Alfa Romeo 159 saloon (2006 – ) expert review

1. Exterior

Nobody is likely to call the Alfa Romeo 159 ugly, but it’s a much more conventional looking saloon than its predecessor, the 156. That car sold on its looks alone, whereas this model blends into the crowd a little more. Gone are the hidden rear door handles of the 156, for example. Having said that, some of the detailing is lovely, including the small chrome grille, the side-mounted number plate and the triple-unit headlamps. It’s the sort of car that doesn’t need a body kit to look handsome.

Our rating: 4

2. Interior

Some may find the interior of the new Alfa Romeo 159 a little conservative, but it’s much more practical. Gone is the uncomfortable driving position, replaced by one much more adjustable and suitable for all shapes and sizes. All the instruments are still angled towards the driver and little touches like the Italian words on the gauges mark the 159 out as unique.

Our rating: 4

3. Practicality

As a saloon, the 159 is inherently hampered compared to hatchback-offering rivals like the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia, but the fundamentals are good. The 405 litre boot feels big enough, even though it’s slightly smaller than, say, the Saab 9-3 saloon. Our only issue is that you pay extra for a split-folding rear seat on all but top TI versions. The cabin is spacious, big enough to accommodate four big adults, which is not something that can be said for a good few family saloons.

Our rating: 3

4. Ride and handling

Alfa Romeo lives on its sporty reputation, and although the 159 loses out to the rear-wheel drive BMW 3 Series it’s certainly up among the best handling front-wheel drive cars like the Ford Mondeo. It’s never riveting, but there’s feel through the steering wheel, accurate turn-in and, most importantly, lots of front-end grip. Alfa has also avoided stiffening the suspension too much – a common blight on sporty saloons – and so the 159 handles potholes smoothly, even on the big wheels of TI models. A slick gearshift and a well-placed stick help make this a fun car to drive.

Our rating: 3

5. Performance

Only two engines are available, a 2-litre JTDm diesel with 170bhp and a turbocharged 1.75-litre petrol unit with 200bhp. They cost the same, so the question is whether it’s better to trade some sporty turbocharged petrol character for the superior economy of the diesel. We spent a week with the 1750 TBi petrol. It’s a real peach: smooth, quick and with loads of low-end pulling power, it has the flexibility of the JTDm diesel but is much more fun to rev. Therefore, the 159 is one of those rare cars for which we’d suggest petrol rather than a diesel version.

Our rating: 4

6. Running costs

Both available engines offer good economy and emissions relative to their performance, but they’re both powerful engines. The JTDm diesel returns 52.3mpg average economy, compared to 34.9mpg for the TBi petrol, so you’re really going to see the difference there, and they’re also four VED bands apart (Band F against Band J). Insurance costs are similar, around the middle of the 50-band system. The long 18,000-mile service interval could cut the cost of ownership if you’re not planning on high mileages.

Our rating: 3

7. Reliability

Despite big reliability strides under Fiat ownership, Alfa Romeo is still blighted by a reputation for poor reliability. Some traces of it are still around, but generally things have got much better both with the cars and dealers. The 159 has been the subject of a few recalls, notably three in 2007 including one for an oil leak and one for potential brake failure. Ultimately, Alfa Romeo is still a slight gamble, but far less so than it once was.

Our rating: 3

8. Safety

An excellent five-star EuroNCAP safety award makes the Alfa 159 a reassuring place to sit. Seven airbags are standard, which means passengers get head and side protection while the driver gets an additional knee airbag. Stability control and anti-lock brakes are included in the price and it also features anti-whiplash head restraints.

Our rating: 5

9. Equipment

Having slimmed down the range significantly since its 2006 launch, Alfa has made choosing a 159 very easy. Regardless of which of the three trim levels you go for, Turismo, Lusso or TI, you’ll get alloy wheels, climate control, cruise control and Bluetooth. Lusso is the luxury spec, adding leather seats and automatic windscreen wipers and lights and TI is sportier, with bigger wheels, Alcantara fabric sports seats and red painted brake callipers.

Our rating: 4

10. Why buy?

If you want to stand out from the masses in the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 crowd, but fancy something classier than a Ford Mondeo or Vauxhall Vectra, this is a great way to do it. In the past the choice would have meant a compromise, mainly in the areas of reliability and comfort, but not any more.

Our rating: 3