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HAVE YOU EVER seen anyone travelling with designer luggage? Not just a handbag or backpack or even those wheeled cabin bags that trendy frequent flyers drag aboard the plane with them.
I'm talking about the steamer trunks that are usually displayed at the front of an Hermes or Louis Vuitton boutique ? the kind that comes with a five-figure price tag.
As lovely as these objects d'art may be, they'll never survive the airport conveyor belt or being tossed by baggage handlers. Expensive, stylish but not entirely practical.
In many ways, this also brings to mind the Alfa Romeo Sportwagon. The previous model, the 156, was so stylish, it's impracticality was almost celebrated as its maker made no secret to hide the fact that with the rear seats in place, it could actually carry less luggage than the sedan variant.
The 159 Sportwagon's boot however, is 40 litres larger than the 159 sedan's.
Extra practicality notwithstanding, style is still the Sportwagon's highlight as the latest iteration is as sexy as ever with its sloping rear section and a distinctive front end.
Like the sedan, the 159 Sportwagon is powered by a 185bhp, 2.2-litre direct injection engine. A 260bhp 3.2-litre V6 version with all-wheel drive is also available, but the lesser-powered version tested does with front-wheel drive.
Even so, few would have reason to complain about the 159's handling as there's plenty of grip to take advantage of at high speeds and its steering imparts confidence with lots of feedback.
The 159 is fitted with a six-speed semi-automatic transmission known as Selespeed. The latest version is Alfa's best effort we've sampled so far. It's still not as idiot-proof as an automatic, with an unavoidable jerk when it shifts from first gear to second. At all other ratios however, the 159's gearbox is a smooth operator.
The gearbox works even better when you manually select gears from the steering wheel mounted paddles.
Another noticeable improvement is with the 159 Sportwagon's equipment list. Even the base model tested comes with electrically adjustable front seats, a superb sound system, trip computer, dual-zone climate control, automatic headlamps, auto wipers and cruise control among others.
The 159 Sportwagon may be good at many things - comfort, handling and above all, style - but by boring old estate standards, practical it isn't. Its luggage bay isn't just small by estate standards, its loading sill is much too high for hoisting heavy objects in.
However, just as there are those who buy Sport Utility Vehicles without going off-roading, there'll be folks who'll be drawn to the 159 Sportwagon just for its styling, and room to put their designer luggage in?
I'm talking about the steamer trunks that are usually displayed at the front of an Hermes or Louis Vuitton boutique ? the kind that comes with a five-figure price tag.
As lovely as these objects d'art may be, they'll never survive the airport conveyor belt or being tossed by baggage handlers. Expensive, stylish but not entirely practical.
In many ways, this also brings to mind the Alfa Romeo Sportwagon. The previous model, the 156, was so stylish, it's impracticality was almost celebrated as its maker made no secret to hide the fact that with the rear seats in place, it could actually carry less luggage than the sedan variant.
The 159 Sportwagon's boot however, is 40 litres larger than the 159 sedan's.
Extra practicality notwithstanding, style is still the Sportwagon's highlight as the latest iteration is as sexy as ever with its sloping rear section and a distinctive front end.
Like the sedan, the 159 Sportwagon is powered by a 185bhp, 2.2-litre direct injection engine. A 260bhp 3.2-litre V6 version with all-wheel drive is also available, but the lesser-powered version tested does with front-wheel drive.
Even so, few would have reason to complain about the 159's handling as there's plenty of grip to take advantage of at high speeds and its steering imparts confidence with lots of feedback.
The 159 is fitted with a six-speed semi-automatic transmission known as Selespeed. The latest version is Alfa's best effort we've sampled so far. It's still not as idiot-proof as an automatic, with an unavoidable jerk when it shifts from first gear to second. At all other ratios however, the 159's gearbox is a smooth operator.
The gearbox works even better when you manually select gears from the steering wheel mounted paddles.
Another noticeable improvement is with the 159 Sportwagon's equipment list. Even the base model tested comes with electrically adjustable front seats, a superb sound system, trip computer, dual-zone climate control, automatic headlamps, auto wipers and cruise control among others.
The 159 Sportwagon may be good at many things - comfort, handling and above all, style - but by boring old estate standards, practical it isn't. Its luggage bay isn't just small by estate standards, its loading sill is much too high for hoisting heavy objects in.
However, just as there are those who buy Sport Utility Vehicles without going off-roading, there'll be folks who'll be drawn to the 159 Sportwagon just for its styling, and room to put their designer luggage in?
Volvo V50 2.4i (A) $125,000 with COE
Volvo makes some of the most spacious estates in the business but the V50 isn't one of them. Instead, it's more of a style statement and is also fun to drive. The faster T5 version is the one to get if budget permits.
Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 2.2 (A)
ENGINE TYPE 2,198cc, 16v in-line 4
MAX POWER 185bhp at 6,500rpm
MAX TORQUE 230Nm at 4,500rpm
GEARBOX 6-speed semi-automatic
TOP SPEED 220km/h
0-100 KM/H 9.0 seconds
Price $138,736 with COE
WARRANTY 3 years / 100,000km
CONTACT EuroAutomobile
TELEPHONE 6566-2200
PLUSES One of the sexiest estates you can buy. Well equipped and fun to drive
MINUSES Pricey and not very practical for an estate. Selespeed could be smoother too
VERDICT The Sportwagon's styling is enough for most buyers to look past its foibles. The automotive equivalent of designer luggage
Volvo makes some of the most spacious estates in the business but the V50 isn't one of them. Instead, it's more of a style statement and is also fun to drive. The faster T5 version is the one to get if budget permits.
Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 2.2 (A)
ENGINE TYPE 2,198cc, 16v in-line 4
MAX POWER 185bhp at 6,500rpm
MAX TORQUE 230Nm at 4,500rpm
GEARBOX 6-speed semi-automatic
TOP SPEED 220km/h
0-100 KM/H 9.0 seconds
Price $138,736 with COE
WARRANTY 3 years / 100,000km
CONTACT EuroAutomobile
TELEPHONE 6566-2200
PLUSES One of the sexiest estates you can buy. Well equipped and fun to drive
MINUSES Pricey and not very practical for an estate. Selespeed could be smoother too
VERDICT The Sportwagon's styling is enough for most buyers to look past its foibles. The automotive equivalent of designer luggage
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