2010 Alfa Romeo 156 Review
Price
from: RM210,650
to: RM351,650
Installment
from: RM2,009/mth
to: RM3,354/mth
2010 Alfa Romeo 156 at a glance
With stylish looks, wonderful handling and strong engines, the 2010 Alfa Romeo 156 appeals to driving enthusiasts who do not mind less comfort, refinement, practicality—or that there is the newer Alfa Romeo 159.
2010 Alfa Romeo 156 quick specs
| Body Style | Sedan |
| Class | Compact Luxury |
| Assembled | - |
| Engine Range | - |
| Fuel Options | - |
| Seating Capacity | 5 |
2010 Alfa Romeo 156 ratings (overall rating : 3/5.0)
| Styling | |
| Handling | |
| Comfort | |
| Quality + Reliability | |
| Performance |
| Roominess | |
| Running Costs | |
| Value for Money | |
| Equipment | |
| Environment |
Styling
The bottomline: Alfa Romeo designs cars that look good. And for what was their bread-and-butter model, the Alfa Romeo 156, the Italian firm certainly penned a wonderful looking sedan, by standards back then at least. The GTA adds an aggressive styling kit for a sportier look. The cabin is sporty, featuring a centre console that is angled towards the driver.
Handling
The 2010 Alfa Romeo 156 is a brilliant car to drive. With minimal body roll and ample grip through corners, coupled with the beautifully-weighted steering, the 2010 Alfa Romeo 156 entertains and involves drivers on the roads, unlike many modern luxury cars that tend to insulate drivers from the process of driving in the name of refinement. The GTA comes with firmer suspension and a quicker steering, serving up even sharper handling at the expense of ride comfort.
Comfort
The 2010 Alfa Romeo 156 has a firm ride that deals poorly with bumps or potholes. The GTA proves even more uncomfortable over uneven surfaces. But give the 2010 Alfa Romeo 156 a smooth stretch of highway, and it will cruise stably. There is more wind, road and engine noise than in rivals, although both engines emit a welcome sporty growl. Drivers get plenty of seating and steering column adjustments. Major controls are well-positioned, and so are the clearly laid-out switchgear on the dashboard.
Quality + Reliability
Cabin quality standards in the Alfa Romeo 156 fell short of rivals' back then. And to compare the 2010 Alfa Romeo 156's cabin to modern rivals' would show a bigger gulf in standards. That said, all controls work with precision, while the material and build quality is solid if not up to modern standards. Alfa Romeo's reputation for mechanical reliability is mediocre, and glitches with the Selespeed gearbox and the suspension are not unheard of.
Performance
The in-line four 2.0-litre engine has 155 bhp and 181 Nm on tap, while the 3.2-litre V6 engine has 250 bhp and 300 Nm. The 2.0-litre engine is revvy and punchy, more than enough for everyday use; but the V6 engine easily steals the show, putting in a powerful and flexible performance. The 2.0-litre engine is fitted with a five-speed Selespeed gearbox, which can be rather jerky, while the V6 engine comes with a six-speed manual gearbox that allows better use of the available performance.
Roominess
The 2010 Alfa Romeo 156 provides good room for the front driver and passenger, and decent room for rear passengers. However, modern rivals are much roomier, in terms of rear legroom and luggage capacity. The 2010 Alfa Romeo 156's boot suffers from rear suspension intrusion and has a narrow opening.
Running Costs
Running costs are high mainly because of the Alfa Romeo 156's steep depreciation. The 2.0-litre engine returns respectable fuel economy, but the 3.2-litre V6 engine is very thirsty. Servicing and repairs are costly as well, though not more so than for luxury rivals.
Value for Money
The 156 was clearly designed in line with Alfa Romeo's sporting heritage and penchant for beautiful cars. With highly stylish looks, wonderful handling and two strong engines, the 2010 Alfa Romeo 156 appeals to driving enthusiasts who place less emphasis on comfort, refinement, reliability, practicality and running costs. Putting aside the fact that the 2010 Alfa Romeo 159 is already on sale, and that the 2010 Alfa Romeo 156 is expensive for what it offers by modern standards, Alfa Romeo 156 owners must be willing to make sacrifices that owners of modern rivals need not have to.
Equipment
Both variants come with air conditioning, electric windows, CD player, remote central locking, alloy wheels and leather steering wheel, among others. Safety equipment includes six airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brakeforce Distributor (EBD), among others. The sophisticated anti-skid system is only found on the GTA.
Environment
Both engines emit more carbon dioxide and drink more petrol than comparable engines from BMW and Audi. Alfa Romeo, as an automaker, lags BMW and Audi in efforts to produce more efficient and less polluting engines.
Live Life Drive Verdict
Highly stylish looks
Wonderful handling
Strong engines
Ride and refinement
Limited rear room and boot space
Expensive for what it offers
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