Which? works for you. Which? Car review Alfa Romeo 156 ( ) On sale: Dec 1997 Class: Large cars New price: - Used price: From 1,095

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1 Which? works for you Which? Car review Alfa Romeo 156 ( ) On sale: Dec 1997 Class: New price: Used price: From 1,095 Performance: Boot & Storage: Ride comfort: Safety: handling: Reliability: Stylish, with the Sportwagon a greatlooking estate car. Agile handling and good performance. Frugal, powerful diesel engines. Weird pedal positioning for the driver and an uncomfortable rear seat. Small boot opening, and the Sportwagon s hardly a loadlugger. Alfa Romeos haven t had a great track record. Ṯotal score: Recommended models in the range Which? Car Top Choice Model 2.4 JTD 20v Multijet Veloce 5dr New price: Used price: 1,925 Fastest Model 3.2 V6 24V GTA Selespeed 5dr New price: Used price: 3, mph: 6.3 secs Most Efficient Model 1.9 JTD TI 4dr New price: Used price: 1,925 Combined fuel economy: 48.7 mpg Cheapest Model to buy new New price: Overview The 156 was a big success for Alfa Romeo in the UK. Its blend of style, practicality and performance won many buyers over. With the 156, Alfa managed to show that practical doesn t have to mean boring; the 156 is a familysized car with more than a hint of sporting intent. However, ownership isn t as straightforward as for some of its competitors, and you may need to budget for big servicing and repair bills. Besides the fourdoor saloon with clever hidden door handles, which give the appearance of a coupestyle body, there s the Sportwagon estate which looks great but actually has no more bootspace than the saloon. There s also a wide choice of engines, from the lively 1.6litre petrol to the 2.5 V6 and the 156 GTA s 250bhp 3.2 V6, with 1.9 and 2.4litre diesels giving a variety of outputs. The 156 sold well and there are plenty to choose from secondhand; you can afford to be picky about specification and condition, as it s a buyer s market. Without exception, the engines provide eager performance; even the base model 1.6 feels lively from the getgo, although it can feel a bit strained at higher speeds. The diesels are the real jewels in the crown early 5cylinder 2.4 JTDs provide huge amounts of torque (205 lb.ft) and the later 1.9 JTD is a worthy replacement. Petrol engines are badged TS (Twin Spark, with two spark plugs per cylinder) or JTS (denoting direct injection). The specification levels are also distinctive; entrylevel versions are badged Turismo, and are nonetheless wellequipped, with Lusso pretty luxurious, and Veloce models having all the necessary sporty trimmings. Cheapest Model to buy used 1.6 TS 4dr Used price: 1,095 Cheapest Model to Run (new) New price: Running costs: (3 years/36,000 miles) Owner s View People laugh at me for owning it but I cry for them because their cars all seem the same to me.

2 Alfa Romeo 156 ( ) On the road The 156 offers the best of both worlds sporty handing with a compliant ride but you do need to choose your wheel/tyre combinations carefully. Try before you buy, as some of the options are uncompromisingly firmriding and teethrattling. Performance We ve tried three engines in the 156: two diesels and a petrol. Earlier diesel 156s were only offered with the 2.4 JTD 5cylinder engine, but this was later joined by the 1.9 JTD 4cylinder unit. The updated 2.4 JTD in post2002 cars is extremely powerful, especially in 20valve form with a high power output of 175bhp. It s surprisingly smooth, with lots of power in reserve for safe overtaking, and there s almost no vibration transmitted into the cabin during normal use. The 1.9 JTD we tried was the 8valve with 115bhp (in the Sportwagon bodystyle). Performance is still fairly brisk, although not as impressive as the 2.4 s. Vibration is still wellsuppressed, and flexibility is good. Both diesel cars suffer from a fairly sharp clutch be careful not to stall when pulling away from rest. Both the diesels we tested use a sixspeed gearbox, with first and second gears which are a touch short, meaning changing up very early. Luckily, sixth gear allows relaxed cruising. Of the petrol cars, we ve only assessed the 2.0 JTS saloon, but it s smooth and responsive provided you re in the right rev range. Flexibility at very low revs is a bit lacking, though no worse than that of other 2.0litre petrol competitors of its time. This engine has a fivespeed manual gearbox as standard, which shifts cleanly and allows for fairly quiet cruising. Performance We use the sophisticated electronic timing equipment to record standingstart and ingear acceleration, and repeat each test several times. Ride comfort Ride comfort is assessed by our laboratory experts who have driven hundreds of thousands of miles in a myriad of different models. Acceleration (3762mph) diesel 1.9JTD (105bhp) manual 5dr estate 9.3 secs (2000) 4.3 secs 5.1 secs Ride comfort The ride from the sportingly taut suspension setup is surprisingly forgiving, though some of the optional wheels and tyres do make it much, much harsher.

