Alfa Romeo Brera S (2008-) Review

Comfort and Equipment

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The Alfa Brera S is a comfortable car in which to travel, provided you're sitting in the front. Rear passengers get a very raw deal, because knee room is virtually non-existent for adults and headroom is equally hopeless - but we won't be overly critical for something inherent in a coupe's make-up.

The front seats are bespoke to the S and although they look very nice finished in very fine black Frau leather with red stitching, they offer little in the way of side support, which is surprising when you consider the Brera S's handling frailties. Front occupants do get plenty of space, however, but you do feel that you are sitting unnaturally high most of the time, even with the seat setting at its lowest.

Dual-zone air con, cruise control and 19" lightweight alloy wheels are standard, as is a trip computer - but its red-script screen, between the speedometer and the rev-counter, looks a bit cheap. So are a full-screen colour sat nav system with Connect telematics (including a direct line to an information centre), and a Bose sound system to complement the standard CD player.

The Bose bass unit robs the otherwise generous, but quite high-lipped, boot of some space, but you can fold the rear seats to make more room for excess baggage. Storage space isn't brilliant, the huge glovebox lid promising a cavernous compartment that sadly isn't there. The door pockets are small, too, as is the compartment under the centre armrest which also contains the remote boot-release switch (there's another on the key but no external release button).

There's a little wind rush around the frameless door windows, but otherwise the Brera is pretty quiet unless you're listening to the gulping of an open throttle. The 19" tyres can resonate over certain coarse surfaces too.