Alfa Romeo 146: Which Version to Buy and Why
The Alfa Romeo 146 was produced in one generation from May 1995 to May 2000 as a Hatchback 5-door. Its catalogue contains 11 versions, all with a 5-speed Manual gearbox and FWD. The principal choice is therefore the engine: gasoline or Diesel, Opposite or Inline cylinder layout, and performance ranging from 90 to 155 hp.
The Alfa Romeo 146 was produced in one generation from May 1995 to May 2000 as a Hatchback 5-door. Its catalogue contains 11 versions, all with a 5-speed Manual gearbox and FWD. The principal choice is therefore the engine: gasoline or Diesel, Opposite or Inline cylinder layout, and performance ranging from 90 to 155 hp. The 2.0 MT versions are the quickest, the 1.9 MT with 90 hp has the lowest measured fuel consumption, and the 1.6 MT with 120 hp offers a useful middle ground between them.
Alfa Romeo 146 generations and versions
The 1 generation ran from May 1995 through May 2000. It used a Hatchback 5-door body and included 11 catalogue entries. Because there is only one generation in the supplied data, there are no generation-to-generation changes to compare. The meaningful differences are between its engines: three Opposite gasoline units, six Inline gasoline entries and two Inline turbo Diesel versions.
Several names occur more than once, so power is essential when identifying a car. The catalogue has 1.4 MT versions with 90 and 103 hp, 1.6 MT versions with 103 and 120 hp, 1.8 MT versions with 140 and 144 hp, 1.9 MT versions with 90 and 105 hp, and 2.0 MT versions with 150 and 155 hp.
Alfa Romeo 146 engine specs
| Version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders and layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 MT (90 hp) | 90 hp | 115 Nm | 1351 cc | Gasoline | 4, Opposite | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.4 MT (103 hp) | 103 hp | 123 Nm | 1370 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.6 MT (120 hp) | 120 hp | 144 Nm | 1598 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.8 MT (140 hp) | 140 hp | 165 Nm | 1747 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.8 MT (144 hp) | 144 hp | 169 Nm | 1747 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 2.0 MT (155 hp) | 155 hp | 187 Nm | 1970 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.9 MT (105 hp) | 105 hp | 255 Nm | 1910 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.9 MT (90 hp) | 90 hp | 186 Nm | 1929 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.6 MT (103 hp) | 103 hp | 134 Nm | 1596 cc | Gasoline | 4, Opposite | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.7 MT (129 hp) | 129 hp | 149 Nm | 1712 cc | Gasoline | 4, Opposite | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 2.0 MT (150 hp) | 150 hp | 187 Nm | 1970 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
The 1.4 MT with 103 hp produces about 75.2 hp per litre, compared with approximately 66.6 hp per litre for the 1.4 MT with 90 hp. Among the 1.6 MT choices, the 120 hp Inline version develops about 75.1 hp per litre, while the 103 hp Opposite version produces about 64.5 hp per litre. The 1.7 MT reaches roughly 75.4 hp per litre, the highest calculated figure in this range.
For torque, the 1.9 MT with 105 hp is the standout: its 255 Nm at 2000 rpm exceeds the 187 Nm of either 2.0 MT by 68 Nm. The 1.9 MT with 90 hp supplies 186 Nm at 2500 rpm, almost matching the two 2.0 MT versions in peak torque while producing substantially less power.
Alfa Romeo 146 performance, mpg and fuel economy
| Version | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 MT (90 hp) | 12.8 s | 179 km/h | 10.1 L/100 km | 6.4 L/100 km | 8.4 L/100 km |
| 1.4 MT (103 hp) | 11.5 s | 187 km/h | 10.7 L/100 km | 6.3 L/100 km | 8.4 L/100 km |
| 1.6 MT (120 hp) | 10.4 s | 195 km/h | 11.3 L/100 km | 6.6 L/100 km | 8.2 L/100 km |
| 1.8 MT (140 hp) | 9.3 s | 207 km/h | 10.7 L/100 km | 6.3 L/100 km | 8.4 L/100 km |
| 1.8 MT (144 hp) | 9.3 s | 209 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 2.0 MT (155 hp) | 8.5 s | 211 km/h | 12.4 L/100 km | 6.6 L/100 km | 8.7 L/100 km |
| 1.9 MT (105 hp) | 10.4 s | 187 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 1.9 MT (90 hp) | 12.5 s | 179 km/h | 8.8 L/100 km | 5 L/100 km | 6.8 L/100 km |
| 1.6 MT (103 hp) | 11.5 s | 187 km/h | 10.4 L/100 km | 6.1 L/100 km | 8.2 L/100 km |
| 1.7 MT (129 hp) | 10.2 s | 201 km/h | 10.8 L/100 km | 6.3 L/100 km | 8.4 L/100 km |
| 2.0 MT (150 hp) | 8.5 s | 212 km/h | 10.1 L/100 km | 6.2 L/100 km | 8 L/100 km |
For maximum performance, the comparison between the two 2.0 MT entries is unusually close. Both reach 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds. The 150 hp version has a top speed of 212 km/h, one more than the 155 hp version, while its measured combined consumption is 8 L/100 km rather than 8.7 L/100 km. It also uses 2.3 L/100 km less in the city and 0.4 L/100 km less on the highway.