3 Alfa Romeo 156 ( ) On the road continued... Handling The 156 handles very well. The steering is sharp and gives the driver some feedback on what the front wheels are doing. Look for models fitted with electronic stability control (ESC), which Alfa calls VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control). Brakes Brakes on the diesel cars performed better than the petrol version, though the difference is subtle and nothing to worry about it s probably a result of the higher kerbweight of the oilburning models, requiring greater braking capacity. Braking behaviour is safe and predictable, and the 156 pulls up predictably while maintaining a straight line. Braking distance (620mph) diesel 1.9JTD (105bhp) manual 5dr estate 43.5m (2000) 38.0m 38.0m Refinement and noise Diesel 156s are understandably noisier than the petrol versions, but they re comparable to the competitors of the time. Wind and road noise are wellinsulated, although versions with large wheels and lowprofile tyres do transmit more road roar into the cabin. On the while, the 156 has a pleasantly laidout cabin, with some use of quality materials on show. There are a few niggles though, such as the boot release button on the key fob, which can be accidentally activated while starting the engine. Cruising noise 69dB 68dB 68dB Handling Onthelimit handling is explored well away from public roads to ensure a fair test. Our obstacle avoidance test is one of the harshest tests in the industry.. Brakes The Which? Car braking test measures stopping distance from 620mph and is repeated ten times in quick succession to highlight any brake fade issues. Refinement and noise The Which? Car experts use a decibel meter to record interior sound levels at common UK motorway speeds, and combine this with subjective assessments to arrive at an overall score.

4 Alfa Romeo 156 ( ) On the road continued... Cabin and controls Aside from a few minor reservations about the pedal placement, the layout of the 156 is logical and comfortable. You might struggle to find some minor controls though, such as the small heated rear window button and electric mirror adjuster. Visibility and parking The view outward from the 156 is quite good, with most drivers being able to correctly judge the front and rear extremities of the body. Some drivers might complain that the rear view mirrors are a touch too small. Parking sensors were an option on some models. Turning circle 12.6m 12.6m 11.4m Cabin and controls We penalise cars with difficult controls, and we look for things like backlit light switches and easytouse heating and ventilation adjustments. Visibility and parking Visibility is a major issue for motorists today, so each car gets a 360degree swivel view test to reproduce the driver s eye view and any obscured areas.

5 Alfa Romeo 156 ( ) Comfort and practicality As large cars go, the 156 is reasonably practical, although the design approach favours style over usability. It s less awkwardly laidout than Alfas of old, but if you want a large loadspace or loads of rear legroom, then check out the more mainstream opposition. Getting in and out Access is quite good into the 156, although the roofline and seats are quite low, requiring a bit of a stoop to get in. Some passengers might struggle to work out the hidden rear door handles. Seat space and comfort The seats in the 156 are a bit of an acquired taste: some might find the padding a little too soft, and the side support is a bit lacking (on the standard seats we tried: the sports seats are much more firmly bolstered). Overall headroom limits how tall the rear passengers can be; anyone over 1.8m tall might have to crane their necks. Getting in and out We take measurements all around the driver and passenger s door apertures and note the height of the seat, door sills and step down onto the car floor. The best cars don t require too much bending or stretching to get in and out. Seat space and comfort We assess seat comfort subjectively, using our road testers expert knowledge and experience from thousands of different cars. And we measure the head, legand elbowroom on offer in every seat, to see how well the car caters for people of all shapes and sizes.

