ALFA ROMEO 159 SPORTWAGON REVIEW

For The Alfa 159 is a very attractive car with a large, comfortable cabin for passengers and plenty of equipment for prices that undercut the usual German suspects.

Against The boot isn't much bigger than the saloon's. Resale values are very weak and fuel economy is average for the class. A 3 Series is much better to drive.

What Car? says

3 out of 5 stars

A distinctive and unusual alternative to the rest of the pack, if not the most practical. Its beautiful design could have you gasping with delight, but weak resale values could leave you gasping for breath.

Reader review rating

4.2

The Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon full review Read in full

Performance
3 out of 5 stars
A diesel engine makes most sense
Ride & Handling
2 out of 5 stars
Comfy and assured, but not huge fun
Refinement
2 out of 5 stars
Off the pace next to rivals
Buying & Owning
2 out of 5 stars
Well priced, but residuals are uncertain
Quality & Reliability
2 out of 5 stars
Solid; needs to improve on 156's record
Safety & Security
4 out of 5 stars
As stuffed with safety kit as its rivals
Behind The Wheel
3 out of 5 stars
No-nonsense dash; good driving position
Space & Practicality
2 out of 5 stars
Bigger boot than saloon, but trails rivals
Equipment
4 out of 5 stars
All cars come well stocked

Or view…

There are 9 Alfa Romeo 159 versions available

Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 2.0 JTDm 136 Turismo 5dr	£23,750	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 2.0 JTDm 170 Turismo 5dr	£24,750	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 1750 TBi Turismo 5dr	£24,765	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 2.0 JTDm 136 Lusso 5dr	£25,400	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 2.0 JTDm 170 Lusso 5dr	£26,400	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 1750 TBi Lusso 5dr	£26,415	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 2.0 JTDm 136 TI 5dr	£26,900	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 2.0 JTDm 170 TI 5dr	£27,900	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 1750 TBi TI 5dr	£27,915	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5

Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 2.0 JTDm 170 Turismo 5dr

The fine combination of running costs and performance makes this our favourite 159 Sportwagon. Pity it isn't more practical or better to drive.

What Car? says:3 stars out of 5

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Buyer's notes

Target Price team says:

Alfa Romeos are bought with the heart, not the head and although the 159 Sportwagon isn't a scamp of a coupe, care-free drop-top or sexy supercar, this maxim still applies. The styling proves that everyday cars like this can also be lovely to look at.

However, there are lots of other warning signs that you have to swerve around before you arrive at 159 ownership. The What Car? Reliability Survey shows the brand hasn’t got a great track record in this area, and our in-depth customer satisfaction study with JD Power shows Alfa customers aren’t happy, even if they do have an attractive car on their driveway.

On top of that, while equipment levels are high and discounts tempting, resale values are weak and will hit you where it hurts.

If you’re not yet put off, the 159 has a five-star Euro NCAP rating to keep you safe, and a three-year warranty to cover the things that are likely to go wrong.