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  • Road Test: Alfa Romeo 156 (1997-2002)
    Compact Executive
    Alfa Romeo 156 (97-02)
    4CAR RATING:

    Assets
    Styling, performance, driving enjoyment, practicality and, above all, character; now very cheap second-hand buys.

    Drawbacks
    Slightly cramped in the rear, the dealer network is not the best, poor reliability record.

    Verdict
    Great to look at and great to drive, it makes a refreshing alternative to a BMW or an Audi, if not the most sensible option.

      next: Introduction
    Introduction Alfa Romeo hadn't offered a competitive car in this class for years...

    Reliability & Quality
    Image
    Driving
    Performance
    Safety & Security
    Running Costs
    Comfort & Equipment
    Readers' Drives 



     BEST COMPACT EXECUTIVE CARS

    Want to know the best cars in this class? Here's our current picks.

    BMW 3-Series
    Audi A4
    Alfa Romeo 159

    See Best Compact Executive Cars In Class




    More in the Road Test Archive