Alfa Romeo Alfa 156 2.5 V6 24V Q-System Sportwagon
Test Drive

Alfa Romeo Alfa 156 2.5 V6 24V Q-System Sportwagon

The body drive system alone promises us a name. The crew is conveniently located in the middle class of cars, the horses are thoroughbred and plentiful enough to tow a crew of just under 1400 kg. The body isn't very young anymore as it has been around for four years, but the wagon version (or Sportwagon, they say) is still pretty fresh with a good year. From a design point of view, it will probably be interesting in the near future, which we at Alpha are used to recently.

The engine is already in its maturity stage, but it has been skilfully adapted to the modern requirements of customers, drivers (even more demanding ones) and environmental regulations. This all-aluminum machine has a four-way crankshaft, six cylinders at 60 degrees, 24 valves, great sound, excellent responsiveness, very good torque throughout the operating range and competitive maximum power. Okay, he can be thirsty and greedy for gasoline, he can also be average, but by no means humble. Or very, very difficult. Otherwise: Whoever buys an Alfa to save fuel has completely missed the point.

To even better sell this beautiful van to the lazy Germans (and not only them), Alfa Romeo has launched the "automatic transmission" project. The starting points were clear: the transmission should be a classic automatic, but at the same time it should be something special. This is how the Q-System was born.

Most transmissions are German-made, as are most automatic transmissions for European cars, and this feature has certainly grown in Alpha's "zeljnik". Namely, this is a special way of switching; In addition to the standard positions for parking, reverse, idle and forward, which follow one another in a straight line, one after the other, the gear lever has additional positions. They are exactly the same as with the manual transmission, so the driver, if desired, can choose a gear according to the scheme in the form of the letter N. First, second, third, fourth. Fifth? No, it’s not like that. Unfortunately. Who knows why the automatic transmission in one of the sportiest brands doesn't have five gears; maybe because it will be difficult for her to find a place behind the scenes of the lever? Well, anyway, the classic hydraulic clutch and just four gears have dramatically reduced the performance of this car.

The rest of the transmission is very good. It's sporty fast, which is what we certainly expect from such a product, but the biggest difference is the big difference between economical ("Urban") and sporty ("Sport") driving programs. The former is written for a relaxed and careless ride, while the latter is so energetic that it often shifts down twice when turned on and does not upshift when the gas is released. Only the location of the program activation buttons is inconvenient (including the third one - “Ice”, designed for winter driving), since they are installed behind the gear lever. Nothing ergonomic.

Manual shifting is fun, of course, largely because of the originality, but that matters too. The performance of the car remains high as long as it is not lost in the drivetrain, the seat is pleasantly sideways, the steering is perfectly precise and straight, and the chassis is sporty and rigid with a strong emphasis on both words. ...

Steering remains an enjoyable task in this Alfa as well, especially as the Sportwagon returns with a very good road position. Of all the "one hundred and fifty", due to the heavy weight of the engine and gearbox, this one squeezes the most out of the corner, but still not enough that we could not fix it by adding a steering wheel.

On the other hand, rear slip is virtually non-existent when the throttle is removed, as the rear wheels diligently follow the marked path at all times. The pleasure of dynamic driving is not compromised by the brakes, which return to the pedal a pleasant feeling of what happens between the wheels and the ground during braking. In one word: "sport".

The interior of such an Alpha is beautiful, but already in need of repair. Not that it's outdated in terms of design, but it doesn't feel like the driver and passengers are falling into some (German?) Competitors.

There is no room on the dashboard for the modern communication elements represented by this brand (Connect), the front seat is too soft (underwater effect when braking), the center armrest is completely ineffective (too low, only in one position, no drawer), which can also be an argument for air circulation. Wait for the renovation to begin, or stop at a cabin covered in sturdy leather. Which, of course, is not cheap.

And at the very end: Universal. This one doesn't have to be spacious. This is because it is useful (many additional networks), it is fashionable and beautiful. For your vacation, just buy yourself a roof rack.

Vinko Kernc

Photo: Vinko Kernc

Alfa Romeo 156 2.5 V6 24V Q-System sports wagon

Basic data

Sales: Avto Triglav doo
Base model price: 28.750,60 €
Calculate the cost of auto insurance
Power:140kW (190


KM)
Acceleration (0-100 km / h): 8,5 with
Maximum speed: 227 km / h
Mixed flow ECE: 12,0l / 100km

Technical information

engine: 6-cylinder - 4-stroke - 60° - petrol - transverse front mount - bore and stroke 88,0 × 68,3 mm - displacement 2492 cm3 - compression ratio 10,3:1 - maximum power 140 kW (190 l .s.) at 6300 rpm - maximum torque 222 Nm at 5000 rpm - crankshaft in 4 bearings - 2 × 2 camshafts in the head (timing belt) - 4 valves per cylinder - electronic multipoint injection and electronic ignition (Bosch Motronic ME 2.1) - liquid cooling 9,2 l - engine oil 6,4 l - variable catalyst
Energy transfer: the engine drives the front wheels - 4-speed automatic transmission - I gear ratio 3,900; II. 2,228; III. 1,477 hours; IV. 1,062 hours; reverse 4,271 - differential 2,864 - tires 205/65 R 16 W (Michelin Pilot SX)
Capacity: top speed 227 km / h - acceleration 0-100 km / h 8,5 s - fuel consumption (ECE) 17,7 / 8,7 / 12,0 l / 100 km (unleaded gasoline, elementary school 95)
Transportation and suspension: 5 doors, 5 seats - self-supporting body - front single suspension, spring struts, double triangular cross rails, stabilizer - rear single suspension, spring struts, double cross rails, longitudinal guides, stabilizer - two-wheel brakes, front disc (forced cooling), rear rims, power steering, ABS, EBD - rack and pinion steering wheel, power steering
Mass: empty vehicle 1400 kg - permissible total weight 1895 kg - permissible trailer weight with brake 1400 kg, without brake 500 kg - permissible roof load 50 kg
External dimensions: length 4430 mm - width 1745 mm - height 1420 mm - wheelbase 2595 mm - track front 1511 mm - rear 1498 mm - driving radius 11,6 m
Inner dimensions: length 1570 mm - width 1440/1460 mm - height 890-930 / 910 mm - longitudinal 860-1070 / 880-650 mm - fuel tank 63 l
Box: normally 360-1180 liters

Our measurements

T = 29 ° C – p = 1019 mbar – otn. vl. = 76%
Acceleration 0-100km:11,4s
1000m from the city: 33,4 years (


152 km / h)
Maximum speed: 222km / h


(IV.)
Minimum consumption: 11,1l / 100km
test consumption: 12,5 l / 100km
Braking distance at 100 km / h: 43,7m
Noise at 50 km / h in 3rd gear57dB
Noise at 50 km / h in 4rd gear57dB
Test errors: – the rear door opens only occasionally on command from the remote control – latch on the left rear backrest

evaluation

  • This Alfa Romeo is designed for the German sports driver model. There is enough "horse", there is no clutch pedal. Only gas and brake. Only the third is missing: for everything to work flawlessly. But then Alpha will probably no longer be Alpha if she no longer has to deal with that specifically and with emotion. Otherwise, it is a powerful, useful, relatively spacious (trunk) and not quite economical car. And beautiful.

We praise and reproach

exterior appearance

motor character, performance

quality materials

switching speed, originality of the system

nets in the trunk

position on the road, steering wheel

power loss due to drive

obsolescence of the interior

4 gears in total

remote control buttons for program selection

central elbow support

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