The Alfa Romeo 159 is a handsome devil. In fact, it’s so good-looking that unless you drive an Aston Martin or a Ferrari, I’ll wager it’s prettier than the car on your driveway. You can buy one second-hand for less than £10,000, yet you don’t own one. Why not? Probably because it’s an Alfa.

Alfas are pretty cars, but have a reputation for fragility. The 159, though, launched in January 2006, is a powerful riposte to that, for beneath its skin is an improved transmission and a build quality that wins grudging ­res­pect even from the drivers of German cars.

The 159 excels in the engine department, too. The smallest, a 150bhp 1.9-

litre diesel unit, is carried over from the previous 156 model, as is the 2.4-litre diesel, which has been tuned to produce a generous 200bhp (later increased to 210bhp). With the bigger engine, the Alfa is capable of 140mph and romping from 0-62mph in just 8.1sec while delivering more than 40mpg in the combined cycle.

For many fans, though, a petrol eng­ine is the essential heart and soul of an Alfa, and from launch there were three: a 160bhp 1.9-litre, a 185bhp 2.2-litre and a 260bhp 3.2-litre V6. While even the humblest of these offers keen performance, it’s the V6 that sets the pulse racing. From the start it was mated to

Alfa’s Q4 all-wheel-drive system, which provides fabulous grip, though a front-wheel-drive variant be­came available in February 2008. The Q4 version cost £1,500 extra when new, but on used cars that premium typically shrinks to £500.

The 159 is a little longer and wider than the 156, which gives it a bigger boot and more head and legroom. The longer wheelbase also improves the 156’s impressive ride, while handling is all you would expect of an Alfa Romeo.

There’s plenty of equipment on offer, with even the entry-level Turismo offering dual-zone climate control, seven airbags and cruise control. Paying £700 more for a top-spec Lusso gets you automatic wipers, parking sensors and hide seats.

The 156 did not have a great gear-change, but the 159’s is a big improvement, and the clutch is lighter. From June 2007 the 3.2 V6 petrol and 2.4 diesel were offered with the smooth-shifting Q-tronic transmission — a fully automated gearbox that gives the option of sequential manual gearchanges. It makes for easy driving in town, yet remains sporty on the open road.

The 159 is not a common sight on UK roads, but that’s a big part of this head-turner’s appeal. . You can buy one second-hand for less than £10,000, yet you don’t own one. Why not? Probably because it’s an Alfa.

Alfas are pretty cars, but have a reputation for fragility. The 159, though, launched in January 2006, is a powerful riposte to that, for beneath its skin is an improved transmission and a build quality that wins grudging ­res­pect even from the drivers of German cars.

The 159 excels in the engine department, too. The smallest, a 150bhp 1.9-litre diesel unit, is carried over from the previous 156 model, as is the 2.4-litre diesel, which has been tuned to produce a generous 200bhp (later increased to 210bhp). With the bigger engine, the Alfa is capable of 140mph and romping from 0-62mph in just 8.1sec while delivering more than 40mpg in the combined cycle.