2011 Alfa Romeo 159 Review
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to: RM298,888
Installment
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2011 Alfa Romeo 159 at a glance
Despite the improvements over Alfa Romeo 156, the 2011 Alfa Romeo 159 is simply outclassed in too many areas by its German rivals. That said, the beautiful 2011 Alfa Romeo 159 remains good to drive, roomy, attractively priced and well-equipped.
2011 Alfa Romeo 159 quick specs
| Body Style | Sedan |
| Class | Compact Luxury |
| Assembled | - |
| Engine Range | - |
| Fuel Options | - |
| Seating Capacity | 5 |
2011 Alfa Romeo 159 ratings (overall rating : 3.5/5.0)
| Styling | |
| Handling | |
| Comfort | |
| Quality + Reliability | |
| Performance |
| Roominess | |
| Running Costs | |
| Value for Money | |
| Equipment | |
| Environment |
Styling
The overall profile and styling elements of the 2011 Alfa Romeo 159 very much resemble that of the Alfa Romeo 156's; no bad thing when the Alfa Romeo 156 looked great in its time, and even looks good today. To bring the 2011 Alfa Romeo 159 up to times, the front end and rear elements are designed to appear more modern and aggressive. The Alfa Romeo 159 also shares a number of visual cues with the handsome Alfa Romeo Brera coupe, meaning the Italian automaker easily has the most beautiful model range among the luxury brands.
Handling
Based on the same chassis as the Alfa Romeo Brera coupe, the 2011 Alfa Romeo 159 drives competently, mustering up commendable grip and steering accurately. But the well-weighted steering could use sharper responses, and more crucially, the Alfa Romeo 159 feels less nimble, with less firmly controlled body movements, compared to the class-leading BMW 3-Series. So, ultimately, the 2011 Alfa Romeo 159 rewards less as a driver's car when you choose to relish that challenging twisty road.
Comfort
The ride is on the soft side and deals well with most surfaces as a result. But you can hear the suspension working hard to neutralise sharper bumps. Road, wind and engine noise are impressively subdued, but rivals are equally refined if not more so. The cabin has a driver-focused layout, featuring a centre console angled towards the driver and a fuss-free, well laid-out dashboard. Instruments are easy to read, while the controls are clearly labelled and simple to use. The two-way steering plus seat-height adjustments ensure that most drivers can get comfortable.
Quality + Reliability
The cabin looks and feels like a quality item. Everything feels sturdily put together and well-finished—certainly much better than in Alfa Romeos of old. The same can be said for the materials used, which feel durable and, for the most parts, premium. The Germans, in particular Audi, are masters in this area, and each of the 2011 Alfa Romeo 159's rivals have cabins that feel more tactile, more appealing and better-built. Alfa Romeo has a poor reputation for reliability, even though the Alfa Romeo 159 has not had any major mechanical problems since its launch in 2005.
Performance
Only one drivetrain is available for selection: an in-line four 2.2-litre petrol engine paired to a six-speed Selespeed automatic manual gearbox. The engine benefits from the JTS direct-injection system and produces a healthy 182 bhp at 6500 rpm and 230 Nm at 4500 rpm. While the 2011 Alfa Romeo 159 is not blistering quick (0-100 km/h takes 8.8 seconds), the engine puts in a strong, flexible enough performance that should meet most expectations.
Roominess
The previous Alfa Romeo 156 lacked the interior room to compete. But the 2011 Alfa Romeo 159 improves on that, providing the front and rear with plenty of head- and leg-room. The rear legroom may not be class-leading, but like in rivals, four tall adults can be seated comfortably. The cabin could do with a few more cubby holes and oddments spaces, however. The 405-litre boot is larger than 156's, but German rivals provide even more loading space.
Running Costs
Alfa Romeos are relatively expensive to run for a couple of reasons. First, the fuel economy is indifferent at 10.6 km/litre. Second, servicing and maintenance would be costly, though the same can be said for rivals. Lastly and the most importantly, Alfa Romeos depreciate much more than German rivals, no thanks to their poor perceived reliability and Malaysians' brand loyalty towards the Germans.
Value for Money
The Alfa Romeo 156, the 159's predecessor, was a real beauty, but it fell far behind German rivals in terms of ride comfort, quality and reliability. Alfa Romeo has promised to work on the negatives and improve on the positives. But it seems the 2011 Alfa Romeo 159 is lagging the Germans even more than the Alfa Romeo 156 did in its time. Yes, the beautiful design could leave you gasping with delight, and there is plenty of equipment for a price that undercuts German rivals, but the 2011 Alfa Romeo 159 is simply outclassed in too many areas.
Equipment
The 2011 Alfa Romeo 159 comes in one generously equipped trim, having as standard 18” alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlamps with automatic driving light control, paddle shifts, keyless ignition, rain sensor, cruise control, three-zone automatic climate control, electric sunroof, electrically adjustable and foldable side mirrors, leather upholstery, leather steering wheel with radio controls, and 8-speaker audio system with radio/CD/MP3 functionality. Safety equipments include 9 airbags (front/rear/window/knees), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), and ABS + EBD + EBA.
Environment
Carbon dioxide emissions of 218 grams/km is excessive considering what German rivals are emitting. Audi and BMW engines are particularly efficient, producing more power and less greenhouse gas compared to the 2011 Alfa Romeo 159's 2.2-litre. Alfa Romeo still has plenty of room for improvement in this area.
Live Life Drive Verdict
Beautiful looks
Good to drive
Generous equipments
German rivals are just too complete
High running costs
Potential reliability issues
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