Intro

Gorgeous Italian styling, perky engines and fun handling should make the 147 extremely desirable. Sadly patchy dealer service, steep depreciation and flaky reliability counter the positives

Styling/Image

You can’t help but be won over by the looks of this car. There aren’t many family hatchbacks that command as many admiring glances from other road-users. Both three and five door versions are available. All but entry-level TS models have well-sculpted alloys, which look like they could have been an aftermarket purchase. The new Sport and Q2 models boast 17-inch 5 spoke alloys, white satin wing mirrors, a roof spoiler and a menacing looking chrome exhaust pipe.

Interior/Practicality

The Alfa is similarly stylish inside, although the cabin ambience is let down by the use of hard and scratchy plastics. Fortunately the driving position is spot on, while front passengers get plenty of leg and headroom. Sadly those in the rear aren’t quite as well catered for, while boot space is limited at 1,042 litres with the bench folded flat. Throughout the range the Alfas comes well equipped, although some more advanced features offered by the competition are lacking. Sat Nav is an expensive option, making it a rare find on used cars. However, it’s worth considering leather trim and metallic paint.

Engine/Performance

Both the 1.6 and 2.0 petrol engines are strong and characterful units, delivering 120bhp and 150bhp respectively. The sprint from standstill to 62mph takes 10.6 seconds in the 1.6-litre car, which is 1.3 seconds slower than the bigger engined model. Diesel fans get the refined 1.9-litre JTD unit with either 120bhp of 150bhp. Both versions get healthy doses of mid-range torque, making for rapid in-gear acceleration. Both oil burners will return around 48mpg.

Driving experience

The 147 manages to live up to its feisty looks when it’s on the move. The steering is direct and well weighted, while crisp gearchanges come courtesy of the excellent manual transmission. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the slow-shifting Selespeed semi-auto gearbox. Overall ride quality is good, although big bumps send a shimmer through the bodyshell, highlighting the Alfa’s age. Flagship models get the excellent Q2 limited slip differential, which significantly improves front-end grip. It can be specified as an option on lesser models.

Ownership Costs

As with all Alfa’s, steep depreciation is a significant issue, with no model retaining more than 37 percent of its value after three years. However, this does mean that second hand buyers are likely to pick up a bargain. The diesel versions represent the best value, with lower fuel consumption and C02 figures – the 1.6-litre petrol can only manage 34.4mpg and falls into tax band F meaning hefty annual VED bills.

Safety/Environment

The 147 only manages a lowly three star EuroNCAP rating, despite featuring six airbags, while ESP is only standard on range-topping 2.0-litre petrol and diesel Lusso models. Remote central locking, an alarm system and immobiliser are, however, standard across the range. All diesel versions produce less than 160g/km of C02, dropping them into VED band D. The petrol models are less impressive, churning out 194g/km and 211g/km for the 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre respectively.