Alfa Romeo 159 Reviews

Mention Alfa Romeo in conversation and you're sure to get a mixed response. The Italian brand has plenty of admirers willing to wax lyrical about its sensuous styling and fabulous handling, but there are probably as many who would happily condemn it for poor build quality and dodgy reliability. There's no question

Alfa Romeo is undergoing a major resurgence in Australia, one that began midway through 2012 when the Italian factory took control here; previously a private importer did that job.

Few badges polarize opinions like Alfa Romeo; it's one of those brands you either love or loathe, either way it's usually with a passion. Most people acknowledge that Alfas look great and deliver an engaging drive experience like few others, but just as many would say they wouldn't buy one because of the brand's reputation for poor quality and unreliability. It's fair to say that the company has worked hard to lift its game in recent times to put that reputation behind them, but despite that there remains a lingering doubt about its success at eradicating the things that can make its cars frustrating to own. The mid-sized 159 arrived in 2006 with the promise that the woes of the past were indeed in the past. Like all Alfas it looked like sex on wheels. Few carmakers produce more attractive cars than Alfa and the 159 was no exception with its timeless athletic lines. Buyers could choose between a four-door sedan and a wagon, there was a choice of two diesels and two petrol engines, and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The 159 is a driver's car, which is obvious when you slide into the body-hugging driver's seat and survey the dash and controls. Like the exterior, the cabin is also a design delight, with instruments nicely placed and easily read, and the controls spread around in a way that is logical and makes them easy to use. The front seats, however, won't be for everyone. While supportive, their heavily contoured shape will suit some bodies, but not others. While seated behind the wheel the limited visibility becomes clear. The high tail and thick pillars make vision from the driver's seat an issue, one that drivers need to come to terms with. IN THE SHOPRusted on Alfa owners are willing to accept things in their cars that others simply wouldn't tolerate. Committed owners are prepared to write them off as 'character', others say they are character building. Anyone not familiar with Alfas should approach the 159 with caution to make sure they aren't left driving a car they can't stand. But don't be deterred, as the 159 is generally reliable with no major flaws. Those things that detract from its appeal are a result of variable build quality. Have an Alfa specialist check over any potential purchase, they will be familiar with the issues that can affect a 159. Sloppy build quality can result in rattles and squeaks in the body and trim that can be hard to find and eliminate. They can also be expensive to fix. Also check over the interior trim, looking for bits and pieces that are poised to fall off. On the road the diesel engine can be noisy, not a problem, just something you need to accept and live with. The ride can be firm, too firm for some, so make sure you're happy to live with that day to day. Like all modern cars servicing is crucial, so look for a service record to confirm that all maintenance has been done according to the book, and preferably done by an experienced Alfa mechanic.IN A CRASHA 5-star tick of approval from ANCAP says it all, the 159 is a safe car. It comes with front, side and head airbags along with ABS braking, traction control and stability control.UNDER THE PUMPWith a choice of diesel and petrol engines 159 buyers have plenty to choose from. The diesels are the best pump performers, both getting around 7.0 L/100 km, while the V6 is the thirstiest of the bunch at more than 11 L/100 km.AT A GLANCE Price new: $55,990 to $77,990Engine: 2.2-litre 4-cylinder petrol, 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel, 2.4-litre 5-cylinder turbodiesel, 3.2-litre V6 petrol Power/torque: 136 kW/230 Nm (2.2), 110 kW/320 Nm (2.0TD), 147 kW/400 Nm (2.4TD), 191 kW/322 Nm (V6)Transmission: 6-speed manual, 6-speed auto, front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive.Economy: 6.8 L/100 km (2.4TD), 7.1 L/100 km (2.0 TD), 9.4 L/100 km (2.2), 11.5 L/100 km (V6) Body: 4-door sedan, 4-door wagonVariants: Base, TiSafety: 5-star ANCAP

