1000km Road Test - Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon

Alfa's classy 159 Sportwagon range offers style, safety, and a wide choice of petrol or turbodiesel engines.

Value for money

Pricing

The Sportwagon range opens with the 136kW 2.2 litre JTS petrol six speed manual, priced at $52,990; a six speed sequential ?Selespeed? manual is $55,990.

The 110kW 1.9 litre direct injection turbo diesel/ six speed automatic is $57,990.

A 147kW 2.4 litre turbodiesel/six speed manual costs $58,990, or $61,990 with a six speed automatic.

The range topping 191kW 3.2 litre V6/six sped manual all-wheel drive is $77,990; the six speed auto is $80,990.

Warranty

Three years/100,000 kilometres.

Standard equipment

The 159 is very well equipped at the price. Leather upholstery, roof rails, seven airbags, stability control, automatic dual zone air, cruise control, rear parking sensors, a trip computer, 17 inch alloy wheels (18 inch on the 3.2V6) and a ten CD stacker are included.

The V6 adds headlight washers, heated, power adjustable front seats, Bose sound and voice recognition/Bluetooth.

Selected options: metallic paint $1600; heated, power adjustable front seats $2750; sunroof $2250.

Retained value

Alfa Romeo used values are stronger than they used to be. The 156 Sportwagon retains approx 52 per cent after three years according to Redbook.

Design and function

Ergonomics

Alfa's used to be difficult cars for normal sized humans to get comfortable in, but their ergonomic eccentricities have largely been cleaned up in recent years.

The 159 gives you long travel for the driver's seat and plenty of rake and reach adjustment for the steering wheel. You sit quite high, even with the height adjuster in its lowest position.

Vision is reasonable. Large side mirrors compensate for a fairly narrow rear window.

Alfa's traditional wrap around cockpit style dash is retained in the 159, but not to the same extent as the 156 or Brera coupe. Deep set, round instruments include a fake olde worlde style trip meter, where the numbers roll on to the display. Cute.

The centre of the dash is wide and uncluttered by excessive buttons and displays. Air con and audio controls are logical and intuitive; the latter are also duplicated on the wheel.

The airconditioning works more effectively than in some previous Alfas, assisted by a surfeit of vents. Turbo boost, water temperature and fuel gauges are also old style in their design and location. Oddment storage is reasonable, but there's only one cupholder.

Technical details

• The 159 Sportwagon is a medium sized car, with a wheelbase that's 105mm longer than the 156.
• The 2.2 litre direct injection four cylinder petrol engine produces 136kW of power at 6500rpm and 230Nm of torque at 4500rpm.
• The 3.2 litre V6 petrol engine produces 191kW at 6200rpm and 322Nm at 4500rpm.
• The 1.9 litre direct injection turbodiesel produces 110kW at 4000rpm and 320Nm at 200rpm.
• The 2.4 litre direct injection turbodiesel produces 147kW at 4000rpm and 400Nm at 2000rpm
• All models except the 3.2 V6 are front wheel drive
• The Selespeed transmission is a manual with an automatic clutch; gear are shifted via the lever or paddles on the wheel.
• The six speed sequential automatic has Comfort, Sport and Winter modes.
• Suspension is double wishbone front/multilink rear
• Brakes have ABS and stability control; front brakes on the 2.4 turbodiesel and 3.2 V6 have four piston aluminium calipers and larger rear calipers.
• Steering is hydraulically assisted.
• The Sportwagon weighs 1540 (2.2) to 1730 kg (3.2V6.)

Safety

The 159 sedan scored five stars out of five in Euro NCAP tests.

Security

The base 159 sedan scored 71.5 out of a possible 120 points in the NRMA Insurance security ratings.

Comfort

The 159 driver's seat, upholstered in thick, aromatic leather, is firmly padded with longitudinal ribbing on the cushion, which also has a raised front section for added thigh support. It's very comfortable on a long drive, although the manual lumbar adjuster is ineffective and some tall drivers might prefer to sit a bit lower.

Space and practicality

Rear seat leg room isn't as good as it could be. When four average sized adults are in the car it's acceptable, but with a taller driver up front who likes to push the seat back, it's tight, with restricted footroom under the front seats as well. Adults also sit in slight knees up posture.

