Comparing the incomparable: Alfa Romeo 159 and BMW 5. Bavarian motor engineers (BMW) commenced the production of the BMW 5 (5th series) in 1972, and it took the second position in sales after BMW 3. Thus, the coal-black metallic color in which the 5,000,000th car of this series was painted rolled off the conveyor belt in 2008, and a total of about 7.7 million cars have been sold, setting an absolute record for the Bavarian motor engineers. Currently, the 7th series cars (G30, G31, and G38) are already being sold.
Alfa Romeo 159 had a production volume of only a quarter of a million units over 7 years (2005—2011). Almost immediately, the Alfa Romeo 159 received a 5-star rating in the EuroNCAP classification.
Which is better, Alfa Romeo 159 or BMW 5-Series
If we disregard the exterior, interior, and prices, Alfa Romeo 159 has only 4 arguments for its purchase, while its competitor has at least twice as many.
So, the Alfa Romeo 159 consumes less fuel and pollutes the environment less, it is 225 kg lighter, and has a turning radius of 11.1 m compared to 12 m for the BMW 5-Series.
The eight-cylinder engine of the BMW 5-Series has a power of 552 hp (the Alfa Romeo 159 has five cylinders and 210 hp), allowing the Bavarian product to accelerate twice as fast (4.2 sec) and reach a top speed of 249 km/h compared to 227 km/h. Additionally, the BMW 5 has a larger fuel tank (80 liters, +10 liters), as well as a more spacious trunk (up to 530 liters, +115-125 liters).
Comparison of dimensions
The restyled sedan of the 2017 BMW 5 Series, 7th generation (G30), outperforms the Alfa Romeo 159 2.2 JTS in everything, although the superiority in wheelbase, ground clearance, and width of the car is extremely insignificant. The exact data is provided in the table below:
| No. | Element Type (size) in m | Alfa Romeo 159 | BMW 5-Series | +, — |
| 1 | Length | 4.66 | 4.94 | -0.28 |
| 2 | Height | 1.42 | 1.66 | -0.24 |
| 3 | Width | 1.83 | 1.87 | -0.03 |
| 4 | Wheelbase | 2.70 | 2.96 | +0.04 |
| 5 | Ground Clearance | 0.14 | 0.141 | -0.001 |
| 6 | Weight (tons) | 1.49 | from 1.54 to 2.34 | from 0.05 to 0.85 |
| 7 | Payload Capacity (tons) | 0.55 | 0.69 | -0.14 |
| 8 | Vehicle Weight (tons) | 3.54 | 4.24 | -0.70 |
Exterior of Alfa Romeo 159 and BMW 5-Series
Externally, the BMW 5 and Alfa Romeo 159 are somewhat indistinguishably similar, although the design of the Alfa Romeo 159 was executed by the famous Giugiaro. Paying homage to Italian traditions, aggression is evident in the design of the «front end» with its V-shaped radiator grille.
The silhouette of the car is clearly defined and has a dynamic, sporty shape, which is only emphasized by the driver-oriented instruments and a fairly austere interior. In general, what can be said — a predatory look from the front and a sexy appearance from the rear.
Currently, the Alfa Romeo 159 can be purchased for a sum ranging from half a million to a million rubles and the car usually looks excellent as it does not raise any concerns about corrosion protection, unlike the gearbox.
The BMW 5-Series sedans also look sporty, dynamic, but they are also comfortable inside. Describing all seven generations of this timeless classic would require ample space, so let's focus on the 2017 BMW 5-Series G30 sedan.
Its exterior design was clearly «borrowed» from the 7 Series, making the car look more aggressive and somehow more «mature.» This only enhanced its status. The elegance of this car is meticulously crafted with geometric proportions, exuding a sense of hidden power.
The engineers assure that thanks to this, as well as the bumper with effective structures reducing air resistance, the corresponding coefficient of resistance is the lowest in its class (0.22). The signature double kidney grille, unique side stampings, roofline curvature, and stylish wheels with powerful wheel arches complement the new look of the 2017 BMW 5-Series G30.
Inside the cabin, everything is packed with electronics — naturally. Let's mention only the «Driving Assistant Plus,» allowing semi-automatic driving in heavy traffic and the «3D display» function of the car on the smartphone screen from a remote point.
Dual or 4-zone climate control, a pair of air vents, a huge touchscreen iDrive, and so on. The base price of all this magnificence in Russia starts from 3 million rubles, and in the maximum configuration, you would have to pay over 5 million rubles.
For a pre-owned car that has already been on the roads, you would have to pay from 2.7 million rubles to 2.99 million rubles depending on the year of manufacture and the condition of the car.
Read: Test drive Infiniti QX70 and BMW X5: who wins
Epilogue
First introduced in 2005 in Geneva, the handsome sedan Alfa Romeo 159 was intended by its creators to pose stiff competition to the premium mid-size class of Bavarian motor engineers, Audi, and even Mercedes-Benz, but ... it didn't work out.
At its peak, this model sold in quantities of 65,000 units, whereas BMW 3 sales were around 300,000 units, Audi A4 at 200,000 units, and even «Mercs» were selling 11,000 more cars.
A year later at the same place in Geneva, the Alfa Romeo 159 TI (Turismo Internazionale) sports car was showcased in both sedan and wagon versions. It featured sports bucket seats, corresponding suspension and body kit, aerodynamic package, 19" tires and alloy wheels, Brembo brakes with red calipers, aluminum pedal covers, and chrome exhaust pipes.
Initially, the BMW 5 Series consisted only of a sedan. The Touring body (estate) began production in 1991 and the Gran Turismo body in 2009.
The first generation BMW 5-Series — E12 lasted on the assembly line for 10 years from 1972 to 1981.
The second — E28 for 7 years (1981—1988).
The third — E34 for 9 years (1988—1996).
The fourth — E39 for 10 years (1995—2004).
The fifth — the 4-door sedan E60 and the 5-door estate, 7 years (2003—2010).
In the sixth generation, which was produced for 9 years (2009—2017), there were already four models (F10, F11, F07, and F18).
The current 7th generation BMW 5-Series began production three years ago (introduced in 2016) and includes only three enhanced previous models, as the fastback is classified under the BMW 6.
In the debate of whether Alfa Romeo 159 or BMW 5-Series is better, the product of the Bavarian motor engineers unequivocally won in at least 3 parameters:
- Alfa Romeo 159 ceased to exist from 2011 due to insufficient sales.
- BMW 5-Series continues to be in production. Its seventh generation of this super series was released in 2017.
And simply because BMW 5 is better than Alfa Romeo 159.
Which is better?
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