The refresh for 2005 has given the 147 a neater new nose, with a larger, more distinctive grille and more contoured bonnet. It looks more purposeful, a perception backed up by the changes under the surface. The JTD Multijet 16-valve diesel engine has gained an extra 10bhp to bring it up to 150bhp, and new fuel injection has improved refinement and reduced fuel consumption and emissions. The 2.0 Twin Spark petrol engine (also 150bhp), 1.6-litre Twin Spark (105bhp and 120bhp) and 115bhp 1.9 JTD units also continue. There have also been minor tweaks to the suspension; in the cabin, there are new instrument designs, a wider choice of fabrics and fascia finishes, new headrests for improved rearward visibility and equipment upgrades for most models.
Quality appears to have improved over that of the early 147s, which were somewhat patchy, and the first of the right-hand drive cars in the UK seem well put-together with even panel gaps and good paint finishes. Attention to detail still isn't perfect, however, with some rough edges to cabin plastics and poorly-trimmed window rubbers spotted; the new cabin materials are nice-looking but the shiny black plastics of the dashboard show off greasy fingerprints and the slightest of touches to full effect. The cabin of a 147 could look mucky and scruffy all too quickly.
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| Rear door handles are still cleverly hidden in five-door's C pillar |
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Refinement is generally good, all 147s riding well despite their relatively firm suspension set-ups and large wheel/low-profile tyre combinations. Engine noise is well-suppressed in the petrol versions - apart from pleasantly sporty feedback - though the diesels are a bit harsher; the JTD unit is not the quietest engine around in any of its Vauxhall/Fiat/Saab/Alfa installations, and in the 147, it can sound intrusive at times. Although insulation has been improved over that in the outgoing JTD models, vibrations are still noticeable, and in the JTD 16v tested, these set up an irritating hum from a slightly loose piece of trim in the dashboard. Such bugs are less frequent in Alfas these days, but have by no means been eradicated.
Still, Alfisti argue that this is all part of the character, and enthusiasts (apologists?) for the brand are prepared to put up with this kind of thing for the trade-off of performance, handling and sporting credentials. Thing is, even mainstream Focuses, Astras and Golfs are good to drive these days, making that trade-off look more like a sentimental notion than a rational decision. These other cars may not - Golf GTi apart - inspire the same kind of emotional attachment, but objectively, can be just as rewarding.