Air conditioning vents are provided in the centre console, plus wrap over head restraints, front seat back pockets and small door bins for storage.

The load area is more like a large hatchback rather than a conventional wagon. The tailgate top mount is set deep into the roof, and you have to lift objects up and over a pronounced lip, rather than placing them on the no lip flat floor as in most wagons.

That said, the 159 has a big load space overall, which is easily extended to a long 1.8 metres by folding down the 60/40 split rear seat backs. This does not compromise front seat travel or require the removal of the rear seat head restraints.

The load area is well equipped with safety and convenience features, including a 12 volt outlet, load cover, a roll out protective mesh barrier, two nets and a few handy smaller bins as well. A full size spare on an alloy wheel is under the floor; the 10 stack CD is also located in the boot.

Build and finish quality

Alfa Romeo has improved in this regard, but it's still recording disappointing results in independent quality surveys. We have driven several 159s, and all have been tight, well finished and trouble free.

On the road

Fuel efficiency

European standard test fuel consumption figures (litres/100 km, man/auto - city; highway; CO2 gkm) are: 2.2 petrol: 13.2/13.0; 7.3/7.1; 224/219; 3.2V6: 17.0/18.6; 8.4/8.6; 275/291; 1.9 turbo diesel: 10.1; 5.6; 190; 2.4 turbodiesel: 9.4/11.9; 5.6/6.0; 184/215.

Petrol models run on 95 octane premium.

All models score three and a half stars in the Green Vehicle Guide, except the 2.4 litre turbo diesel auto and the 3.2 litre V6, which score three stars.

Performance

The best combination of performance, refinement and economy is the 2.4 litre turbodiesel/six speed automatic. This is one of the more powerful, responsive four cylinder turbodiesels around, as evidenced by the fact it gets to 100 km/h in a pretty quick 8.6 seconds.

The Sportwagon is quite heavy, but with 400Nm of torque available from just 2000 rpm the 2.4 endows it with beautifully strong, long legged performance, effortless cruising ability and very good economy. Turbo lag is minimal.

The 2.2 is quite lethargic in comparison, and on the thirsty side in town. The 3.2 V6, according to Alfa's claims, takes 1.2-1.4 seconds less to reach 100 km/h than the 2.4 turbodiesel, but its all wheel drive hardware raises this model's weight to an obese 1730-1750 kg, so fuel consumption is excessive and can be as much as double that of the 2.4 turbodiesel.

We have not yet driven the 1.9 turbodiesel 159, but it should be a reasonable performance/economy device, and it's certainly attractively priced.

Both the manual and six speed automatics work well with the 2.4 turbodiesel. The auto's shifts are smooth and timely in most situations, to the extent that you rarely need to shift manually. It does get a bit hyperactive in traffic, with a particular keenness to shift down when it's not warranted.

Handling and steering

The 159 is a much more solid car than the 156, with a nicely sorted suspension. It's a big leap forward for Alfa, especially in Australia where previous models, though always entertaining, have struggled to maintain composure on our rough roads.

The 159 has excellent roadholding - helped by adhesive tyres - and good balance for a large-ish front driver. The front suspension still has quite limited travel, so a big bump with give it a whack.

Similarly, the excessive steering kickback, torque steer and rack shake of Alfas past has largely been eliminated here. The steering is less tactile and direct than the 156, but is still well weighted and precise. You no longer have to hold the wheel tight in rough corners.

Ride

Firm, but compliant and comfortable on most surfaces bar very choppy bitumen. It's particularly compliant in town.

Braking

No problems here. We have experienced early and severe brake fade on the 156, but not on the 159, though the upgraded brakes on the 2.4 and 3.2 V6 should be standard on all variants.

Smoothness and quietness

Excellent in all variants, including the diesels, apart from some tyre noise on coarse bitumen. However any diesel does send some vibration up through the wheel under hard acceleration and when idling.

Summary

As a stylish, safe, practical family wagon the 159 has much to recommended it, particularly against the more expensive, comparably sized wagons from the German brands. If you have not driven an Alfa before, you might be pleasantly surprised, especially with the 2.4 litre turbodiesel model.

By Bill McKinnon, January 2008.

The writer of this report does not necessarily represent the views of the NRMA and this report is provided for you as an alternative to our own NRMA car reviews.

Back to top