The Alfa Romeo Brera: A Compelling Choice for the Modern Driver

As I stood before the sleek and sexy Alfa Romeo Brera, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. The 159th saloon's handsome new sibling is certainly a head-turner, boasting a shorter wheelbase and a 2+2 body that rivals the Nissan 350z and the Audi TT in terms of style. While it may not offer as much room for canoodling in the backseat, the Brera's sex appeal is undeniable, making it a formidable contender in the market.

However, as a thinking woman's choice, the Brera is not just about looks; it's also about substance. The engine that truly sets it apart is the diesel unit, specifically the Alpha Zone 2.4 liter 20 valve 4/5 cylinder turbocharged unit. This powerhouse of an engine delivers a respectable 200 brake horsepower, a feat that might seem modest but is, in fact, impressive considering its oil-burning nature. The Brera's top speed is 142 miles per hour, and its acceleration from 0-62 is a respectable 8.1 seconds, even if it doesn't quite deliver the same level of hot hatch performance as some of its rivals.

One of the most impressive aspects of the Brera's engine is the way it works its magic to deliver smooth and effortless power. The turbocharged unit takes a bit of time to get going, but once it does, it provides an incredible amount of torque, making it perfect for overtaking and cruising at high speeds. The 295 pound-feet of twist that the Brera's engine can generate is dished out from a very early stage in the rev range, allowing the driver to truly appreciate its capabilities. Whether you're cruising down the highway or carving through twisty roads, the Brera's motor makes for an excellent companion.

The gearbox itself receives high praise from this writer, with a short lever and throw that make shifting gears a breeze. The 41.5 mpg that the Brera achieves is also noteworthy, making it an excellent choice for those who prioritize fuel efficiency without sacrificing performance. In terms of overall performance, the Brera is certainly more than satisfactory, delivering smooth and effortless power that makes it perfect for cruising around town or taking on longer road trips.

However, as much as I was impressed with the Brera's performance, my experience behind the wheel revealed some limitations in terms of handling. While the car is undeniably beautiful to look at, its lack of feeling through the steering column until you attack a bend is a notable drawback. The 18-inch tires seem to hook into the road, making it feel as though the Brera is wrestling with the driver to keep pace, rather than working in harmony. Additionally, the car's nose-heavy design makes it prone to understeer when turning, which takes some getting used to.

Despite these limitations, I was still thoroughly impressed with the Brera, and for good reason. It is undoubtedly one of the best Alfas I have ever had the pleasure of driving, offering a perfect blend of style, substance, and performance that makes it an excellent choice for those in the market for a new car. Whether you're looking for a daily driver or a weekend warrior, the Brera has something to offer, and its exceptional value proposition only adds to its allure.

As I drove away from my testing session with the Brera, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation for those who might not have had the chance to experience it firsthand. And so, as part of our competition prize, we are giving away a brand-new Alfa Romeo Brera to one lucky winner. If you're looking for a car that checks all the boxes – style, substance, and performance – then the Brera is certainly worth considering.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enit's the even sexier brother of the handsome new 159th saloon but with a shorter wheelbase and a 2+2 body although there's not much room for canoodling in the back its vying with the Nissan 350z and the Aldi TT for my affections but frankly there's no contest in the looks department you won't see a more beautiful car launch this year and then we come to the engine naturally there's a barrel-chested v6 and a 2.2 liter petrol but my rendezvous today is with the thinking woman's choice the diesel it's alpha zone 2.4 liter 20 valve 4 5 cylinder turbocharged unit that gives a very respectable 200 brake horsepower yes that's a hot hatch power from an oil burner it doesn't quite deliver hot hatch performance though 142 miles an hour and naught to 62 in 8.1 seconds but the way it gets there is very impressive ok you do have to snatch 2nd gear pretty early on but from then on in it is incredibly smooth the turbo working its little heart out to give you all it's got when you're not in such a hurry you can really appreciate the talk all 295 pound-feet of it dished out at your convenience very early on in the rev range which means it'll make a good motor a companion giving you overtaking oof in fifth and sixth gear the gearbox itself it's good i short lever a short throw and a meaty feel give it a thumbs up for me and the thinking woman in me approves of the 41.5 mpg that this cars capable of so the date is going pretty well so far the brer is performance is more than satisfactory but for a long-term relationship I want a car that handles I've really been pinning my hopes on this car being as beautiful to drive as it is to look at sadly my dreams are not quite being realized there is no feeling whatsoever through the wheel until you attack the bend and then if bumps and shots its way around the corner and those fans 18 inch tires happen to hook into my groove in the road you spend your time wrestling with the wheel just to keep it steady you also notice how nose-heavy the car is when you turn it in so it's not the composed sweet handling sports kanpei of my dreams but it is the best Alfa I have driven in years oh yeah baby so love at first sight well if you're not after a hardcore race car coupe a then the brer is brilliant there's nothing sexier on sale for their money so it wasn't hard to decide to give away a brand-new Alfa Romeo Brera as this week's competition prize youit's the even sexier brother of the handsome new 159th saloon but with a shorter wheelbase and a 2+2 body although there's not much room for canoodling in the back its vying with the Nissan 350z and the Aldi TT for my affections but frankly there's no contest in the looks department you won't see a more beautiful car launch this year and then we come to the engine naturally there's a barrel-chested v6 and a 2.2 liter petrol but my rendezvous today is with the thinking woman's choice the diesel it's alpha zone 2.4 liter 20 valve 4 5 cylinder turbocharged unit that gives a very respectable 200 brake horsepower yes that's a hot hatch power from an oil burner it doesn't quite deliver hot hatch performance though 142 miles an hour and naught to 62 in 8.1 seconds but the way it gets there is very impressive ok you do have to snatch 2nd gear pretty early on but from then on in it is incredibly smooth the turbo working its little heart out to give you all it's got when you're not in such a hurry you can really appreciate the talk all 295 pound-feet of it dished out at your convenience very early on in the rev range which means it'll make a good motor a companion giving you overtaking oof in fifth and sixth gear the gearbox itself it's good i short lever a short throw and a meaty feel give it a thumbs up for me and the thinking woman in me approves of the 41.5 mpg that this cars capable of so the date is going pretty well so far the brer is performance is more than satisfactory but for a long-term relationship I want a car that handles I've really been pinning my hopes on this car being as beautiful to drive as it is to look at sadly my dreams are not quite being realized there is no feeling whatsoever through the wheel until you attack the bend and then if bumps and shots its way around the corner and those fans 18 inch tires happen to hook into my groove in the road you spend your time wrestling with the wheel just to keep it steady you also notice how nose-heavy the car is when you turn it in so it's not the composed sweet handling sports kanpei of my dreams but it is the best Alfa I have driven in years oh yeah baby so love at first sight well if you're not after a hardcore race car coupe a then the brer is brilliant there's nothing sexier on sale for their money so it wasn't hard to decide to give away a brand-new Alfa Romeo Brera as this week's competition prize you\n"