Alfa Romeo Brera 3.2 JTS Q4 SV Road Test Report

Performance

There are currently three different engines available: a 2.2-litre 4cyl petrol, a 2.4 5cyl diesel and a 3.2 petrol V6. I drove the V6 and, with its 6-speed gearbox (auto is an option) and a wholesome 260bhp, the sweet-sounding Brera is a strong performer. The quoted figures are 0-62 in 6.8secs with a top end of 152mph. Yes, there are plenty of faster cars, and many of those Italian, but in the real world the V6 Brera has gutsy acceleration, it can comfortably cruise at criminal speeds and so probably provides all that’s needed and more.

Ride & Handling

If you accept that the Brera handles and steers more like a grand tourer than a razor-sharp sports car, then you’ll not be disappointed. Trouble is, when the car was first launched back in 2006 not everyone saw it that way and so the specialist firm Prodrive was brought in to make the Brera better suited to hard driving on British (bad) roads. This resulted in the S version (released ’08) which, by many accounts, now rides harshly and feels a bit jittery. Personally, I was happy enough with the first model, especially this all-wheel drive Q4, which puts the power down without fuss or drama and drives safely, predictably and enjoyably.

Build Quality & Reliability

Cast a keen eye over the Brera’s exterior, interior and in the nooks and crannies and I doubt your find much amiss. There may be one or two interior fitments which may not appear to be of the very highest quality, but the general design and feel of the interior is good and this makes up for any small shortcomings. More generally, Alfa’s reputation for build and reliability has been below par for many years, but recent and significant improvements have been made to both the quality of the cars and the after sales service.

Safety & Security

The Brera hasn’t been through the Euro NCAP crash test procedure so there are no star ratings available, but it can be fitted with up to eight airbags, seven of which are standard equipment, while height adjustable front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters, anti-whiplash front seat head restraints, three-point rear seatbelts, anti-submarining front seats, ISOFIX child seat attachments and a Fire Prevention System are all fitted as standard. There’s also ABS (with EBD and HBA) as well as VDC (Alfa’s ESP). Remote central locking (inc. fuel flap), a coded immobiliser and a volumetric alarm are also all standard.

Space & Practicality

If you’re looking for a similarly-sized Alfa Romeo that seats four plus luggage in comfort then may I direct you toward the 159, (or 159 Sportwagon), the model on which the Brera is based. Bar slightly borderline headroom, (a problem not helped by the panoramic roof option), everything’s fine for front seat occupants, but being slightly shorter, and with low-cut coupe styling, the Brera does not offer rear seat passengers very much at all by way of leg- or headroom. Forget 2+2, this is more 2+0.2. The boot capacity is 300 litres and this more than doubles with the two rear seats folded forward, although you might struggle to lift heavy luggage over the high boot sill.

Ownership & Value

For maximum fuel economy the 41.5 (combined) mpg of the 2.4 JTD scores highly, but, as you would expect, this big 3.2 V6 Q4 is somewhat juicier at 24.7mpg. The upper spec SV model offers all the equipment you’d expect, including climate control and leather upholstery, plus quite a bit you might not such as diffused ambient interior lighting and puddle lights on the underside of the doors. The Brera also boasts a long list of hi-tech audio, navigation and communications options. But as any Alfa dealer or owner will tell you, Alfas are not about the detail, they’re about the passion, and the Brera has more of that than most.