Item: Used Alfa Romeo Brera 2006 - 2011
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

What is it like?

Ownership cost

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Coupe

<p dir="ltr">Alfa Romeo now has one of its strongest-ever model line-ups, after years of living off past glories.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>


ALFA ROMEO

BRERA

<p>The Alfa Romeo Brera is great to look at, but as an overall ownership package it just can't compete with Geman rivals.</p>


Used Alfa Romeo Brera 2006 - 2011

<p>The Alfa Romeo Brera never had the impressive resale values of German rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/tt/coupe/review/n12">Audi TT</a>, and as such, is very tempting on the used market. Be wary of the petrol engines, though, as they are thirsty and expensive to repair.</p>

<p>Road tax and insurance premiums are high too, but that's to be expected because the Brera doesn't have an economy-focused engine in its range and those great looks are desirable enough to put it at risk of being stolen.</p>

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The Alfa Romeo Brera is great to look at, but as an overall ownership package it just can't compete with Geman rivals.

<p>Two petrol engines were offered: our favourite 185bhp 2.2-litre, and a 260bhp 3.2-litre V6. A 207bhp diesel is available, too. Either petrol engine provides a great soundtrack and the performance to match. The 3.2, in particular, is muscular and swift. The 2.2 needs to be worked harder to make quick progress, but it's no slouch.</p>

<p>Dual-zone climate control, a CD player, cruise control, remote central locking, leather upholstery and 17in alloys are a standard fit. Standard safety equipment includes stability control and seven airbags.</p>

<p>Although the Alfa Romeo Brera was not tested, it's closely related to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alfa-romeo/159/saloon/used-review/n210">159 compact executive saloon</a>, which was awarded a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP.</p>

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Strong performance</li> <li>Good balance between ride and handling</li> <li>Excellent build quality</li> <li>Decent practicality</li> <li>Sophisticated interior</li></ul>

<p>Coupés are all about style, but while practicality undoubtedly takes a back seat to aesthetics, these cars still need to be easy to live with on a daily basis. It’s this that distinguishes a coupé from an out-and-out sports car.</p>

<p>Fortunately, there’s a wide range of style-focused models available, and you don’t even need to spend silly money to buy or run one.</p>

<p>For a blend of&nbsp;rock-solid resale values, punchy engines and an interior to die for,&nbsp;the Audi TT is a brilliant option. But the Mercedes CLA offers plenty of style and substance to match, while the Aston Martin DB11 will give you serious performance.</p>

<p>It's important to check the car's electrics are functioning properly, because its systems are famed for their inconsistency. Have a good play with gadgets, lights and the infotainment system.</p>

<p>Owners have also reported rattles from seats, interior squeaks, and plastics coming away inside. Driver and passenger windows are reported to be problematic.</p>

<p>People complain of poor radio reception, rear light clusters fogging up and alarms that go off frequently.</p>

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<p>The Alfa Romeo Brera has sharp steering that guides you accurately through bends. However, it's no sports car because there's too much body lean. Push hard and the front tyres wash wide – especially in heavier, V6-engined versions.</p>

<p>On the other hand, the four-wheel-drive system on the V6 allows more secure acceleration on greasy roads. The Brera is quite forgiving over patchy surfaces, but it tends to lurch over larger humps and shudder over potholes.</p>

<p>The interior appears to be built from high quality materials, however, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/alfa-romeo">Alfa Romeo</a>'s performance in recent reliability and customer satisfaction surveys has been disappointing.</p>

<p>Legroom is fine, but even drivers of average height are likely to end up with a crick in their neck, because the seat is too high – even in its lowest setting – and the panoramic glass roof steals even more space. Smaller drivers will struggle to find a comfortable balance of adjustment between the seat, steering wheel and pedals.</p>

<p>Although the Brera has four seats, you'd need a detachable head and arms to make yourself comfortable in the back. The boot provides a space for a weekend's luggage, but there's a hip-high lip, which you'll have to haul your bags over.</p>

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Used Alfa Romeo Brera 2006 - 2011 review

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