Alfa Romeo GT (2004-) Review

On the road

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Throttle response? Crisp but never snatchy. Gearchange? Smooth and easy, if not the most precise. These comments apply equally to all models. So why just three stars? The big-wheeled V6's turning circle is so large as to be a nuisance in tight spots (the others are better), and the view aft through the tiny rear side windows and the letter-box-like rear window makes for tricky manoeuvring. The optional parking sensors are a wise buy. On the plus side, the instruments are comprehensive, the switchgear is sensible (especially the steering-wheel-mounted stereo controls) and the amply-adjustable driving position feels good.

The GT won't disappoint a keen driver. The smooth V6 is a joy, the punch of the JTD is very engaging, and all cars grip hard and are keen to be flung around bends. Their steering has the usual Alfa ultra-quick gearing, now without the small dead patch around the middle, and it gets its power down rather more decorously than you might expect with front-wheel drive and all that torque. If there are downsides, they are that the steering's comfortable weighting doesn't equate to true road feel - it's hard to sense little changes in available grip through your hands - and the handling balance is less sensitive to the throttle than a keen driver might like.

4Car tried some pre-production GTs a when the Alfa engineers were experimenting with rear anti-roll bar settings. They seem to have gone for the softer one; we preferred the thicker one, which made the GT more reactive and 'pointier'. That said, the lighter-nosed JTD and JTS versions are a little more nimble on their feet than the V6 when flicking into a corner.

That mellifluous V6 is as alluring as ever, able to burble happily at low speeds or rev to 6800rpm with a let's-get-going blare, always smooth, never sterile. Sixth gear is good for 151mph, 60mph comes up in 6.6 seconds; it's not quite GTA pace but the power delivery is so well-mannered that 240bhp is plenty. The JTD can't match the soundtrack, but unless you catch it off-boost coming out of a tight corner it proves very impressive with its sluice-gate of torque (225lb ft, greater even than the V6's 221lb ft, and peaking at much lower rpm). There are quieter, smoother diesels but it's good enough given the thrust on offer. The 2.0 JTS, with 165bhp gives a smooth, punchy, revvy drive with a crisp exhaust note. Some markets will also get a 1.8, but the UK won't.