ALFA MALE
Sleek, sporty and practical, the 159 Sportwagon is a car for design-conscious dads, says Guy Bird.
Alfa Romeo has made some of the most beautiful cars of the last century. But its Achilles heel has often been build quality and reliability. Electric stuff packed up, unidentified rattles wouldn’t go away and its UK dealer network weren’t always up to scratch. But 2006 could be the start of the brand’s turnaround. Its new ex-BMW global CEO is shaking things up with massive investment on product quality and customer service, to bring a much-needed dose of German thoroughness to Alfa’s undoubted Italian style. There’s four allnew cars launching this year: the 159 saloon, the stunning Brera coupe and its drop-top sister, the Spider, and the most practical of the lot – but still rather dashing – 159 Sportwagon.
The old 156 Sportwagon genuinely broke ground as the first of a new breed of sporty estate with a more coherent design than previous wagons – which were so often just saloons with boxes added. Trouble was, the 156 wagon had less boot space with the rear seats up than its saloon sister. The still sleek, but now beefier 159 Sportwagon replacement offers luggage space up by a quarter on the 156 Sportwagon and 10% |
This review from FQ MAGAZINE September 2006
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better than the 159 saloon. A 445/1235-litre min/max space compares well to rivals like the Audi A4 Avant (442/1182 litres) and Saab 9-3 Sportwagon (419/1273 litres).
The space itself is fairly useable although the hatch opens to reveal a hole that is rounded rather than square and there is quite a big lip before you hit the load floor. Big chunky objects might require a sleek Italian designed shoehorn. Still, the rear seats easily fold almost flat, there are plenty of cubbyholes and a luggage net is an option if needs be. Rear headroom is fine for tall folk if not outstanding – but getting children in and out shouldn’t be much of a problem. Upfront, in top spec Lusso the cabin has a really sporty, masculine look with great leather seats and a centre dash heavily angled toward the driver. It could only be an Alfa.
Unlike before, fit and finish all feel solid. The aircon controls are still confusing though – the up/down arrows don’t adjust the heat – the ‘unmarked’ dial behind it does. Of the two diesel and |
three petrol engines, the one with the best mix of power, mpg and CO2 (for company car tax) is the 150bhp 1.9 diesel. It really drives well in all conditions. The more powerful 260bhp 3.2 V6 is more fun and comes in all-wheel drive form (called Q4), but unless you live somewhere that is regularly snowy and wet with poor road surfaces, the extra traction and power over the 1.9 diesel probably isn’t worth the fuel economy losses (24.4 vs 46.3mpg), company car tax bills (35% vs 22% benefit-in-kind band) plus the initial extra cost (more than £6000).
This really is a fine individualist’s car, ticking all the boxes for most lifestyles. There are bigger estates if you really need to lug a lot of stuff – the VW Passat and Honda Accord Tourer are two excellent ones – but they lack the verve and style of the 159. If the car holds together as well as Alfa is promising, the Italian firm will finally have a car that can be bought with the ‘head’ as well as the ‘heart’.
Alfa 159 Sportwagon 1.9
Price £22,995
Engine 150bhp 1.9
Top Speed 129mph
0-60 9.6 secs
Economy 46.3mpg
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