Alfa Romeo 156 (2003-2006) Review

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Only average. The steering, very direct at just over two turns lock-to-lock, has a poor turning circle (up to 11.6m). The firm clutch has an over-centre action about half way through its travel, and a sharp take-up, though you get used to that and might come to appreciate its accuracy. The driving position is such that some drivers will have to compromise and let the steering wheel obscure part of the dials. The six-speed 'box - available with the diesels and the V6 - has a large gap between third and fourth and another between fifth and sixth gears. It has a precise but overly mechanical feel and occasionally baulks on downshifts to second gear. The five-speeder in the lower-spec petrols is smoother but not quite as precise. Not usually that important in a family car, it's the reason (looks aside) that the Alfa wins hearts and steals sales. The steering is incredibly direct and responsive, at little more than two-turns lock-to-lock even hairpin bends are usually hands-on-the-wheel affairs, and there's a noticeable direction change with the merest movement of the wheel from straight-ahead. The car turns keenly, and corners fairly flatly with plenty of grip, eventually erring towards understeer. The steering doesn't have much feel but is also largely uncorrupted by torque steer, unless you're brutal with the throttle in tight corners. The ASR stability control allows a fair degree of slip before it subtly intervenes. If you're a really keen driver, you'll find the Alfa throttle-adjustable in higher speed corners, at its best in the (now defunct) 2.5 V6, which has a sharper high-rev throttle response and more engine braking than other models in the range.

The range begins with a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which is smooth and willing; the 1.8 is similarly refined and both make a nice noise at higher revs. The petrol engine of choice, however, is the 2.0-litre JTS with direct-injection. It pulls well throughout its very broad rev-range and sounds good too, developing 165bhp at its peak. The 1.9 JTD Multijet turbodiesel is a Euro IV compliant 140bhp unit, fairly quiet at idle and reasonably powerful. The best-performing diesel, however, is the 175bhp 2.4-litre five-cylinder JTD turbodiesel. This has fairly astonishing pace above 2000rpm because of its 283lb ft of torque (pulling force). In fact, GTA (reviewed separately) apart, it's the fastest 156 on offer, because the 2.5-litre V6 model is dropped from September 2003. Shame, because it's a lovely engine and (galactic depreciation aside), made an intoxicating car.