YOU'VE almost got to wonder, who buys all those cars? To say nothing of the SUVs and commercial jiggers.  Private owners and fleets bought almost 81,500 new vehicles last month. Of course, the usual suspects - Holden, Toyota, Mazda, Ford, Hyundai - do most business among the 50 or so brands on offer. But for every no-brainer buy there's an overlooked, if not unloved, model sitting on the lot.If you fancy a bit of vive la difference, we've unearthed some hidden treasures whose lack of popularity ought to compel the sales people to do a deal for you.Alfa Romeo 159Sales in April: 29Price:$49,990-$82,990THOUGH a non-starter in the premium sales stakes led by zer Chermans, Alfa's now five-year-old midsize sedan and wagon will be with us for another two years.Upgrades have seen it shed a bit of lard and get a six-speed automatic that works with it, as opposed to behaving like a transplanted organ the body's rejecting. Most 159s sold now are TI editions with lowered suspension and lustrous, but eminently kerbable, 19-inch alloys.Hardly the sharpest tool in the shed but, my, isn't she lovely? Gorgeous, actually.  Standard equipment levels are high, so put the acid on the dealer for a good driveaway deal.* Our choice: 2.4 JTDm auto sportwagonCitroen C5Sales in April: 16Price: $45,990-$72,990DESPITE its dashing appearance, the driving reality of this almost entirely diesel line-up can be considered exciting only if you accept boules as an extreme sport. It ain't sportif, but that's the point.What it does, in its Gallic shrugging way, is provide a classically wafty Citroen ride in a package that looks equally at home in Paris, Provence or Parramatta. The 3.0 twin turbo V6 oiler would convert an avowed petrolhead but, in Australia's Third World road conditions, isn't sufficiently superior to the 2.0-litre four potter to justify the price.* Our choice: 2.0 HDi ComfortFiat 500Sales in April: 25Price: $22,990-$33,990THING is, everyone who wants a mini 2+2 convertible goes for, well, a Mini. The irresistible new Bambino now comes with a rag top, in addition to its more stalwart though hardly less cute coupe siblings.Indeed, how much cute can you cope with? Given its level of kit and customisation options, the 500 is as much a bite-sized luxury car as a city-friendly commuting device.The current lack of an auto option in all versions across the range keeps sales to niche levels but, hey, this is a compact Italian job. Over there, even the most venerable nonna can handle a stick shift. Anecdotal evidence suggests the Fix-It-Again-Tony days are way behind Fiat.* Our choice: 1.4 Lounge manualHonda Civic HybridSales: 75-80 (since January)Price: $34,490WHILE Toyota's Prius is effectively a synonym for petrol-electric propulsion, the cheaper Honda not only looks like a car it drives like one, while returning a potential 4.6 litres per 100km. Sales are down a bit at the moment, as petrol prices are too, but an oil price spike is certain at some point. If you want a green car that doesn't make you look like Clover Moore, act soon.* Our choice: There is but oneSkoda SuperbSales in April: 6Price: From $39,990MAYBE the long Czech liftback and now wagon is just too close in essence and price to its VW Passat sibling. Maybe we don't yet "get'' big cars with small but highly efficient engines (though there's a diesel and a V6 petrol variant as well). Maybe it's a cold war hangover.Whatever it is, we're wrong. With a price realignment, the Superb offers better value, more kit, lots of space and lusher feel than the VW. It won Top Gear's luxury car of the year; the previous winner was a Rolls-Royce, for heaven's sake.* Our choice: Got to be the 1.8 turbo petrol wagon

And have done for a very long time. But there are always buyers looking for something that avoids the clichés associated with the popular players. And for them, the Alfa Romeo stable has the attraction of being the ‘other’ desirable badge.Leading the charge for Alfa in the mid-sized sector is the 159 - the successor to the 156 that is credited with turning around perceptions about the Italian carmaker. Rather than being a marque for the brave - or at least those brave enough to defy the earlier reputation for poor quality - people started to buy the badge with more confidence. That continued as the 156 turned into the 159, and Alfa’s presence continued to grow, both overseas and here.The 2.4 litre JTD diesel tested here has consistently been the most popular version of the 159. Now, with a revised engine, more power and improvements to refinement and comfort, there’s a good chance it will remain at the top of the heap.Engine The upgraded 2.4 litre, five cylinder, JTDm turbo diesel DOHC engine puts out 154kW at 4000rpm and 400Nm at 2000rpm. A six speed-speed manual - or the six-speed Q-Tronic transmission in our test car - gets power to the wheels. Both the manual and the Q-Tronic do the 0-100km sprint in 8.4 seconds but the manual pips the Q with a top speed of 228km/h, over 224km/h.Around town the Q-Tronic – at 11.9l/100km - is quite a bit thirstier than the manual at 9.4l/100km. But on the open road the figures drop significantly for both vehicles; Q-Tronic 6.0l/100km, and manual 5.6l/100km. The Q-Tronic emits 215g/km of CO2 while the manual releases 179g/km.Exterior All changes to the new 159 are under the skin, such is the confidence Alfa Romeo has in the current Giorgio Giugiaro design - and it’s well-founded.There’s no mistaking an Alfa from the outside and the 159, which spawned the beautiful Brera, is probably the most obvious of the lot. Its strong smooth lines and gently angled creases give it a timeless shape that needs little modification.New 19-in alloys with big red Brembos showing through the spokes, and low profile tyres, speak the visual language of performance and agility.InteriorThe Ti, or Tourism International package brings with it a host of features for the 159, steered towards a sporty feel.Black leather with red stitching flows through the cabin, on the seats, steering wheel and gear stick. In normal Alfa fashion the dash is mostly brushed aluminium with round holes for the sunken dials. Alfa Romeo badges on the electric seats, red instrument highlights and drilled sport pedals are standard, as is Bluetooth capability and a USB connection point.SafetyOn top of a comprehensive airbag package, the 159 2.4 JTDm comes with anti-lock brakes, rear park braking sensors, electronic brakeforce distribution, variable dynamic control and child safety locks.PricingThe manual version of the Alfa Romeo 159 Ti JTDm 2.4 is available from $59,990 and the Q-Tronic from $62,990, plus dealer and statutory charges.DrivingThe 159 is a classic Alfa Romeo. It’s a beautiful car with a handsome, timeless shape. The Giorgio Giugiaro design hasn’t been touched and really doesn’t need to be. The interior again, is classic Alfa with gorgeous hand stitched dark leather and brushed alloy.The diesel engine has a nice quick jerk free pick up with enough stones to heave you back into your seat, and without even using the paddle shifters, changes - on sharp winding roads - are swift and appropriate.Fabulous weight distribution means negligible body roll and the big wheels and Brembos together with the double wishbone front and multi link rear suspension, help the 159 to stick nicely to the tar.Unfortunately it took everything we had to get past the fact that it sounded like a John Deere 6030 Series utility tractor with Pig Flu. Sure, it’s light on the juice but come on … seriously.Gorgeous car, but what a racket.Verdict: 7.9/10