The two 1.8 MT versions both complete 0–100 km/h in 9.3 seconds. Moving from 140 to 144 hp adds 4 hp, 4 Nm and 2 km/h of top speed, but economy for the 144 hp car is not measured. The 140 hp version records 10.7 L/100 km in the city, 6.3 L/100 km on the highway and 8.4 L/100 km combined.
The 1.6 MT with 120 hp is 1.1 seconds quicker to 100 km/h and 8 km/h faster than either 103 hp 1.6 MT. Its 8.2 L/100 km combined consumption exactly matches the measured figure for the 103 hp Opposite version, although the 120 hp car uses 0.9 L/100 km more in the city and 0.5 L/100 km more on the highway.
The 1.9 MT with 90 hp is the economy choice wherever measured consumption has priority. At 6.8 L/100 km combined, it uses 1.2 L/100 km less than the 2.0 MT with 150 hp and 1.4 L/100 km less than either measured 1.6 MT. The stronger 1.9 MT with 105 hp is 2.1 seconds quicker to 100 km/h and has 69 Nm more torque, but its fuel consumption is not measured.
Alfa Romeo 146 dimensions, weight and wheel size
External dimensions are not measured in the supplied data. Wheel and tyre sizes are also not measured for every version, so no catalogue-based comparison can be made for length, width, height, tyre size or wheel size.
Every version has 120 mm of ground clearance and a 61-litre fuel tank. Kerb and gross weights differ as follows:
| Version | Kerb weight | Gross weight | Weight per horsepower |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 MT (90 hp) | 1175 kg | 1705 kg | 13.1 kg/hp |
| 1.4 MT (103 hp) | 1160 kg | 1680 kg | 11.3 kg/hp |
| 1.6 MT (120 hp) | 1190 kg | 1710 kg | 9.9 kg/hp |
| 1.8 MT (140 hp) | 1215 kg | 1680 kg | 8.7 kg/hp |
| 1.8 MT (144 hp) | 1215 kg | 1735 kg | 8.4 kg/hp |
| 2.0 MT (155 hp) | 1295 kg | 1795 kg | 8.4 kg/hp |
| 1.9 MT (105 hp) | 1245 kg | 1735 kg | 11.9 kg/hp |
| 1.9 MT (90 hp) | 1245 kg | 1765 kg | 13.8 kg/hp |
| 1.6 MT (103 hp) | 1175 kg | 1705 kg | 11.4 kg/hp |
| 1.7 MT (129 hp) | 1225 kg | 1745 kg | 9.5 kg/hp |
| 2.0 MT (150 hp) | 1275 kg | 1800 kg | 8.5 kg/hp |
The 1.4 MT with 103 hp is the lightest at 1160 kg. It is 15 kg lighter and 13 hp stronger than the other 1.4 MT, improving weight per horsepower from about 13.1 to 11.3 kg/hp. The 1.8 MT with 144 hp and the 2.0 MT with 155 hp provide the strongest calculated ratios at approximately 8.4 kg/hp.
Which Alfa Romeo 146 version should you buy?
Choose the 2.0 MT with 150 hp when acceleration and measured economy matter together. It matches the 155 hp 2.0 MT at 8.5 seconds to 100 km/h, reaches 212 km/h and records 8 L/100 km combined. On the supplied figures, the extra 5 hp of the 155 hp car does not produce quicker acceleration or a higher top speed.
Choose the 1.8 MT with 140 hp for a strong gasoline alternative with complete consumption data. It is only 0.8 seconds slower to 100 km/h than either 2.0 MT, reaches 207 km/h and records 8.4 L/100 km combined. The 144 hp 1.8 MT adds only 4 hp and 2 km/h while posting the same 9.3-second acceleration time; its economy is not measured.
Choose the 1.6 MT with 120 hp for the most balanced measured middle option. It reaches 100 km/h in 10.4 seconds, has a 195 km/h top speed and consumes 8.2 L/100 km combined. Compared with the 1.4 MT with 103 hp, it adds 17 hp and 21 Nm, cuts the acceleration time by 1.1 seconds and adds 8 km/h, while using 0.2 L/100 km less in the combined measurement.
Choose the 1.7 MT with 129 hp if an Opposite gasoline engine is the priority. It is the strongest Opposite-layout option, with 26 hp more than the 1.6 MT Opposite and 39 hp more than the 1.4 MT Opposite. It reaches 100 km/h in 10.2 seconds and 201 km/h, with measured combined consumption of 8.4 L/100 km.
Choose the 1.9 MT with 105 hp when maximum torque is more important than measured fuel economy. Its 255 Nm at 2000 rpm is the highest torque figure in the range, and it reaches 100 km/h in 10.4 seconds. However, city, highway and combined consumption are all not measured. Choose the 1.9 MT with 90 hp instead when the lowest documented consumption is decisive: its 6.8 L/100 km combined figure is the best measured result, at the cost of a 12.5-second acceleration time.
Prices, current Alfa Romeo 146 listings, problems, reliability records and service information are not present in the supplied data, so they cannot support a version recommendation here. The defensible choice rests on the measured specifications: 2.0 MT with 150 hp for outright performance, 1.6 MT with 120 hp for balance, 1.9 MT with 90 hp for economy, or 1.9 MT with 105 hp for maximum torque.