Easily the coolest and most stylish executive sedan and wagon on the market, the Alfa Romeo 159 has stunning presence on the road, and unlike some German competitors, does not look like a real estate agent's car. The overall effect is of something much more youthful than the BMW 3-Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class, especially inside. The interior does, admittedly look cheaper than it's rivals, but providing you choose the optional orange or red leather, I don't think you'll care - it still looks fantastic. In the past, Alfa Romeos have been notorious for their poor reliability, but Alfa has promised that this new 159 bucks this trend - we'll have to wait and see. Expect reliability to be higher than Alfa's previous standards, and on par with the class average, but not class leading (Audi A4). The 2.4 litre diesel engine is definitely the best, if you can afford it, but then again, diesel engines don't appeal to everyone. This one is one of the best out there, however.

As a used car? You want to be extra careful because of the reliability issues mentioned above. But because it is an Alfa, expect to pay significantly less than for an equivalent German car. It presents a great value for money option - just don't get a lemon.

Effective July 2008
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WHAT ELSE COULD I GET?

Audi A4
BMW 3-Series
Citroen C5
Jaguar X-Type
Lexus IS
Mercedes C-Class
Peugeot 407
Renault Laguna
Saab 9-3
Volkswagen Passat
Volvo S40
Volvo S60

YOUR CAR IN BRIEF: Alfa Romeo 159