Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 2.0 JTDM TI (2011) CAR review

Here is a Alfa Romeo 159 thing: you could start today and I bet you and I should be more than froth. You will be hard to believe that this is an old design six years, so well done are 159 style. And 159 Sportwagon is just as desirable properties - which marks Giugiaro Design on the sides appear to be well deserved.

That's the problem with Alfa Romeo. They pull the strings of the heart. However, probably always will. We tested the latest Alfa 159 2.0 JTDM with 170 CV and in your choice of red beans (not shown), which attracted more attention in the parking office than any other car reaches the end of his life right. You still have to wait a little, since the new Alfa Romeo Giulia launch was postponed to 2013.

Thus, the Alfa Romeo 159 has an abundance of style. Is the depth of expertise to save this search stealth?

Unfortunately, when you consider the fact that the face of the Latin part of the package of 159 will begin to feel his age. From the moment plip key, only to hear an ominous warning beep Subaru style that you, your neighbors, you will find some of the tech board is, ahem, a bit 'old-technology.

Sink into the beautiful, as the seats (standard on our top-dog TI trim) and a mixed bag. The band seems a few years behind the latest C-Class and A4, even if we see 2005 3-Series is a feeling of age now (which it replaced in 2012). E 'to make the 159 cheaper plastic (it sported scratches around the gear lever) ergonomics chaotic Alfa sat-nav installed down low in practice, at the knee, electronic read-out apparently by 1990 passenger compartment carpet feet, which fell loose to reveal the floor of the back, and multimedia screen, which seems a bit 'too Halfords for our tastes. functionality of satellite navigation is lagging behind the competition and not pair Bluetooth my Blackberry.

Not all bad news. The summit has a pleasantly smooth Squidge board for it, while the driving position is reassuring, tilting the front seats of the driver and the back of a lot of choice. It's time to try some consideration.

How does the Alfa 159 JTD drive?

Start the 2.0 JTDM and you immediately notice how well behaved this common-rail diesel engine. We should not be surprised, the Fiat Group have been invented by the common-rail diesel decade ago, and continue to produce some cracking of the Oilers in all shapes and sizes.

select first, and note that the precision passing slotty. All bode pretty well. The JTDM develops 170 hp and 266 m pounds, but feels it needs a good rev to get the most out of it. Fortunately, becomes little by little over a diesel and I've never been hit in the contest to choose a higher speed. It is a refined and smooth engine, and that change is a pleasure to use with a reassuring mechanical slot.

The most powerful 170 bhp 2.0 JTDM do not think so fast, that makes us question the low-power 136hp version now available. Alfa 0-62 mph 8.8sec and quotes 52.3mpg, while we average closer to 33mpg during our week with the car. We noticed a slight turbo layer does not go well below 2000 rpm. The epic high leverage should be a part of the blame, we found ourselves on the occasion of the fourth on the roads, the ratios of more long legs.


We are so used to brilliant turbo in all, and beyond 159 does not work as hard as you can imagine - especially when it comes to emissions. This is how the competition stacks:

	Bhp	Lb ft	0-62mph	Mph	Mpg	CO2
Alfa 159 SW 2.0 JTDM	170	266	8.8sec	135	52.3	142/gkm
Audi A4 Avant 2.0 TDI	168	258	8.7sec	140	51.4	144g/km
BMW 320d Touring	184	280	7.7sec	145	58.9	128g/km
Mercedes C220 CDI est	168	295	8.5sec	136	60.1	124g/km

And handling the 159 Sportwagon?


Unfortunately, these years are creeping on compact Alfa executive. The 159 is a car to drive a little perplexed. Even in the 19-inch wheels of our car, which works very well on motorways and smooth road, with good primary and secondary action shots not to disrupt the progress on secondary roads. The biggest surprise was a particular section of the striatum that exceeded the M42 and crashed into the cab, as if the basic structure was not rigid enough.

Turn off the roads and find a good gust way back, and 159 of the discharge continues. These Bridgestone Potenza 235/40 R19s rotated and crashed into the streets full of potholes and B, steering wheel shakes when the body rests in the turns faster and 159 Sportwagon is really difficult to tie down the stream, without a hitch. E90 3-Series - was launched at the same time, remember - would be to let the dead.

Having said that, after nearly 700 miles in 159, this means that it grows on you. The management is strong enough and quick wit, and he would ring around an Audi A4, the only other significant price FWD. You can even walk heel n 'in it and it's not often we say that a field of diesel.

A quick note for night driving, the complex design of front-end works wonders, you will pay separate fog lights big dividends.

How practical is the Alfa Romeo 159 Sport Wagon?

Another report is mixed. Alfa 156, the predecessor of 159, was more famous boot space in the square shape that property. The 159 to 445 liters - only 40 more than the four doors and the luggage compartment is a good width and length, with an effective, simple load cover to keep prying eyes at bay, more useful cubby holes and with a ski pass. The problem is boot lip 159 Sportwagon is an extraordinary 25cm deep - this is the least accessible starter break we tried at times.

The rear seat legroom tight unfathomable, too. Since this property is a compact executive, rear passengers get more space VW Golf. The adults will head to brush the roof and taller passengers will move the back of the knees of front seat passengers.


Court

I said at the beginning that perfectly encapsulates the 159 Alfa Romeo problem. This was something beautiful, a compact exec with real panache about it in a sea of ​​Germans same again. And yet, how we want them even brought a sample of the Teutonic logic to bear in areas such as ergonomics cabin electronic systems and attention to detail.


We say Alfa has been on a roll style, well, never really. Can you name the last Duff Alfa Romeo design? If they can make the new Giulia look half as good as the improvement and the other half back into the weaknesses, it could be something of a car. Each time you pull the cylinder of aluminum foil that lines the door handles, you'll be glad you chose to German hegemony.

just one more way for men CEO, Sergio Marchionne, should not make the new 159 too sensitive, too bright polished in all areas, I can imagine people like me complain about boring perfection in an Alfa Romeo.

CAR's rating

3

Handling

3

Performance

4

Usability

3

Feelgood factor

5

Readers' rating

4.5