Alfa GT 1.9 JTDm Cloverleaf review

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Alfa Romeo GT 1.9 JTDm 170 Q2 First Drive

Test date 01 December 2008 Price as tested £22,995

: Cabin packaging and dash ergonomics are less than ideal

What’s new?

It’s a limited-edition version of the Alfa GT. You get leather upholstery, lowered suspension, 18in wheels and a bodykit, mated to a 168bhp version of Alfa’s 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine and, intriguingly, its Q2 limited-slip differential.

What’s it like?

First, the good stuff. The Alfa GT still looks stunning, particularly in the Atlantico Blue of our test car; it’s possibly the only small coupé that can compete with the Audi TT on styling.

The LSD does a half-decent job of coping with the diesel’s 243lb ft, with only occasional torque steer. The gearbox is slick.

And, er, that’s it. The cabin packaging is poor, the dash ergonomics are patchy at best, the ride quality on those 18in wheels is marginal, the diesel engine is peaky and far too vocal for its own good, and fit and finish are too hit-and-miss to be convincing.

The Alfa GT might look great in your office car park, but it’s nowhere near special enough on the road. Alfa’s website blurb says: “Nuvolari would have been proud of it.” Somehow, we doubt it.

Should I buy one?

At just shy of £22k, the Alfa is usefully cheaper than a diesel Audi TT – which is just as well, because it’s a lot rougher round the edges.

However, the Alfa GT is a few hundred quid more expensive than BMW’s 120d ES. Unless looks are everything, we can’t recommend it over Bavaria’s finest.