Item: Used Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon 1997 - 2006
Author: What Car? Team

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Estate

Alfa Romeo now has one of its strongest-ever model line-ups, after years of living off past glories.

The BMW 3 Series-rivalling Giulia executive saloon is one of the best cars in its class to drive and has performed very well in the annual What Car? Reliability Survey, while the closely related Stelvio competes in the booming SUV class.

Smaller and larger SUVs are planned, as is a two-door coupé version of the Giulia that will take on the Audi A5, BMW 4 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupé.

It’s all a long way from the days when Alfa Romeo just had a couple of dated hatchbacks (the Mito and Giulietta) and the niche 4C sports car in its range.

ALFA ROMEO

It's a sleek-looking estate with great engines that really puts a smile on your face

Used Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon 1997 - 2006

Pick one of the smaller petrol engines or the diesel and bills shouldn't be too big; the 1.6 and 1.8 petrols return a reasonable 43.5mpg, while the 2.4 diesel should average 51mpg.

The 2.0 petrol is not much thirstier than the 1.8, but its sportier nature attracts a higher insurance rating. Meanwhile, the 2.5 V6 and GTA model require deep pockets.

Repair costs will be higher than for many mainstream brands, too, while problems with the Selespeed semi-automatic gearbox can be particularly troublesome to fix.

Still, the 156 doesn't hold on to its value especially well, which is good news for used car buyers.

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It's a sleek-looking estate with great engines that really puts a smile on your face


Avoid the weedy 1.6-litre petrol; the 1.8 is a much better bet and produces the sporty snarl that Alfa Romeo enthusiasts expect, while the direct-injection 2.0 JTS provides more punch for not much more money.

For even more pace, there's the 192bhp 2.5 V6 and range-topping 3.2 V6 GTA. The latter is an all-out performance model, and comes with a six-speed manual or five-speed Selespeed paddleshift gearbox.

The best balance between punch and economy is the 2.4 JTD turbodiesel. It's as quick as the 1.8 petrol, but should return around 10mpg more and holds on to its value better, too.

Because every 156 is very well equipped, we'd stick with the base Turismo trim. Pick a Lusso model to gain a CD player and leather seats, or move up to Veloce if you like your Alfa a bit more butch: sports suspension, side skirts and Recaro sports seats are fitted.

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Huge boot and excellent practicality</li> <li>Plenty of interior space so you can carry passengers as well as luggage </li> <li>Strong engines to pull a heavily laden car</li> <li>Comfortable ride, especially on the motorway</li> <li>Low running costs for company car drivers</li></ul>

If you’re after bags of space but you don’t want to commit to the van-like dimensions and styling of an MPV, there are some great estate cars on offer that should do the job.

Tricks to look out for include an electric tailgate&nbsp;that opens automatically when you wave your foot under the rear bumper; this is&nbsp;particularly handy if you’re trying to load in a heavy or&nbsp;bulky item. You should also look for handles in the side of the boot itself that can drop down the rear seats; these are much more convenient than having to walk around the side of the car to do it.

There are some terrific estates at most price ranges. The humble Skoda Fabia Estate offers cavernous space for not much cash at all, for example.

Further up the price range, another of our perennial favourites is the Skoda Superb Estate;&nbsp;it’s great to drive and as practical as most people should ever need. Meanwhile, for serious mile-munching ability and a premium, well-finished interior, it’s hard to look beyond the BMW 5 Series Touring.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/alfa-romeo">Alfa Romeo</a> have a reputation for being less than reliable, and the 156 Sportwagon does nothing to dispel this. Data from Warranty Direct shows that plenty of 156s have required repairs, with the axles and suspension the weakest points, followed by the engine and electrics.

The 156 has fared poorly in JD Power customer satisfaction surveys, too – owners awarded low scores for mechanical reliability, build quality and dealer service, while some complained of costly and numerous repairs.

Check that recall work has been carried out; two recalls involved problems with the brake pipe connector and chafing of the brake pipe on the cable bracket. V6 models were recalled over concerns of a possible risk of fire and power steering failure, while GTA models were also recalled to check for potential loosening of the front suspension and fuel leaks.

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The Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon is an estate for those who need something vaguely sensible, but want to cut a dash, too; dads with young families who still hanker after their sports car-driving youth, perhaps.

It's certainly an entertaining car to drive, thanks to its range of capable, great-sounding engines, as well as wonderfully sharp steering. You do have to put up with an overly firm ride, though.

The 156 Sportwagon is also a great-looking car, but those sleek lines mean luggage space is pretty poor for an estate. The rear seats fold, but the suspension turrets eat into the load area and the narrow boot opening doesn't make life easy when loading.

The cabin is comfortable for passengers – in its day, the 156 won its class twice in What Car? comfort tests – and most models have climate control, electric windows, six airbags and a leather-trimmed steering wheel.

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Used Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon 1997 - 2006 review

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