Alfa 159 Sportwagon arrives

Estate version bigger inside and out

By PH Staff / Thursday, 1 June 2006 / Loading comments

Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon

The new Alfa 159 Sportwagon has just gone on sale in the UK, along with 260bhp V6 Q4 versions of the Alfa Brera, Alfa 159 and 159 Sportwagon. We covered much of the details of the new range earlier this year (see link below), so what follows here is specifically related to the Sportwagon estate.

Seven versions of the new Alfa 159 Sportwagon, priced from £21,095 to £29,350 on-the-road will be available from launch, with a choice of five powerplants. Three petrol engines – 1.9 litre 160bhp and 2.2 litre 185bhp 4-cylinder units, and a 3.2 litre 260bhp V6 – combine Alfa Romeo’s JTS (Jet Thrust Stoichiometric) direct injection technology with continuously variable valve timing. They offer specific power outputs of between 81 and 85 bhp/litre, and almost 90 per cent of maximum torque available at 2,000rpm.

The two diesel engine options consist of a 1.9 litre 16 valve 150bhp 4-cylinder unit, and a 2.4 litre 20 valve 200bhp 5-cylinder powerplant, both of which feature the company’s JTDM (MultiJet) common rail direct injection technology.

Both units also feature variable geometry turbocharging, and incorporate a ‘for life’, maintenance-free particulate trap (DPF) in anticipation of Euro 5 emissions regulations. Alfa Romeo’s twin overhead camshaft 1.9 JTDM 16v unit combines a power delivery of 150bhp with 236lb-ft of torque.

All five engines are mated to six-speed manual gearboxes, with six-speed automatic available on the 1.9 JTDM Lusso version of the Alfa 159 Sportwagon later in 2006.

Dimensions and load-lugging

The Sportwagon is 225mm longer and 85mm wider than the outgoing Alfa 156 Sportwagon it replaces, but identical in length to the Alfa 159 saloon. It has a wheelbase 105mm longer than its predecessor, improving both front and rear passenger legroom. Despite being lower than the Alfa 156 Sportwagon, the new Alfa Romeo offers improved front and rear door access and an increase in interior headroom, particularly in the rear, according to Alfa.

Accessed via a full-width, top hinged tailgate, the Alfa 159 Sportwagon offers 445 litres of loadspace below the retractable luggage cover. The 60:40 split/folding rear seat features an integral armrest and ski hatch, and allows for the rapid expansion of the luggage compartment into a robust, practical, flat-floored load platform offering 850 litres of stowage below the window line, and 1,235 litres overall.