Overall Rating |  |
Sporty small family hatchback. The five-door 146 is close to Escort or Megane in concept.
For
- Alfa's zestful Twin Spark engines
- Eclipsed by the Alfa 147, so excellent value
- Much cheaper than a Golf GTi
Against
- Can be troublesome unless carefully maintained
- Half-sister to Fiat's Bravo/Brava family runabouts
- Pre-1997 cars have inferior engines and are less fun
Road Test
Alfa heritage guarantees driving pleasure provided you pick 1.6, 1.8 or 2.0 'twin spark' engines. Chassis and ABS brakes were improved in 1997, so go for R-reg and later cars. 2.0 TS Cloverleaf with sports kit and lowered suspension can see off a Mk 3 Golf GTi 16v thanks to its lighter body.
Precise, accurate steering and fairly taut suspension on post-1997 cars, though the ride is not always composed.
Interior is roomy enough for family use; the 146 has five-door flexibility and more load space. Comfort is good considering the age of the design. Equipment is adequate on lower-spec cars, generous on top versions (although air con was only an option).
145/146 is cheap and fun, but pitfalls include poor safety by modern standards (Bravo/Brava only scored two NCAP stars) and so-so reliability, so pay less for cars without full Alfa or specialist history.
Need To Know
NCAP: Not tested
Best Models: 2.0 ti 5-door
Worst Models: Early 1.6ie and 1.7 16v
Alternatives
|
Star Ratings
Handling Comfort  Quality & Reliability Performance Roominess Running Costs Value for Money Stereo/Sat Nav  |
|
|
|
|
