ALFA ROMEO 159 Review

Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili, as Alfa Romeo was originally entitled, used the 2005 Geneva Auto International Motor Show to present the so-called 159, a model designed to replace the popular 156 lineup that reached sales of more than 680,000 units since 1997. Given these numbers, Alfa 159's primary goal was to register at least the same success as its predecessor, with the range receiving several upgrades in the next few years.

The first and one of the most important additions to the lineup was unleashed a year later at the same auto show: a Sportwagon variant. Basically an estate model, the Sportwagon was actually a longer 159 aimed at consumers looking for more interior space and a larger trunk.

Getting back to the 159 sedan, the model was based on the Premium platform designed in collaboration by General Motors and Fiat and also used for the development of Brera, Spider and several concept cars such as Kamal and Visconti displayed at the Geneva Auto Show in 2003 and 2004, respectively.

With a special affinity for the Swiss event, Alfa Romeo brought at the 2009 edition the 1750 Turbo Benzina 200 CV unit, a brand new engine described as a major technological achievement. The Italian brand claimed the new powerplant could develop the same performance as a 3-liter unit while maintaining the fuel consumption ratings at the level of a four-cylinder.

The new engine gained worldwide fame extremely fast, with Alfa Romeo fans rushing into dealerships to give it a spin. As expected in Alfa Romeo's case, the generated feedback was mostly positive, despite some press reviews that raised concerns on a number of features.

We wanted to find out the hard way whether the engine deserves its praises so we took the Alfa Romeo 159 for a testdrive. The car was powered by the aforementioned 1.75 TBi engine with 200 horsepower and mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The version we tested was the top-of-the-range Distinctive (priced at around 30,000 Euros) with a few optional features.

Outside, the Alfa Romeo 159 is a joy to the eye. The design of the car was made by Alfa Romeo Styling Center, but Giorgetto Giugiaro brought his very own touches to the way the car looks. Alfa Romeo 156 on the other hand was designed by Walter de'Silva, whose words are somehow explaining the success registered by the car. "Perfectly balanced," he said after the model was brought to life. The facelifted version however was designed by Giugiaro, hence the similarities between the late 156 and Alfa 159.

The front side is dominated by the large V-shaped grille which, according to Alfa Romeo's marketing department, "underlines the presence of a generous engine". Each headlight is divided into three different circular light clusters, while the fog beams are placed at the bottom of the front bumper. Moving around the car brings the 17-inch alloy wheels in the spotlights alongside the body-colored side mirrors which seem to fit the design perfectly.

The rear side looks like the optimal combination of simple lines with elegant details. The rear taillights follow the same design cues of the headlights, each of them consisting of three rounded clusters that create a nice visual effect especially during the night.

As compared to the car it replaces, the 2005 Alfa 159 is a bit larger. The car measures 183.4x71.9x55.7 inches / 4660x1828x1417 mm (LxWxH), while the 156 was slightly smaller - 174.6x68.6x56.3 inches / 4435x1742x1430mm. The 159 has a wheelbase of 106.2 inches (2700mm), bigger than its predecessor's - 102.2 inches (2596mm).

Overall, Alfa Romeo used chrome or metallic details here and there, increasing both the sportiness and the elegant lines of the car. For example, the front end uses chrome stripes on the grille and near the headlights, especially for a meaner look, while the side profile is further enhanced with what seem to be alloy door handles.

An Alfa 156 driver won't be too surprised if he has the chance to get behind the wheel of an 159. Mostly because several interior parts seen on the predecessor are also available on the new model, such as the center console-mounted gauges angled towards the driver.

So, we didn't chicken out by the aggressive exterior styling and we jumped into the 159 to see what it had to offer. The seats are surprisingly comfortable, with Alfatex upholstery available as standard on the Distinctive equipment trim. In just a few words, Alfatex is some kind of combination of a cloth material with rubber insertions that's said to last for ages, without signs of wear and tear. Plus, it helps the passengers avoid freezing cold during harsh winters but might raise some problems in hot summers.

There are several aluminum inserts on the dashboard and the metallic cover used for the center console and around the stick shift looks and feel great. As expected since we're talking about the 156 successor, the center console gauges indicating fuel level, water temperature and turbo bar are angled towards the driver, which doesn't only contributes to ergonomics but also gives an unique touch to the car.

