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Our Score:
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Styling & Design
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Score:
7/10
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Most consider the Brera to be gorgeous, but the wheels are a bit disappointing and the egg-shaped rear isn’t entirely successful either. In terms of scultped sheet metal and detailing, the Brera is just delicious, but the basic shape isn’t up to par. It also needs a non-159 front end.
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Engine Spec
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Score:
7/10
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Two engines are offered, a sweet 2.2 4-cylinder with 185bhp/230Nm, and a glorious 3.2 V6 with 260bhp/322Nm.
The 2.2 makes the most sense but isn’t offered with the 3.2’s Q4 AWD system, sadly. No JTD engine is offered, which is also a shame.
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Performance
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Score:
7/10
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The 2.2 takes 8.8 seconds to get to 100km/h and can reach a top speed of 222km/h, which isn’t bad for an entry-level model. The 3.2 V6 hits 100km/h in 6.8 seconds and can top 240 km/h, but while it’s quick on paper, its performance is blunted somewhat by the weight of its AWD system.
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Ride & Handling
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Score:
8/10
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The 2.2 Brera disappoints, feeling like a nose-heavy 159 when you really push it. Steering is sharp and the ride quality is excellent, but it’s more of a poser’s car than a driving tool. The AWD system in the V6 sharpens up its responses substantially and makes the V6 feel geniunely agile and fun.
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Interior & Ergonomics
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Score:
7/10
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The interior comes right out of the 159, so you get the same driver-focused cabin and crisp layout, but the driving position is too high in the Brera and you still have to deal with the odd location of the light switches and the overloaded stalks.
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Space & Practicality
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Score:
4/10
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The Brera is not very well packaged, I’m afraid. Front occupants are cramped because the seats don’t drop low enough. Rear space is almost non-existent and it’s even a chellenge to get a child seat in there. The boot is enormous, but what use is that with only two passengers?
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Safety
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Score:
8/10
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Being based on the 159, the Brera should inherit the same structural integrity that earned the 159 a 5-Star NCAP score. ESP, front, side, curtain and knee airbags, active front headrests, 3-point seatbelts and headrests in the rear, & ISOFIX child seat anchors are standard, as is a hill-hold system.
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Value & Running Costs
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Score:
6/10
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The Brera is expensive in isolation (how much for an Alfa?) but it’s actually cheap compared to the likes of the 3-Series Coupe and Audi TT. Residual values aren’t likely to be very strong, though, and running costs are high, especially for the 3.2 V6.
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Quality & Refinement
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Score:
6/10 |
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There is a marked improvement in quality compared to older Alfas. Everything feels solid to the touch, but it remains to be seen how well it will take 3 years of ownership. Our test car had already worked its seat and gear level loose. It’s a great mile-muncher, though, and rides superbly.
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Equipment
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Score:
8/10
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All Breras have electric windows and mirrors, armrests, remote locking, climate control, CD player, a trip computer, leather steering wheel, ESP, 17” alloys, panoramic glass roof with electric sunblind and leather trim. Auto lights and wipers, cruise control, Bluetooth and Xenon lights are options.
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Bad
Quality
running costs
residuals
Good
Gorgeous
fine handler
lovely engines
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