Alfa Romeo 166

Alfa Romeo 166: Which Version Should You Buy?

The Alfa Romeo 166 is a FWD Sedan offered in the supplied catalogue data in one generation and its restyling, covering November 1998 to September 2007.

The Alfa Romeo 166 is a FWD Sedan offered in the supplied catalogue data in one generation and its restyling, covering November 1998 to September 2007. Choosing among its versions is mainly a question of priorities: the 2.4 MT diesels provide the lowest measured combined consumption, the 3.2 MT delivers the strongest measured performance, and the 2.0 MT gasoline versions provide the least powerful gasoline entry point. The restyling changed the available specification mix, reduced tank capacity from 72 to 69 litres, and introduced more powerful 2.4 diesel versions, but it retained the same 140 mm ground clearance and the same basic FWD, independent-spring-suspension layout.

Alfa Romeo 166 generations and facelift differences

The original Alfa Romeo 166 generation ran from November 1998 through January 2004 as a Sedan. The data lists 14 modifications for this period, with 12 shown here. Its gasoline range includes 2.0 MT versions with 150 hp, 155 hp, and 205 hp; 2.5 MT and 2.5 AT versions; and 3.0 MT and 3.0 AT versions. The diesel choices shown are 2.4 MT versions producing 136 hp, 140 hp, or 150 hp. All have FWD, 140 mm ground clearance, and a 72-litre fuel tank.

The first-generation restyling ran from September 2003 through September 2007, also exclusively as a Sedan, with 12 modifications. The facelift range includes 2.0 MT, 2.5 MT, 3.0 AT, 3.2 MT, and 3.2 AT gasoline versions. Its 2.4 diesel family spans 150 hp, 175 hp, 180 hp, and 185 hp, with both Manual and Automatic choices represented. Every facelift version retains FWD and 140 mm ground clearance, while tank capacity falls to 69 litres.

For buyers comparing generations, the clearest numerical change is in the diesel range. The original generation reaches 150 hp and 305 Nm in the displayed 2.4 MT versions; the facelift offers as much as 185 hp, while the 175 hp versions reach 385 Nm. That is 35 hp more than the strongest original-generation diesel and 80 Nm more than its highest torque figure. The original generation, however, carries 3 litres more fuel.

Alfa Romeo 166 engine and gearbox specs

Repeated names refer to distinct catalogue versions and are identified below by output and generation.

Power per litre separates the engines more clearly than displacement alone. The original 2.0 MT with 205 hp produces about 102.7 hp per litre, the highest figure in the supplied range. The facelift 3.2 MT and 3.2 AT produce about 75.5 hp per litre, while the 220 hp 3.0 MT and 3.0 AT versions produce about 74.3 hp per litre. Among the facelift diesels, output rises from about 62.8 hp per litre for the 150 hp 2.4 MT to about 77.5 hp per litre for the 185 hp versions.

Alfa Romeo 166 performance and fuel economy

The facelift 3.2 MT is the performance choice on measured figures: its 7.4-second acceleration time is 0.5 seconds quicker than the original 3.0 MT and 1.2 seconds quicker than either 3.0 AT. Its 245 km/h top speed is 2 km/h above the original 3.0 MT and 9 km/h above the facelift 3.0 AT.

For measured economy, the original 136 hp 2.4 MT records the lowest figures: 9.3 L/100 km in the city, 5.4 L/100 km on the highway, and 6.8 L/100 km combined. The facelift 150 hp 2.4 MT uses 7.2 L/100 km combined, while the facelift 180 hp and 185 hp 2.4 MT versions use 7.5 L/100 km combined. Relative to the 136 hp car, the 185 hp 2.4 MT adds 49 hp and reduces 0–100 km/h time by 1.0 second, at the cost of 0.7 L/100 km more in measured combined consumption.

Alfa Romeo 166 weight, ground clearance, tank and wheel specs

Among versions with measured kerb weight, the original 2.0 MT cars and the facelift 2.0 MT are the lightest at 1420 kg. At the other end, the facelift 2.4 AT with 175 hp, 2.4 MT with 180 hp, and 2.4 MT with 185 hp each weigh 1580 kg. The original 205 hp 2.0 MT has the strongest measured weight-to-power result at about 7.3 kg per hp, narrowly ahead of the facelift 3.2 MT at about 6.4 kg per hp; because fewer kilograms per horsepower is preferable, the 3.2 MT leads this comparison. The 150 hp 2.0 MT carries about 9.5 kg per hp, while the original 136 hp 2.4 MT carries about 11.0 kg per hp.

Which Alfa Romeo 166 version should you choose?

Choose the facelift 3.2 MT if measured acceleration and top speed matter most. Its 240 hp, 289 Nm, 7.4-second 0–100 km/h time, and 245 km/h maximum are the strongest complete performance figures in the data. The 3.2 AT matches its 240 hp and 289 Nm and provides a 6-speed Automatic, but its acceleration, top speed, economy, kerb weight, and wheel sizes are not measured.

Choose the original 2.0 MT with 205 hp if you want the highest calculated power per litre. Its turbocharged 1996 cc Gasoline engine produces about 102.7 hp per litre, and it reaches 100 km/h in 8.1 seconds. Compared with the original 155 hp 2.0 MT, it adds 50 hp and 93 Nm and cuts 1.7 seconds from the acceleration time, but measured combined consumption rises by 3.1 L/100 km.

Choose the original 136 hp 2.4 MT when measured fuel consumption is the priority. Its 6.8 L/100 km combined result is 2.9 L/100 km below the original 155 hp 2.0 MT and 6.2 L/100 km below the facelift 3.0 AT. The trade-off is performance: it needs 9.9 seconds for 0–100 km/h and reaches 202 km/h.

Choose the facelift 175 hp 2.4 MT when diesel torque matters most. Its 385 Nm is the highest torque figure in the data, exceeding the 330 Nm of the facelift 180 hp and 185 hp diesels by 55 Nm. It also reaches 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds and 222 km/h. The identically powered 2.4 AT also supplies 385 Nm and matches the 8.9-second acceleration figure, but its top speed is 4 km/h lower and its kerb weight is 35 kg higher.

Choose the facelift 2.0 MT for the lightest documented facelift specification and the broadest documented wheel selection. It weighs 1420 kg and lists 205/55 R16, 225/45 R17, and 235/40 R18 wheel and tyre sizes. Its 150 hp and 181 Nm are modest beside the larger engines, yet its measured 9.7 L/100 km combined consumption is 3.3 L/100 km below the facelift 3.0 AT.

For a gasoline Automatic with a complete set of performance and economy measurements, the original 2.5 AT with 188 hp or 190 hp and the 3.0 AT versions are the most directly comparable choices. The original 190 hp 2.5 AT uses 11.9 L/100 km combined and reaches 220 km/h; the facelift 3.0 AT adds 30 hp and 43 Nm, cuts 0–100 km/h time by 0.9 seconds, and raises top speed by 16 km/h, but consumes 1.1 L/100 km more combined.