Alfa's knack for building handsome cars continues with the 159, penned by the Giugiaro design house that also shaped the pretty Brera coupe. The 159 looks a bit sharper than the 156 it replaces, and carries over lots of signature design features from the Brera, but overall doesn't look dramatically different to its predecessor.
There's a quality feel to the 159's cabin, and although it falls a little short of the premium finish of its German counterparts, the dash layout is logical and stylish, materials are good and the seats are comfy for long trips. Thankfully, the days of shoddy Alfa interiors are a distant memory.
Thanks to the chassis and mechanical underpinnings from the Brera, there is a sporting attitude to the 159's road manners. There's good feedback from the nicely-weighted steering, the chassis is compliant and grip is strong. Smooth, twisty blasts are a pleasure, but the firm ride isn't best suited to our knobbly roads, and tyre noise is noticeably high during high-speed cruises. However, the 159 suffers from the same curse as the Brera and the Spider: its chassis was originally intended as a joint venture with Saab for a big saloon and it is just too heavy for medium-sized Alfa Romeos. The 159 just does not feel as agile as it should do.
Under the bonnet there is a choice of three petrol engines and two diesel units. The basic 1750 TBi petrol and 1.9-litre JTD oil-burner offer best value, and although uncompetitive on price, the 3.2-litre V6 offers a characteristic Alfa bark plus the "Q4" four-wheel drive system as standard.
The 159 is not short on charm and style, but consider the marque's poor residuals and the questionable efficiency of the dealer network and it appeals more to the heart than the head.