11th Dec 2025, 23:58
Agree with you.
The JTD/Multijet engine is the best thing the Fiat group has done in over 30 years. In terms of fuel consumption, it's clearly superior to the TDCI, HDi, and TDI engines. For me, it's the best diesel engine from the 2000s onward, and it also pioneered common rail injection.
It performed very well in the 156. I had a Marea (built on the same platform as the 156) with the 16V JTD, and it gave me almost no problems. Besides being very fast and economical, that engine has left me with very fond memories.
18th Mar 2026, 12:42
Excellent review.
The 156 is the best Alfa Romeo of the last 40 years, along with the 155 and the 164. A great success for the Fiat Group; with any engine (petrol or diesel), it's a fun car to drive. Even the current luxurious Giulia, which can exceed 300 km/h, isn't as appealing as the 156 was in its day.
I also agree that in terms of reliability, it surpasses several German and Japanese models.
19th Jan 2011, 12:52
If you think BMWs are reliable, think again. I returned my eighteen month old, "Approved Used" 320d M Sport to the dealer for a full refund after seven months of ownership. Bought it just shy of its first birthday with 11,000 miles on the clock. In seven months / 12,000 miles:
One complete gearbox failure.
Two dual mass flywheel replacements.
Turbo became noisy and had to be replaced.
Engine wouldn't idle properly on random occasions, accompanied by engine management light
ESP warning lights coming on and going off at random.
Clonking rear suspension.
I don't drive my cars particularly hard, and my last car, a Mondeo TDCi 130 Zetec did 75,000 completely trouble free miles in my hands.
Anyway, the reason I commented is that I bought an ex demo 159 2.4 JTD at a good price. Reliability wise, it is in a different stratosphere to my BMW. Doesn't handle quite as crisply (the BMWs are fantastic in the twisties, whatever else you say about them) but for looks, character, passion, and the ability to make you just feel special when you're around it, the Alfa has the BMW licked. It's a lovely car.