Overview

On the other hand, you might be tempted to play with the 'box just for the pleasure of it. Poking out, as it does, from slightly higher up the centre console than most cars it is close to hand and quite quick in its action, as befits an Italian car. And its not just a lever. It's part of an aesthetic package that is uniquely Alfa Romeo. From the twin instrument binnacle to the angled analogue instruments at the top of the centre console, it is quite unlike any other car I have encountered. Even the knurled rings of the comfort controls deliver a tactile dividend as if the designers wanted the driver to take pleasure from even the most mundane actions.

Having said all this, I should point out that I did not immediately fall in love with the Sportwagon. It took me longer than usual to find an ideal seating position as the relationship between the pedals, the steering wheel and the seat didn't seem to suit my frame. Italians are generally smaller than Brits so perhaps that explains it. But the steering wheel adjusts for rake and reach, and the driver's seat is height adjustable and so eventually I got it right, but it took a hundred miles or so before I finally settled into what might be described as a committed position.

I say committed because the 156 Sportwagon encourages that sort of driving. An estate car it may be but note of the 156 dynamics have been sacrificed in order to accommodate the large and ingenious payload area. If you think that all Alfa Romeos should be driven con brio, you won't need to revise you opinion just because it's an estate car. Roll is minimal, the road-holding appeared to be as good as the saloon car and the JTD engine is arguably as responsive as the 4-pot petrol units.