To be honest, it's extremely hard to hold back enthusiasm here. The car is truly beautiful! And it's not just my personal impression. Rarely will anyone dare to claim that an Alfa Romeo is ugly or handles poorly. But then why aren't the streets filled with these cars? Ask any passerby about Alfa Romeo — and you'll hear roughly the same thing: "Yes, a great car, but..." And that huge "but" has been known to everyone for a long time. Perhaps the Alfa Romeo 159 will manage to turn the tide? Maybe love will prove stronger than flaws and prejudices?
From the very first seconds of acquaintance, this beauty evokes incredible emotions — you fall in love instantly! And it's not even about the looks. The interior is simply a dream for any sports car. Seats with excellent lateral support, a stylish three-spoke steering wheel, instruments recessed into "wells." And the center console, turned toward the driver and finished in cool aluminum, with three additional gauges — it's simply a masterpiece! Or the six-speed gearbox lever with a delightfully short throw. The sensations are almost like in a supercar — even though under the hood of the test car is only a 2.2-liter engine with 185 horsepower.
As for the equipment for 33,400 euros — everything is in perfect order, all in place. Three-zone climate control, leather interior, a host of electronic assistants — how do you like that? I like it very much. But, you'll agree, people don't buy an Alfa Romeo for the climate control. You press the start button, and within a few seconds of the engine running, you understand why it's loved.
16-inch wheels are the base. For an extra charge, you can get a larger size.
I think there's no need to elaborate that the car is fast and the claimed 8.8 seconds to 100 km/h raise no doubts. The main thing is not what the car can do. What matters is how it does it. And it does it marvelously!
Often people say about cars: "It provokes you to drive fast!" You get in, start it — and immediately want to floor it. Well, the Alfa Romeo 159 is a completely different matter. You get into it and just drive. No racing or recklessness — you just drive as you please. But somehow, cars ahead unexpectedly end up behind you. You glance at the speedometer — goodness, at what speed am I flying! And the tachometer needle almost never drops below three thousand rpm.
What's the secret? A bit of everything. The magnificent engine sound. The very short transmission. The precise, instant, and clear responses to the steering wheel. The excellent — by the way! — sound insulation. The result is surprising: you seem to be driving at a normal pace, without wanting to race, but in reality, you overtake everyone. It's very hard to drive calmly in an Alfa, yet energetic driving is not tiring at all.
By the way, the responsive chassis and "sharp" steering (just over two turns lock-to-lock) don't make the Alfa Romeo nervous at all! On the highway, you can drive at any speed, and the car won't require constant corrections or heightened attention. Excellent! And the handling is superb — the suspension is, of course, a bit stiff, but there's no pitching or excessive body roll.
The rear of the 159 seems plain at first, but look closer — there's definitely something there.
And I no longer care that many cars accelerate faster (I'll believe that) or handle better (though that's harder to believe). Let it be so. But the Alfa Romeo gives something incomparable to the difference that an average driver would hardly even notice. Emotions! Behind the wheel, you get pleasure not from the number of horsepower or the time to 100 km/h. You savor the very process of driving. And that, I must say, doesn't happen often.
But enough praise. It's easy for us journalists to confess love for a car we've driven for a couple of days without even thinking about buying it. And after the test, go and buy ourselves some docile "Japanese" car that may not delight as much but also doesn't disappoint. Or a "German" that may be less expressive but is also very good. And with the beautiful Alfa, it will remain a short romance. A pity, isn't it? And what can it do to bind you to itself, if not forever, then at least for a couple of years? Just delight you once, and then do it every day, without getting boring or tiring!
The quality of finishing is not just good — the interior exudes an exclusive spirit.
Moreover, the Alfa Romeo is quite well adapted to our conditions. Front-wheel drive (and on the V6 version, all-wheel drive), a fairly energy-intensive suspension, sixteen-inch wheels that our roads don't bother, acceptable ground clearance, a relatively spacious interior, and a decent trunk — for everyday driving, it's certainly no worse than, say, a BMW, which are plentiful on the streets. But Alfas are somehow rarely seen...
The seats aren't too sporty, but they hold you well in corners. However, in the back, it's certainly a bit cramped, and the trunk doesn't set records for volume either.
They say the Italians have seriously improved quality. By the way, during the test, nothing fell off the car, the interior didn't squeak, although the fit of some parts clearly showed that the car wouldn't survive a nuclear war. But still, I don't see the Alfa Romeo at the top of reliability ratings. Dealers and service centers are few and far between, and that's also a significant deterrent.
So, still want more emotions behind the wheel? Be prepared for negative ones too. Afraid? Get something simpler. But the main thing is that to buy this car, you have to truly fall in love with it. So much so that you can't imagine life with any other. Only then can you spend money on it and not regret it. Only then can you throw away the calculator, turn a blind eye to whims and misunderstandings, and get real pleasure from owning this beautiful and talented car.
Technical specifications
| Specifications | Alfa Romeo 159 |
| Body |
| Number of doors/seats | 4/5 |
| Length, mm | 4660 |
| Width, mm | 1828 |
| Height, mm | 1417 |
| Curb weight, kg | 1480 |
| Gross weight, kg | 1750 |
| Trunk volume, l | 320 |
| Engine |
| Type | Petrol, with multi-point direct injection |
| Location | Front, transverse |
| Number and arrangement of cylinders | 4, in-line |
| Number of valves | 16 |
| Displacement, cm3 | 2198 |
| Max. power, hp/rpm-1 | 185/6500 |
| Max. torque, Nm/rpm-1 | 230/4500 |
| Transmission |
| Gearbox | Manual, six-speed |
| Drive | Front |
| Chassis |
| Front suspension | Independent, double wishbone |
| Rear suspension | Independent, multi-link |
| Front brakes | Disc, ventilated |
| Rear brakes | Disc |
| Tires | 215/55 R16 |
| Performance characteristics |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 222 |
| Acceleration time 0-100 km/h, s | 8.8 |
| Fuel consumption, l/100 km |
| Urban cycle | 13 |
| Extra-urban cycle | 7.3 |
| Combined cycle | 9.4 |
| Emission standard | Euro-4 |
| Fuel tank capacity, l | 70 |
| Fuel | AI-95 |
Equipment of the tested car
Standard equipment - Front airbags
- Front side airbags
- Inflatable "curtains"
- Driver's knee airbag
- ABS
- ESP with Hill Holder descent control system
- Electric power steering
- Steering column with height and reach adjustment
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever
- Heated front seats
- Automatic headlight washer
- Two-zone climate control
- Bi-xenon headlights
- Front fog lights
- Power-adjustable and heated side mirrors
- Front and rear power windows with auto mode
- Rear seat folds in parts
- On-board computer
- Heated windshield washer nozzles
- Full-size spare wheel
- Alloy wheels
- CD audio system
- Light sensor
Options- Three-zone climate control
- Leather interior
- CD changer
- Rain sensor
- Rear parking sensors
Base trim — 32,500 eurosTest car — 33,400 eurosThe car for the test was provided by
Alfa Romeo Moscow. 