It's difficult to pick something apart when it comes to 159's interior, as all things seem to be in the right place except for the hazard lights button which is placed just near the handbrake lever, at the bottom of the center console.

The interior is spacious enough, even in the most extreme conditions, a two-meter person having enough space both on the driver's and on the rear seat. The trunk has a volume of 405 liters, which should be enough for most (leisure or not) activities, but the rear seats cannot be folded.

At first look, the mean and aggressive look is more appropriate for the open road than the city experience, especially if we're taking into account the aerodynamic body the car owns. The design surely sets it apart in the crowded everyday traffic, but the Alfa 159 isn't exactly the best choice for such an environment.

As we all know, today's automotive industry is keen to improve fuel efficiency as much as possible but Alfa Romeo was, is and will probably remain a performance-oriented brand. And this is one of the reasons why the 159 isn't exactly the best choice for city driving.

On paper, Alfa 159's estimated fuel consumption is more than acceptable, but reality goes way beyond this limit. The Italian carmaker says the 1.8-liter powerplant should burn around 11.8 l/100km (around 19.9 mpg), which is more than decent for such a powerful unit. Unfortunately, the on-board computer shocked us after a 15-kilometer trip at a rush hour: 16.7 l/100km (14 mpg) in the most possible economical way.

However, it proved extremely difficult for us to handle the car peacefully and relaxed, as the 200 horses hidden under the hood felt their presence every time we touched the accelerator pedal. A few seconds of full throttle will skyrocket your fuel consumption.

Now, the six-speed manual transmission can be controlled pretty easily but, as always, an automatic configuration is always more useful in urban traffic. Unfortunately, such a feature isn't available, not even on the options list.

We've heard a lot of people saying that visibility is one of the weak points of the 159 but, after a few days behind the wheel of the car, we can assure you that this is just a myth. Especially if you're into cars and driving doesn't give you high blood pressure. The windshield, the two large exterior mirrors, together with the interior electrochromic mirror provide a great view over the adjacent traffic.

Visibility and parking go hand in hand, so it's fairly easy to park the car. In addition, the 159 features parking sensors, allowing us to squeeze into empty spots without bumping into other vehicles.

The suspension setup we expected from such a sporty vehicle proved to be fairly comfortable, although the passengers might bounce a little bit when passing over speed limiters.

So, the car looks great but this so-appealing appearance has a major setback actually. In order for the car to be sportier, the Italian engineers lowered the body to the minimum, so every single pothole or speed limiter is actually a risk of serious damage to the front end. Plus, it's almost impossible to get over kerbs without scratching the bottom of the front bumper which, in some cities, is simply unavoidable.

A 200-horsepower engine packed into a 1 tone and a half car is almost a free invitation to a journey on the highway and this is practically the best way to test the powerful Alfa 159.

Fuel consumption is once again one of the main topics: Alfa claims the engine should achieve 6 l/100km (39.2 mpg) outside the city but we beg to differ. As usual, we entered the highway and set the cruise control to 130 km/h. After more than 20 km/h, the on-board computer was indicating 10 l/100km (23.5 mpg), pretty far from Alfa's estimated figures.

The punchy 200 horsepower engine feels great on the highway, especially if Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan (if this doesn't ring any bells to you, he is the Manchester City FC owner and member of the Supreme Petroleum Council) is one of your relatives. To be more specific, driving the 159 on the highway is a great experience, mostly if you don't have to worry for fuel consumption. Basically, every second of hard acceleration is reflected on the fuel level gauge, but also gives you a great feeling of control, while the steering remains tight.

The engine however is incredibly quiet at high speeds and the only sound that can be heard is actually the one of tires rolling on the ground, with noises generated by exterior sources suppressed for the most part.

Comfort is not at all a problem and the Alfatex seats are very supportive, so there's no need to worry about potential backaches after a several hour trip. We missed a cooling system for the seats whatsoever, but such a feature is not available on the Alfa 159 range.

The 400+ liter capacity of the trunk is a bit deep, so the access isn't quite the best possible but it remains very generous and accommodates most luggage without any problem.

Visibility is great and bi-xenon headlights are ensuring the best driving conditions at night. In addition, the car was equipped with several systems intended to make a longer journey easier, including VDC and ASR, HBA and Hill Holder.