Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 1750 TBi TI 5dr Car Review - February 2012

REVIEW
List Price: £27,915
Tax Band: J
Insurance Group: 26
MPG: 34.0
CO2: 186
0-62 Mph: 7.9 secs
BHP: 200 BHP
Range: 524 miles
CarSite Verdict:  3/5
If you are looking for an attractive estate car with a strong turbocharged engine, then the Alpha Romeo 159 Sportswagon TI could be the car for you. With an elegant exterior and fitted with the latest in driving technology, the car delivers performance, safety and sophistication to the driver.

PROS:   Along with being an attractive estate car, the Sportswagon’s turbocharged diesel engine delivers enduring performance, with the 2.0 litre engine providing excellent fuel economy, low emissions at low running costs.

CONS:  The car’s handling is cumbersome and jittery and suffers from poor reliability records and resale values.

Behind the Wheel

At 34 mpg, the Sportswagon TI provides good mileage for an estate car, but can provide the thrill of a sportscar with a top speed of 146 mph, going from 0-62 mph in under 8 seconds. The car’s 1742 cc engine provides punchy performance with 200 bhp at 5000 rpm with torque figures at 236 lb-ft at 1400 rpm.

The Sportswagon is equipped with an easy to understand and operate dashboard. The car operates well over most surfaces. However, its body is not tightly controlled making it difficult to drive on twisty roads. The car lacks sharp initial responses to differing terrain.

Looks & Equipment

The Sportswagon TI looks attractive and comes fitted with elegant internal features. As the top of the range model, it comes equipped with the basic and the best attributes of the car model including dual-zone climate control, electric windows, Bluetooth, cruise control, folding wing mirrors, Visibility Pack, sports dials, with sports suspension and 19-inch alloys equipped exclusively in the TI range.

Practicality, Safety & Reliability

The 4 seater has ample room passengers but has only marginally more boot space than the Saloon car.

The car is packed with a comprehensive safety kit no different than the other 159 models and its competitors. With a Euro NCAP rating of 5 out of 5, the car comes equipped with stability control, with front, side and curtain airbags, along with a driver’s knee bag. The car also has front-seat head restraints to minimise whiplash injuries.

The car comes with a three year warranty with unlimited miles. However, it has a poor reliability record, with owners citing expensive repairs and poor dealer service.

The diesel engine gives the car decent green credentials with a EURO 5 emissions rating, with the highest carbon footprint of 186 g/km amongst the Alfa cars.

Value for Money

The Sportswagon TI is priced at £27,915. It is expensive for an estate car which is highly sought for style and marked by poor handling and maintenance. It is valued in insurance group 26 along with a Road tax band of J, indicating that the additional costs of maintaining the car are high as well. Many reviews have cited buying the car as risky mainly because it suffers from poor re-sales and expensive repairs.

Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 1750 TBi TI 5dr Car Review - by 
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