6 Alfa Romeo 156 ( ) Comfort and practicality continued... Boot and storage Boot capacity for the saloon and Sportwagon estate versions is virtually identical with the rear seats in place (around 350 litres). The main advantage to the Sportwagon bodystyle is the improved access to the luggage compartment via the tailgate, and the folding rear seats (not fitted in the saloon). Boot space (seats up/down) diesel 1.9JTD (105bhp) manual 5dr estate 350 litres / 750 litres (2000) 350 litres / litres 350 litres / litres Heating and ventilation The diesels take noticeably longer to warm up than the 2.0 JTS petrol we tried, which leaves occupants feeling chilly for quite some time after a wintry cold start. Air distribution is good, and some models feature climate control (dualzone in a few cases). All versions at least have air conditioning. Boot and storage Carmakers give official stats for boot space, but our tests are more realistic. We load the boot up with measuring blocks only as far as the rear window line, so that luggage is well secured and won t obscure rear visibility. We repeat the test with the rear seats up, and folded down (where possible). Heating and ventilation Feel sorry for the tester who has to warm each car up from a frosty 10 degrees in our climate chamber. Starting with a cold engine, we measure how long it takes to warm up the front and rear of the cabin. Diesel cars usually take longer. We also check the effectiveness of air conditioning, where fitted.

7 Alfa Romeo 156 ( ) Running costs and depreciation The stylish 156 has been soughtafter secondhand, making its resale values a little more robust than those of previous Alfas, though prices have now eased since more 159s have come onto the used market. Even early Sportwagon estates, rarer than the saloons, are now looking quite cheap. Fuel economy from the diesels is pretty good, insurance is from group 11 (though the GTA s in group 19) and most routine servicing and minor jobs can be done at mainstream garages. We d suggest more complex tasks should be entrusted to an independent Alfa specialist, however. Fuel consumption In our lab tests, the JTD (115bhp) Sportwagon with manual gearbox returned an average 41.5mpg (Alfa Romeo claimed 47.1mpg). The 2.4 JTD 20v (175bhp) manual saloon was nearly as economical, returning 40.9mpg (claimed figure is 42.2mpg) though the 2.0 JTS 16 petrol saloon with manual gearbox did only 30.4mpg (claimed consumption is 32.8mpg). Fuel consumption We test fuel economy under strict lab conditions using realistic test cycles to reveal the facts behind the figures. Our figures rarely match manufacturer claims as, unlike the official mpg test, we measure economy with both a hot and cold engine, and on the motorway. Petrol (combined mpg, claimed) Diesel (combined mpg, claimed) 23.0 mpg 34.4 mpg 41.5 mpg 48.7 mpg Urban (claimed/measured) 35.8 mpg/33.2 mpg 32.1 mpg/31.7 mpg 23.2 mpg/23.5 mpg Extra urban (claimed/measured) 57.7 mpg/58.9 mpg 53.3 mpg/52.3 mpg 42.8 mpg/42.2 mpg Motorway (measured) 36.2 mpg 40.4 mpg 28.2 mpg Combined (claimed/measured) 47.1 mpg/41.5 mpg 42.8 mpg/40.9 mpg 32.8 mpg/30.4 mpg

