Alfa Romeo 159 2012 Review

Quick Review

The Alfa Romeo 159 is a stylish compact executive sedan. The 159 was discontinued at the end of 2011 so there is no new model forthcoming. The 159 will be succeeded by the Giulia, but not until the 2014 model year. 

The Alfa Romeo 159 boasts the kind of edgy, award-winning design that you'd expect from a car built by one of the oldest and most revered Italian manufacturers. The performance is scintillating, the All Wheel Drive handling agile and expert. The V6 engine produces enough power for a confident ride, although the 159 won't be winning any drag races. The overall quality of the 159 is exceptional, especially the lush interior. For such quality, of course, there's a price; the 159 isn't cheap for a compact car. It's also a bit heavy, and not as economical with fuel as some of its rivals.

If you can bear to forgo the 159's iconic scowling front and triangular grill, you could look at the BMW 3-Series. It's rather more conventional-looking, but full-featured and luxurious. There's also the Mercedes-Benz C-Class; stylish in a different way to the Alfa Romeo, it offers luxury and reasonable, if not exactly outstanding performance, as well as approaching the 159's extensive safety precautions.

Luxurious, stylish and exciting to drive, the Alfa Romeo 159 is a great choice for an executive car that makes a statement. 

The drive is comfortable and engaging, with just enough agility to keep things fun. The turbocharged engine is charismatic and melodic rather than noisy.