I still have fond memories of my Alfa Romeo Alfasud Ti.

The Germans have a stranglehold on the market but for those who look for flair not completely at the expense of function probably end up staring into the beautiful face of an Alfa Romeo 159.

Here's something to whet the appetites of driving enthusiasts who like the cachet of an Italian marque but need versatility in luggage space.On paper this car measures up. A V6 petrol engine with variable valve timing and twin overhead camshafts on each cylinder bank. A strong 191kW of power. A broad, low stance pushing its wide-tread, low-profile tyres on to the road where they are propelled by all-wheel drive.Leather-trimmed seats, sports instruments and, at the top of the range, a six-speed automatic with sport mode and steering wheel paddle shifts.Luggage volume is great and even more can be carried when the rear seats are folded flat.It's the Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon - the 3.2 JTS Q4 variant, the most expensive of the 159 Sportwagon range.At $80,990 it's quite a swallow; $12,000 more expensive than its fellow-European Volvo V70 V6, which also has all-wheel drive, six-speed automatic and is more powerful and more spacious.It's a shame the Q-Tronic auto lets the wagon down. Even in regular Drive setting, it hangs on to gears far too long, the driver willing it to change up a gear or two to lower the revs, the noise and the fuel bill.In the manual-shift mode, the test car wouldn't accept a command to go into top (sixth) gear at a steady 90km/h on a flat road. It used fuel at a rate of 13.6 litres/100km on a drive that included a Fleurieu cruise. Do mainly city and suburban driving, and petrol consumption will increase.The driver can find an ideal position helped by seat and steering wheel adjustments.The AWD is configured to give a slightly rear-axle bias.This is a wagon that corners with good balance, even at speed.The rear luggage area, accessed by a lift-up tailgate, has a floor about 24cm below the loading lip (more like a hatchback than a station wagon). It's harder to lift items in and out, but probably helps the wonderful chassis integrity.Tie-down hooks, luggage nets and bonus compartments make it appealing. The 445 litres of space (below the luggage blind) expands to 1235 litres with the rear seat down. Then there's the joy of driving an Alfa; the deep-set gauges are there for olio, acqua and benzina and when asked to perform, it generates a raw, racy sound.The $77,990 six-speed manual version might be worth trying along with any of three other engine choices back to the 2.2 four-cylinder petrol (136kW power) from $52,990 where you still get leather trim, dual-zone climate control, 10-stack CD, cruise control, stability control, rear park sensors and alloy wheels. SnapshotAlfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 3.2Price: $80,990Engine: V6 petrol, dohc, 3195cc.Power: 191kW at 6200rpm.Torque: 322Nm at 4500rpm.Transmission: Six-speed Q-Tronic sequential with paddleshift.All-wheel drive.Brakes: 330 x 28mm ventilated front discs, four-piston calipers; 292 x 22mm ventilated rear discs; ABS.Economy: 12.3 litres/100km. Tank capacity 69 litres.Emissions: 291g/km.Wheels: 18in x 8in alloys; 235/45 tyres.Dimensions: 4660mm long, 1828mm wide, 1422mm tall.Performance: 0-100km/h 7.4 seconds. Top speed 237km/h.In its class: Audi A3 Sportback 3.2 quattro, $65,500Saab 9-3 Sportcombi: $75,600Volvo V70: $67,950BMW 335i Touring: $108,600 

Alfa has provided some reasons for delaying purchase of 159 Sportwagon until next year.

