Alfa Romeo 156 Saloon (97-05) - Review

Review by Parkers on
The 156 is the alternative to the rather dull executive saloons and will always stand out from the crowd. Its coupé-style bodywork is beautifully designed with a healthy dose of typical Italian flair. But the Alfa is more than just style, it delivers great driving pleasure too and although not as sharp as some of its German rivals, it simply oozes charm and character. What's not so welcome is the patchy build quality, cramped interior and so-so reliability. But if you want something different, the 156 makes a great choice.
3.5 out of 5

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3.5 out of 5

Summary

New price range:

£13,820 - £26,263

Used price range:

£204 - £4,612

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Italian styling, great to drive, strong diesel engines, sporty cabin

Reliability issues, firm ride, average interior build quality

The 156 is the alternative to the rather dull executive saloons and will always stand out from the crowd. Its coupé-style bodywork is beautifully designed with a healthy dose of typical Italian flair. But the Alfa is more than just style, it delivers great driving pleasure too and although not as sharp as some of its German rivals, it simply oozes charm and character. What's not so welcome is the patchy build quality, cramped interior and so-so reliability. But if you want something different, the 156 makes a great choice.

Driving & Performance

  • Performance

    4 out of 5

    "A wide range of engines have been fitted to 156 from a basic-but-lively 1.6 T-Spark to a 3.2 V6..."

  • Handling

    4.5 out of 5

    "Behind the wheel, the 156 is everything you'd expect from a fiery Italian with involving handling..."

Comfort

  • Comfort

    3 out of 5

    "Rear passengers will find that legroom is limited and it's a squeeze with three in the back, but the..."

  • Practicality

    2.5 out of 5

    "Luggage space isn’t great for a saloon - if you need to carry a big loads regularly don't be fooled..."

  • Equipment

    4 out of 5

    "The 2.0 TS, 2.4 JTD and V6 models have alloy wheels, stainless steel tailpipes and headlight washers..."

  • Behind the wheel

    3.5 out of 5

    "Drivers find no problems with the 156’s comfort - the driving position is fully adjustable, the..."

Costs

  • Running costs

    3 out of 5

    "Harsh depreciation is your biggest cost - it's the nature of this market but buying used counters..."

  • Green credentials

    3 out of 5

    "The 156 performs quite well on the eco front. With an average of 190g/km CO2 across the line-up, its..."

Safety & Reliability

  • Safety

    3 out of 5

    "The underlying 156 design dates back to 1998 and is beginning to fall behind in the safety stakes."

  • Reliability

    3 out of 5

    "The 156 was a massive leap forward for Alfa Romeo in terms of build quality, but the saloon has..."

Buying & Selling

  • Buying new

    3.5 out of 5

    "Well equipped and competitively priced, but if you're buying from an Alfa dealer, really push for a..."

  • Buying used

    3.5 out of 5

    "Demand is better for the Sportwagon estate - it was launched after the saloon (mid-2000) and with..."

  • Selling

    3 out of 5

    "Lots of competition and availability keeps prices low, so you may find that your car takes a while..."

Gallery

  • Interior Alfa Romeo 156 Saloon (97-05)
  • Exterior Alfa Romeo 156 Saloon (97-05)

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Owners' reviews