Category: Compact Executive 
Price Range: £28,545 to £28,545
Styling, performance, driving enjoyment, practicality and, above all, character; now very cheap second-hand buys.
Slightly cramped in the rear, the dealer network is not the best, poor reliability record.
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.
Alfa Romeo hadn't offered a competitive car in this class for years, but it came back with a bang with the 156. Beautifully styled and great to drive, the 156 has been good value for money and has made a characterful alternative to the obvious - German - choices in this sector.
A saloon and estate were offered, with 1.6-, 1.8- and 2.0-litre (four-cylinder) petrol engines, a 2.5-litre petrol V6 and a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel. There is also an automatic (called Selespeed) whose gearshifts can be triggered from the steering wheel, Formula One-style.
These early 156 saloons (the Sportwagon estate arrived later) are now virtually banger money as second-hand purchases. If you find a well-maintained one, it's a fantastic way to get a stylish sporting car for very little outlay.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Alfa Romeo 156
wrote on 10 10 2007