Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon safety levels are quite high. The 159 performed well in official Euro NCAP crash tests with a five star rating, but there is a reservation over the one star out of four for pedestrian safety. It is fitted with at least seven airbags (an eighth to protect the passenger’s knees is available as an option). An alarm and immobiliser are also fitted as standard.

Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon practicality is fair. Unlike the 156, the 159 Sportwagon actually has more luggage space than the saloon version with the rear seats in place. There is a decent 460 litres available up to the height of the luggage cover and a maximum of 1385 litres with the rear seats folded. There are a few storage compartments at the sides of the boot and the luggage area is a useful square shape.

The rear seats don’t quite fold flat, and the tailgate has quite a high sill, but it’s a reasonable compromise for such a stylish looking estate. Storage up front could be better though – the door pockets are narrow and shallow while the central cubby between the front seats isn’t very useful.