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

Other Alfa Romeo reviews

3 out of 5

Running costs

Harsh depreciation is your biggest cost - it's the nature of this market but buying used counters this, making it more competitive. Servicing is generally good value at Alfa Romeo dealers and insurance is about average for the class.

* based on most recent data

Estimated fuel cost for 10,000 miles per year

Unleaded

£1,805 - £2,668 *

Diesel

£1,335 - £1,526 *

The estimated fuel cost figure is a guide to how much this model will cost to fuel each year, so you can compare between cars. It's calculated by using the model's average mpg (calculated from both town centre and motorway driving) and the average fuel price. It's based on the following cost-per-litre: petrol 135p and diesel 141p. Prices are updated daily.

Summary Running Costs

Servicing period

12,000 miles

Warranty

Mechanical three years, bodywork eight years

Road tax (12 months)

£170.00 - £270.00

Vehicle excise duty (VED) varies according to the CO2 emissions and the fuel type of the vehicle. For cars registered after March 1st 2001 VED or road tax is based on the car's CO2 emissions. For cars registered before March 1st 2001 it is based on engine size.

Full running costs data

3 out of 5

Green credentials

  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
    155
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
    283

CO2 emission figure (g/km)

Fuel economy rating

The arrows indicate the best and worst CO2 bands for this model.

Emissions summary

The 156 performs quite well on the eco front. With an average of 190g/km CO2 across the line-up, its emissions are fairly standard for a medium-sized saloon. However, it's worth noting that the line up has a high number of diesel models, bringing the average down and giving buyers more choices of low-emission versions. Diesels typically produce less CO2 than petrol engines with similar power outputs. The range is not particularly economical, averaging 38mpg.

Find the exact engine and CO2