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.
The 156 is quite a sporty car, so comfort is not five star. But, it is a relaxed motorway cruiser, and rides quietly and comfortably enough. The sport suspension pack stiffens the suspension noticeably - you're better off without it. Adequate in front, a little tight in the rear, but the boot is fairly capacious. Oddments space is average. The estate is a lifestyle machine rather than a lugger, seriously lacking the load capacity of its rivals. Mounted low in the centre console, the stereo is quite a stretch, and its fiddly controls don't help. The speakers aren't the strongest either, but a CD player is standard.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Alfa Romeo 156
wrote on 10 10 2007