8 Alfa Romeo 156 ( ) Running costs and depreciation continued... Emissions The early 156s registered prior to March 2001 are taxed at a flat rate good job, given their high carbon dioxide emissions. Of the rest, most petrol models are in the toprate tax band, with even the 1.8 TS emitting over 200g/km; the 2.5 V6 puts out nearly 300g/km. The 2.4 JTD gets down to 180g/km, however, and the 1.9 JTD as low as 161g/km. Petrol (CO2, claimed) Diesel (CO2, claimed) 195g per km 293g per km 155g per km 180g per km Emissions (claimed/measured) 160g per km/235g per km 175g per km/190g per km 205g per km/215g per km Safety and security We don t have any EuroNCAP crash data for the 156, but it scored about average for a large car when we performed our Secondary Safety assessment. It s certainly not as good as the classleader, the Volvo S/V40., however. Euro NCAP score No results available. Which? safety rating Emissions While testing fuel economy, we also collect exhaust gases to enable us to measure the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted. We also check whether particulate filters are effective at removing sooty emissions from diesel engines. Safety We rate cars for safety using Euro NCAP crash test scores (where available), alongside our own comprehensive safety checklist. Uniquely, we also feed in results from our accident avoidance test after all, it s far better to steer around a crash than rely on the airbags... Security Active (crash avoidance) Passive (crash safety) Child Pedestrian Security Security scores come from the security experts at Thatcham, who break into hundreds of cars each year. Most modern cars are very difficult to drive away, but are still too easy to steal from. Theft of car: Theft from car:

9 Alfa Romeo 156 ( ) Which? Car Survey results The Which? Car Survey is the UK s most robust reliability and owner satisfaction survey. In 2015, drivers told us about 58,000 cars, covering more than 484 million miles in the previous 12 months (that s equivalent to driving to the moon and back a hundred times). This unique feedback allows us to rate satisfaction and reliability for hundreds of new and used cars. Note: Star ratings below are from 15 (1 is very poor and 5 is very good). Percentages shown under Most common faults indicate the proportion of owners reporting each problem in the past 12 months. Brand Alfa Romeo ratings Sample size: 300 people Overall owner satisfaction for this brand 81% Brand reliability Dealer Sales Service Dealer Servicing & repair Model: Alfa Romeo 156 ( ) Ownership ratings Sample size: people Overall owner satisfaction for this range About our survey Brand ratings Everyone who takes part in the Which? Car survey tells us about their car and the dealers who sell and service it. We analyse this feedback across all cars to give toplevel satisfaction ratings for each brand, including the brand s reliability record over the last eight years. All star ratings are out of five. Model ownership ratings These show how owners score this car in 12 different areas, from performance to heating. Owners ratings are subjective so may differ from Which? Car test scores but they give a good idea of what the car is like to live with. Where relevant, cars are scored against other cars in the same class (e.g. for space). Owner s View The best driving experience and great performance. It has aged really well despite sometimes neglecting to service it properly. Still looks one of the most stylish cars out there. Love it. Owner s View Impeccably behaved, fun, comfortable and has been mechanically faultless all its life glad I didn t listen to the Alfa naysayers.

10 Alfa Romeo 156 ( ) Which? Car Survey results continued... Reliability ratings Overall Reliability About our survey Reliability ratings Up to 3 years old 48 years old Petrol cars Reliability breakdowns average annual repair cost Diesel cars Reliability breakdowns average annual repair cost All cars Reliability breakdowns average annual repair cost Breakdowns: Percentage of cars suffering a breakdown in last 12 months Average annual repair cost: Average annual cost of repairs (not servicing), in past 12 months We split reliability into breakdowns (including failure to start), faults (where parts need replacing) and problems (minor issues e.g. squeaks and loose trim). Where the car has been on sale for some time, and we have numerous survey responses from owners, we also split scores by the age of car and fuel type. Star ratings are out of five the more stars, the more reliable the car. Most common faults Most common faults Up to 3 years old 48 years old Want to know what s most likely to go wrong as the car gets older? These are the five most common faults reported by owners, grouped by age into new, recent and older cars. A score of 40% means four out of 10 owners reported problems with that part of the car over the previous 12 months. Engine electrics and nonengine electrics (e.g. windows, stereo) cause more headaches than mechanical parts in most modern cars. Failure rate: The proportion of owners reporting this problem in the last year