Alfa Romeo 159

Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon: Which Version Should You Buy?

The Alfa Romeo 159 in this catalogue is a single-generation Estate 5-door produced from March 2005 through January 2012. The available modification data covers 12 versions, all listed from March 2006 through January 2012. Choosing among them mainly means balancing gasoline performance against diesel economy and low-rpm torque.

The Alfa Romeo 159 in this catalogue is a single-generation Estate 5-door produced from March 2005 through January 2012. The available modification data covers 12 versions, all listed from March 2006 through January 2012. Choosing among them mainly means balancing gasoline performance against diesel economy and low-rpm torque. The 3.2 MT is the fastest and most powerful version, while the 1.9 MT diesel with 120 hp records the lowest combined consumption. Buyers seeking a middle ground should compare the 2.2 MT gasoline model, the 1.9 MT diesel with 150 hp, and the 2.0 MT diesel with 170 hp.

Alfa Romeo 159 generations and version range

The Alfa Romeo 159 has 1 generation in the supplied catalogue. It ran from March 2005 to January 2012 as an Estate 5-door and contains 43 modifications overall. The comparison below covers the 12 modifications shown in the supplied data; each of these is dated from March 2006 to January 2012.

Because there is only 1 generation here, there is no intergenerational engine or chassis change to compare. The meaningful differences are between versions: engine output ranges from 115 to 260 hp, torque ranges from 175 to 360 Nm where measured, and buyers can choose Gasoline or Diesel power, Manual or Automatic transmission, and FWD throughout the listed range.

Alfa Romeo 159 engine options and specs

Repeated names are distinguished by power and fuel type because several modifications share the same database name.

Power per litre helps separate similarly sized engines. The 1.8 MT produces about 78.0 hp per litre, the Gasoline 1.9 MT with 160 hp about 86.1 hp per litre, and the 2.2 MT about 84.2 hp per litre. The 3.2 MT delivers about 81.4 hp per litre.

Among the diesels, the 1.9 MT versions produce approximately 60.2, 62.8, 71.2, and 78.5 hp per litre at 115, 120, 136, and 150 hp respectively. The 1.9 AT also produces about 78.5 hp per litre. The 2.0 MT range rises from about 69.5 hp per litre at 136 hp to 83.3 at 163 hp and 86.9 at 170 hp.

The torque figures also reveal the different priorities. The 1.9 MT diesel with 120 hp produces 90 Nm more than the Gasoline 1.9 MT with 160 hp, despite having 40 hp less. The 2.0 MT diesel with 170 hp provides 360 Nm at 1,750 rpm, which is 130 Nm more than the 2.2 MT’s 230 Nm at 4,500 rpm.

Alfa Romeo 159 performance, fuel consumption and mpg data

The 3.2 MT is the clear performance choice: it reaches 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds and 237 km/h. Compared with the 2.2 MT, it has 75 hp and 91 Nm more, reaches 100 km/h 1.8 seconds sooner, and adds 17 km/h to top speed. The cost in measured consumption is substantial: an extra 4.0 L/100 km in the city, 1.1 L/100 km on the highway, and 2.2 L/100 km combined.

The Gasoline 1.9 MT with 160 hp improves on the 1.8 MT by 20 hp, 15 Nm, 0.5 second to 100 km/h, and 4 km/h in top speed. Its combined consumption is 1.0 L/100 km higher. Moving from that 1.9 MT to the 2.2 MT adds 25 hp and 40 Nm, cuts another 0.9 second from acceleration, and increases top speed by 10 km/h; combined consumption rises by 0.7 L/100 km.

Among diesels with complete economy figures, the 1.9 MT with 120 hp uses the least fuel overall at 6.0 L/100 km combined. The 1.9 MT with 150 hp is 1.6 seconds quicker to 100 km/h and 15 km/h faster, while its combined consumption is only 0.1 L/100 km higher. It also records slightly lower highway consumption, at 4.8 rather than 4.9 L/100 km, though city consumption rises by 0.4 L/100 km.

Choosing the 1.9 AT over the 1.9 MT with the same 150 hp and 320 Nm adds the convenience of a 6-speed Automatic. Performance changes only slightly: the Automatic is 0.1 second slower to 100 km/h but has a top speed 2 km/h higher. Its combined consumption is 1.1 L/100 km greater, with city and highway increases of 1.7 and 0.8 L/100 km respectively.

Alfa Romeo 159 dimensions, weight and wheel specs

The supplied data does not measure exterior length, width, width with mirrors, or other body dimensions. Those figures should therefore be treated as not measured rather than inferred from another Alfa Romeo 159 body style.

Weight per horsepower favors the 3.2 MT at about 6.65 kg per hp. The 2.2 MT follows at about 8.35 kg per hp, while the Gasoline 1.9 MT with 160 hp provides about 9.59 kg per hp. Among diesels, the 2.0 MT with 170 hp records about 9.26 kg per hp, compared with approximately 10.60 kg per hp for the 1.9 MT diesel with 150 hp.

Every listed version has 140 mm of ground clearance and a 70 L tank, so neither figure decides the choice. Both front and rear suspension are Independent, spring units on every version, while front and rear brakes are Disc throughout. Wheel and rim dimensions are not measured for any listed modification.

Which Alfa Romeo 159 version should you buy?

For maximum performance, choose the 3.2 MT. Its 260 hp, 321 Nm, 7.2-second acceleration time, and 237 km/h top speed lead all 12 versions. It is also the heaviest measured variant at 1,730 kg and has the highest measured combined consumption at 11.6 L/100 km.

For the strongest gasoline compromise, the 2.2 MT offers 185 hp and 230 Nm, reaches 100 km/h in 9.0 seconds, and records 9.4 L/100 km combined. It gives up 75 hp to the 3.2 MT but saves 2.2 L/100 km in combined consumption and carries 185 kg less kerb weight.

For low measured fuel consumption, choose the 1.9 MT diesel with 120 hp. Its 6.0 L/100 km combined figure is the lowest available, although its 11.2-second acceleration time is the slowest recorded level in this selection.

For the best diesel balance supported by complete performance and economy data, the 1.9 MT diesel with 150 hp is the strongest candidate. It supplies 320 Nm at 2,000 rpm, reaches 100 km/h in 9.6 seconds, achieves 205 km/h, and consumes 6.1 L/100 km combined. Against the 120 hp version, it adds 30 hp and 40 Nm for only 0.1 L/100 km more combined consumption.

For the highest diesel output, select the 2.0 MT with 170 hp. It has 360 Nm at 1,750 rpm and reaches 100 km/h in 9.0 seconds. Its top speed and fuel-consumption figures are not measured, however, so it cannot be ranked fairly against the 1.9 MT with 150 hp for economy or maximum speed.

For an Automatic, the 1.9 AT is the only listed choice. It retains the 150 hp and 320 Nm outputs of the equivalent 1.9 MT diesel, while combined consumption increases from 6.1 to 7.2 L/100 km. Buyers who prioritize measured economy should take the Manual; buyers who require an Automatic have a clear, single option.