Category: Large Family 
Price Range: £28,545 to £28,545
Stylish looks, value for money, performance and character, a well-priced second-hand buy
Slightly cramped rear accommodation, driving position not to everyone's tastes, build quality still a little behind the Germans
A thoroughly entertaining car that's a real alternative to its German rivals. Storming GTA is wild and visceral and new direct injection 2.0-litre petrol engine shows Alfa has its finger on the technological pulse
The quality of the 156 vastly improved over that of the old 155, so problems with rust should be history.
The first-generation 156 suffered electronic glitches and troubles with the Selespeed gearbox, but this model received the more advanced 147-sourced wiring loom and a revised Selespeed 'box. Interior quality also improved.
Quality has not been great, and the car has been let down by poor dealer support, but there are plenty of excellent independent Alfa specialists out there who have debugged the 156 and understand it well.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Alfa Romeo 156
wrote on 10 10 2007