Alfa Romeo 155

Alfa Romeo 155: Which Version Should You Buy?

The Alfa Romeo 155 buyer’s choice depends mainly on the required balance of performance, economy and drivetrain. The quickest listed option is the turbocharged 2.0 MT with AWD: both the 186 hp and 190 hp variants reach 100 km/h in 7 seconds and have a 225 km/h top speed.

The Alfa Romeo 155 buyer’s choice depends mainly on the required balance of performance, economy and drivetrain. The quickest listed option is the turbocharged 2.0 MT with AWD: both the 186 hp and 190 hp variants reach 100 km/h in 7 seconds and have a 225 km/h top speed. The 2.5 MT V6 alternatives provide 163 hp or 165 hp with FWD, while the 1.9 MT Diesel prioritizes torque over speed, producing 186 Nm but taking 13.5 seconds to reach 100 km/h. Every listed Alfa Romeo 155 is a Sedan with a 5-speed Manual gearbox, a 63-liter tank, 140 mm of ground clearance and independent spring suspension at both ends.

Alfa Romeo 155 generations: early or restyled?

The original 1 generation ran from March 1992 through February 1995. It is a Sedan generation with 13 versions in the database, of which 12 are shown. Its listed engines include the 1.7 MT, several 1.8 MT and 2.0 MT specifications, the turbocharged AWD 2.0 MT, the V6 2.5 MT and the turbocharged 1.9 MT Diesel.

The 1 generation, restyling ran from March 1995 through December 1997 and remains part of the same generation rather than constituting another generation. It is also a Sedan range with 13 versions in the database, with 12 shown. Most familiar choices continued, while the displayed restyled specifications additionally include a 120 hp 1.6 MT, a 140 hp 1.8 MT and a naturally aspirated 150 hp 2.0 MT. The model data therefore covers 2 catalogue entries—one original and one restyled—within 1 generation.

For buyers comparing periods, the drivetrain fundamentals shown here changed little: all regular versions use FWD, while the turbocharged 186 hp and 190 hp 2.0 MT variants use AWD. All versions retain a 5-speed Manual gearbox, independent spring front and rear suspension, ventilated disc front brakes and disc rear brakes.

Alfa Romeo 155 engine specs

Repeated names refer to distinct database specifications, so power is included below to keep each 1.7 MT, 1.8 MT, 2.0 MT and 2.5 MT identifiable.

Power per liter sharpens the comparison. The restyled 1.6 MT produces approximately 75.1 hp per liter, while the restyled 140 hp 1.8 MT reaches approximately 80.1 hp per liter. The naturally aspirated restyled 150 hp 2.0 MT delivers approximately 76.1 hp per liter. The turbo AWD 2.0 MT versions rise to approximately 93.2 hp per liter with 186 hp and 95.2 hp per liter with 190 hp. By contrast, the 163 hp and 165 hp 2.5 MT versions provide approximately 65.4 and 66.2 hp per liter.

Alfa Romeo 155 performance and fuel economy

Among versions with complete consumption data, the original 144 hp 2.0 MT has the lowest listed combined figure at 8 L/100 km. The 115 hp 1.7 MT follows at 8.1 L/100 km. The restyled 140 hp 1.8 MT uses 8.2 L/100 km combined and is 1.8 seconds quicker to 100 km/h than the 115 hp 1.7 MT, while its highway consumption is 0.3 L/100 km lower.

The 190 hp turbo 2.0 MT offers 75 more horsepower than the 115 hp 1.7 MT and cuts the acceleration time by 4.8 seconds, but its combined consumption is 1.8 L/100 km higher. Against the 165 hp 2.5 MT, the 190 hp 2.0 MT adds 25 hp, reaches 100 km/h 1.4 seconds sooner and raises top speed by 9 km/h; combined consumption increases by 0.4 L/100 km.

Alfa Romeo 155 dimensions, weight and tank capacity

Exterior length, width and height are not measured in the supplied specifications. Wheel sizes are also not measured for every listed version. Ground clearance is 140 mm and tank capacity is 63 liters throughout the range.

