

4 Jul 2023 · 15:23Buying a Car

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There are many impressive premium compact crossovers to choose from, with the new BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA and the Audi Q3 all springing to mind, however, the often forgotten contenders in the segment are often referred to as "left field" options! The Alfa Romeo Tonale is one of the latest left-field options within the crossover market, and if you're looking to buy one but need to sell your current vehicle first, AutoTrader can get you an Instant Offer!

There is only one powertrain option within the local Tonale range, so how do the base model's running costs compare with two lesser-mentioned rivals in the form of the Mini Countryman and Volvo XC40?

The figures

	Alfa Romeo Tonale 1.5T Hybrid Ti	Mini Cooper S Countryman	Volvo XC40 B3 Ultimate Dark
Engine size	4-cyl, 1.5-litre turbo petrol + electric	4-cyl, 2.0-litre turbo petrol	4-cyl, 2.0-litre turbo petrol + 48-Volt electric
Power/Torque	118 kW/240 Nm	141 kW/280 Nm	110 kW/265 Nm
Gearbox	7-speed dual-clutch auto	7-speed dual-clutch auto	8-speed automatic
Seats	5	5	5
Airbags	6	6	6
Driven wheels	Front	Front	Front
Load Capacity	500-litres	450-litres	452-litres
Fuel capacity	55-litres	51-litres	54-litres
Claimed consumption	5.7 L/100 km	6.7 L/100 km	7.1 L/100 km
CO2 emissions	130 g/km	153 g/km	162 g/km
Service plan	5-year/ 100 000km (Maintenance)	5-year /100 000km (Maintenance)	5-year/100 000km (Maintenance)
Price	R754 900	R748 981	R751 400

Related: Alfa Romeo Tonale 1.5T Hybrid Veloce (2023) Review

Comparing the trio

Purchase price

The models we have chosen for this comparison are competitors from a pricing and body-style perspective. Monthly instalments are calculated throughout 72 months with a 10% deposit and no balloon or residual. The interest rate is set at 12%.

Alfa Romeo Tonale 1.5T Hybrid Ti

With the instalment parameters in place, the Tonale will work out at R13 283 per month over 72 months.

Mini Cooper S Countryman

With the instalment parameters in place, the Countryman will work out at R13 178 per month over 72 months.

Volvo XC40 B3 Ultimate Dark

With the instalment parameters in place, the XC40 will work out at R13 221 per month over 72 months.

Fuel consumption

On paper, the Tonale has the lowest claimed fuel consumption followed by the Countryman and the the XC40. The real-world figures produced by the trio, from our experience, have the order very much the same, with Toanle being the most frugal of the three.

Service plans

All three contenders come with identical 5-year/100 000km maintenance plans.

Verdict

Having looked at the data, in the first five years of ownership, we would be confident that the Alfa Romeo Tonale would be fractionally cheaper to run than both the Mini and the Volvo.

Written by Sean Nurse

With a lifelong passion for cars, bikes, and motorsport, Sean knew that attaining a degree in journalism would allow him to pursue his passion, which was to be a motoring journalist. After graduating in 2012, Sean was awarded a bursary from the SAGMJ which allowed him to work for a variety of motoring publications. This was a dream come true for Sean, and after a year of gaining vital industry experience, he was hired as a motoring journalist at a local newspaper and worked his way up to editor. In 2020, Sean joined the AutoTrader team and counts himself lucky to wake up and genuinely love what he does for a living.Read more