The two-plus-two coupe was drawn by Giugiaro but built by Pininfarina and shares much with its four-door 159 sibling (including the V6-AWD powertrain that also debuts on the sedan at the same time) but with a shorter wheelbase. The platform has proved versatile for the Italian marque, with the new 169 and the Kamal SUV also built on the same underpinnings. Measuring 4410 mm in overall length, the Brera sits on a 2528mm wheelbase – 175mm shorter than the 159 – and measures a stout 1830mm wide and just 1341mm tall.Starting price for the svelte and attractive coupe is $69,950 for the 2.2-litre front-wheel drive model, rising to a steep $94,950 for the V6 all-wheel drive range-topper.The base-model uses a familiar 2.2-litre JTS direct-injection variable-valve four-cylinder, which produces 135kW of power and 230Nm of torque at 4500rpm – although Alfa says 90 per cent of that is around at 2000rpm.The all-wheel-drive model uses a 3.2-litre JTS V6 (with its origins at Holden's Melbourne engine plant) also with direct injection and variable valve systems. All four wheels are driven using a Torsen centre differential system by 191kW of power and 322Nm of torque at a lofty 4500rpm, although the V6 is also laying claim to 90 per cent available at 2000rpm.The local Alfa staff acknowledge the new coupe has a battle of the bulge on its hands, with the four-cylinder weighing 1470kg and the all-wheel drive V6 a portly 1630kg.Alfa Romeo says platform changes are under way now that the underpinnings are no longer shared with GM and don't have to accommodate V8 drivetrains – expect the GTA versions to have much leaner figures.The features list has plenty to offer, with a full-length glass roof (with sliding screen), seven airbags as standard (including a driver's knee airbag), the anti-lock and stability control systems, leather trim, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, trip computer, 18in alloy wheels and a six-speaker sound system with single CD slot sound and 10-disc stacker. The V6 shares the wheel diameter but gets a different wheel style, as well as adding premium leather trim, heated front seats, xenon headlights, a Bose sound system and Bluetooth for mobile phones.The range-topping V6 offers a muted but growly low-speed engine note that promises plenty but is stunted by the high kerb weight.A slick and solid gear change means keeping the V6 on the boil is anything but a chore – the flexible powerplant allows decent progress but its feels better in the mid-range. The cabin is plush, with comfortable seats that could do with a touch more later support and to be lower set, as head room is at a premium for anyone who is above 180cm.With the glass roof's sliding screen retracted, the head room improves slightly, but in mid-summer heat the screen will have to be in place.The rear part of the cabin might be fine for children but only four short-ish adults are going to be able to fit comfortably in the Brera.Pushing up the pace sees the AWD V6 providing a decent – if firm – ride for the most part, but the weighty nose and drivetrain conspire to push the nose wide when cornering briskly.The V6 returned figures in the high teens after some enthusiastic Hills driving (it can be swift if the heavy nose is compensated for), with Alfa claiming an official combined figure of 11.5.The 2.2-litre drops that claim to 9.4 and feels lighter in the nose and despite the reduced horsepower is a more pleasant car to steer, but the four-cylinder's performance suffers for the weight as well.The Brera has a shelf load of trophies for its styling and plenty of buyers will go for the coupe's sparkling looks, but time will tell if its lighter German competition suffers from conquest sales of the gorgeous little Alfa.SMALL TORQUEJoining the wagon trainALFA Romeo also has added a V6 AWD model and Sportwagon, below, to the local 159 line-up.The 159 uses the same drivetrain as the Brera – a Torsen all-wheel-drive system with 191kW of power and 322Nm of torque available.The 159 also gets 18in alloys, with heated front seats, bi-xenon headlights, a Bose sound system and Bluetooth for mobile phones.The 159 AWD V6 with a six-speed manual will be priced at $74,990.The Sportwagon also has been revived in 159 guise and will be available with a wide variety of engine derivatives, but only with a six-speed manual gearbox until next year.The Sportwagon 2.2 JTS will start at $52,990, while the 2.4 JTD starts at $58,990 and the range-topping Sportwagon AWD 3.2-litre V6 is priced from $77,990.