Kerb weight varies from 1,207 kg to 1,455 kg. Gross weight is recorded between 1,770 kg and 1,850 kg where measured; it is not measured for the 186 hp turbo 2.0 MT and the original 144 hp 2.0 MT.

Weight per horsepower helps explain the performance hierarchy. The restyled 1.6 MT weighs 1,207 kg, or approximately 10.1 kg per hp. The restyled 140 hp 1.8 MT weighs 1,234 kg, or approximately 8.8 kg per hp. The restyled 150 hp 2.0 MT weighs 1,261 kg, or approximately 8.4 kg per hp. The 163 hp 2.5 MT weighs 1,321 kg, or approximately 8.1 kg per hp, while the 165 hp specification weighs 1,350 kg, or approximately 8.2 kg per hp.

The turbo AWD versions have the strongest ratios despite their higher weights. The 186 hp 2.0 MT weighs 1,430 kg, approximately 7.7 kg per hp; the 190 hp 2.0 MT weighs 1,455 kg, approximately 7.7 kg per hp. At the opposite end, the 90 hp 1.9 MT Diesel weighs 1,227 kg, approximately 13.6 kg per hp.

Which Alfa Romeo 155 version should you choose?

Choose the 190 hp 2.0 MT if maximum listed performance is the priority. It combines 297 Nm, AWD, 7-second acceleration and a 225 km/h top speed. The 186 hp 2.0 MT reaches the same acceleration and top-speed figures, produces 14 Nm less torque and records 9.8 rather than 9.9 L/100 km combined. On the supplied figures, the 186 hp specification is the more economical of these otherwise closely matched turbo AWD choices.

Choose the restyled 150 hp 2.0 MT for the strongest naturally aspirated four-cylinder performance. Its 9-second acceleration is 1 second quicker than the restyled 140 hp 1.8 MT and 1.3 seconds quicker than the 127 hp 1.8 MT. Fuel-consumption figures for the 150 hp version are not measured, so its running-cost comparison cannot be completed from the available data.

Choose the restyled 140 hp 1.8 MT when performance and measured economy both matter. It reaches 100 km/h in 10 seconds, tops out at 205 km/h and records 8.2 L/100 km combined. Compared with the 127 hp 1.8 MT, it adds 13 hp, accelerates 0.3 seconds quicker and increases top speed by 4 km/h, while combined consumption is 0.1 L/100 km lower.

Choose the 115 hp 1.7 MT when the lowest measured Gasoline consumption among the smaller engines matters: it records 8.1 L/100 km combined. The 113 hp 1.7 MT is 0.8 seconds quicker to 100 km/h despite having 2 hp less, illustrating why versions sharing the same name must be compared by their complete specifications rather than engine label alone; its fuel consumption is not measured.

Choose the 163 hp 2.5 MT over the 165 hp 2.5 MT if the measured combined figure matters more than the small power difference. Both produce 216 Nm and reach 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds. The 165 hp version adds 2 hp and 1 km/h of top speed, but weighs 29 kg more and uses 0.2 L/100 km more in the combined cycle.

Choose the 1.9 MT Diesel if its 186 Nm at 2,400 rpm suits the intended use better than outright acceleration. It has 96 fewer horsepower than the 186 hp turbo 2.0 MT yet only 97 Nm less torque. Its 13.5-second acceleration and 180 km/h top speed are the slowest measured figures in the range, and fuel consumption is not measured.

The early and restyled periods share many identical specifications, including the turbo AWD 2.0 MT, both 2.5 MT variants and the 1.9 MT Diesel. Where those figures are identical, the data provides no numerical reason to prefer one period. The meaningful restyled choices are the displayed 120 hp 1.6 MT, 140 hp 1.8 MT and 150 hp 2.0 MT; buyers should select among them by performance and measured economy rather than assuming the later production period automatically changes every version.