Alfa Romeo's 147, a past Car of the Year (it won by just one point from the Mondeo), is one of the most attractive small family hatchbacks on the market. The romance of its Alfa Romeo badge enhances its appeal, and for the 2005 model year it gains a gentle, Giugiaro-guided facelift to bring it in line with Alfa's latest look. Most obvious are the broader front grille and the wider, pointier head- and tail-lights, while inside new colour schemes and fluted door panels give a visual lift....
High-quality and sporty : Alfa Romeo has gone to considerable trouble to match, or exceed, German quality standards and, on the whole, has succeeded. The dashboard moulding is of very high quality, and is visually lifted by the silver centre console. The driving position is also very well sorted - it's the most comfortable Alfa has ever offered. The door trims now have diagonal 'canelloni' fluting, as first seen on the GTA, and you can have a light-coloured lower half of the facia. Leather trim remains a popular and desirable option.
