GO
GoAutoLogo
MENU

Make / Model Search

Alfa Romeo - 156 - Sportwagon 5-dr wagon

Alfa Romeo 156

156

Make: Alfa Romeo

Model: 156

Released: Jan 1970

Discontinued: Sep 2003

Alfa Romeo logo1 Feb 1999

By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS

Already a modern classic, the beautiful front-wheel drive 156 ushered in Alfa’s modern design renaissance after two decades of sedan designer dirge (Alfa 90 anyone?).

Marked by muscular styling and hidden rear door handles, it was a real head-turner in either sedan or – from August 2000 – wagon guise.

And although the car was loosely based on the late-1980s front-wheel drive Fiat Tipo platform, its handling and roadholding put the Alfa near the top of its (highly competitive) segment.

The 156 offered a lusty 114kW/178Nm 2.0-litre Twin Spark four-cylinder engine engaged to a sporty five-speed manual gearshift or rather fragile five-speed sequential Selespeed manual transmission.

A 140kW/222Nm 3.0-litre V6 model was also available, but only with a bizarre four-speed clutchless manual/automatic called Q-System. The V6’s handling and balance were slightly adversely affected by the increased weight.

A six-speed manual option improved the 156 V6’s desirability from early 2002. From August 2002 a round of engineering updates saw the introduction of the Fiat group’s excellent 121kW/206Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder JTS engines, as well as a 141kW/218Nm version of the classic 3.0-litre V6 powerplant.

Reviews

When it was new

Latest reviews

Motor industry news

GoAutoNews is Australia’s number one automotive industry journal covering the latest news, future and new model releases, market trends, industry personnel movements, and international events.

Catch up on all of the latest industry news with this week's edition of GoAutoNews
Click here