Alfa Romeo 159
Price: From £18,550
For: Looks terrific; sporty handling yet decent ride; engines sound great.
Against: Mediocre fuel economy; quality not quite top-notch; Sportwagon estate not particularly versatile.
The affordable Alfa Romeo 159 is a credible alternative to the obvious German-brand compact executive cars, and Italian image for those who can't stretch to a Maserati Quattroporte. It's both well-engineered and handsome. It's also very rewarding to drive - and did we mention that it just looks so sexy?
The top-end engines are a 260bhp 3.2 V6 JTS 
(direct-injection petrol) and the 210bhp 2.4 JTDm Multijet diesel, both offered with Alfa's Q4 four-wheel-drive system, but the basic 2.2 JTS is actually pretty lively.
The 159's interior isn't the roomiest, but it does come wrapped in some seriously stylish leather upholstery. Let's face it a car like this isn't about practicality.
