Alfa Romeo 147 1.9 JTDm 120 - TORQUE TO THE HAND

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The Alfa Romeo 147 has built a reputation for offering bagfuls of style at real world prices. The 120bhp JTDm diesel version makes running costs affordable too. Andy Enright reports

Ten Second Review

If pushed to nominate the Alfa 147 I'd most like to drive, I'd probably go for the now-defunct 3.2-litre GTA. If asked which 147 I'd choose if I were expected to buy and run one with my own money, the answer would be very different. Say hello to the 147 1.9JTDm 120.

Background

We are often reminded that style and practicality are mutually exclusive concepts. If you want something that looks good, chances are you'll need to make sacrifices. The most glamorous shoes will cripple you in a matter of metres. The most exotic cars have no luggage space and are possessed of a devastating appetite for fossil fuels. Rare indeed are the products that manage to broker a compromise deal between style and practicality but Alfa Romeo have one on their books - the 147 JTDm 120 diesel. Think of it as a sort of Goldilocks proposition - you get just enough of everything but not so much that you're forced to make unacceptable compromises elsewhere. If there is such thing as a sensible Alfa Romeo, the 147 JTDm 120 is surely it. The 147 has been with us since 2000 now and its facelifted iteration is one of the few mid life makeovers that have actually improved the breed.

Driving Experience

There are of course diesels and diesels. Some aren't too far removed from the smelly old clatterers that many of us grew up with, whereas others are unrecognisable from cars of this ilk and are actually preferable to a similar capacity petrol engine. Chalk the JTDm 120 engine as fitted to the 147 up to the latter category. It's pleasantly punchy, if not in the category of super diesels that are now being explored by companies such as Volkswagen. With common-rail Multijet technology, the 8-valve JTDm engine offers a smooth, progressive power delivery, with its 280Nm of torque arriving at only 2,000rpm. All of which means you don't need to bury the accelerator pedal through the carpet in order to make respectable progress. The torque of this 1.9-litre engine makes the big-boned 147 appear rather lithe, sprinting to 60mph in 9.6 seconds and on to a maximum speed of 120mph. Other more elemental changes to the car include a revision to the suspension, aimed at improving ride quality. There's a great deal of 'tuneability' in the double wishbone front and MacPherson strut rear setup and weight has been reduced significantly. Revised damper settings and a wider availability of electronic driver aids such as anti lock brakes, brakeforce distribution and stability control are also featured.

Design and Build

Those of you with an eye for such things will notice that the current 147 looks a bit different to the original. Taking its cue from the marque's excitingly styled Brera, the headlamps are a good deal sharper, tapering to inboard points. These lamps feature triple lamp clusters and an all-new bumper houses tiny front foglamps and far more aggressive air intakes. The rather odd black rubbing strips that sat below the lights on the old car have been replaced, giving this 147 a far more chiselled look. Walk round to the rear of this Alfa and you'll spot a chromed strip at the bottom of the tailgate which should do a very good job of dissuading following drivers from high beaming you. The rear lights are a good deal larger than before, smeared across the tailgate and rear wing. A redesigned lower bumper assembly houses the number plate and the rear end of the car is nicely finished by a reprofiled tailgate that makes the Alfa badge significantly more prominent. It's tough to spot one bad angle. This 147 enjoys more than just a mere freshening. Fundamental aspects of the car have been thoroughly revised. The interior has come in for a little attention, charged chiefly with improving the perception of quality. Soft touch two-tone fascias are in, as are moves to make the instruments that little bit more legible.

Market and Model

PRICES: £16,150-£17,850 - on the road This facelifted 147 offers buyers a choice of two 'performance-orientated' diesel engines, the most powerful of which develops a huge 150bhp punch. We're looking here however at the entry-level 120bhp unit, likely to account for the majority of diesel 147 sales and available in three or five-door guises. The diesel engine suits the 147's personality, feeling languid and nonchalant, getting results without trying too hard. Prices won't cause you to blow a gasket either, the range starting with Turismo models and rising up to the plusher Lusso versions. Even Turismo standard equipment includes six airbags, climate controlled air conditioning, electric front windows, heated electric mirrors, 'follow me home' headlights, remote central locking with an immobiliser and alarm and ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution. Opt instead for the Lusso specification and you'll also receive cruise control, front foglamps and an adjustable from armrest with recess. The 147 sits in a pricing gap between the mainstream marques and the premium German manufacturers and Alfa hopes that buyers will see it as a value alternative to the likes of the Audi A3.

Cost of Ownership

This diesel-engined model is, in fact, only fractionally slower than the 2.0-litre petrol car, a model which gets nowhere near the JTDm's average fuel return of nearly 49mpg. A CO2 emissions showing of just 153g/km also helps to make the diesel car a winner in the environmental stakes. The inherent torque of the diesel engine helps here as it pulls very strongly from low revs without being asked to throw a lot of fuel through its injectors in order to get the car moving at a respectable rate. Depreciation figures have improved with this generation of 147 and a three-door 1.9JTD Turismo will hold onto 39 per cent of its value after three years, contributing to a 37.7 pence per mile running cost figure. Stack that up side by side with an entry level Audi A3 three-door diesel and the Audi's better residual value of 55 per cent helps it overcome its higher asking price to post a cheaper 34.5 pence per mile running cost. With both cars falling into insurance group 11, many buyers will see the added flair and excitement of the Alfa as being worth the incremental cost.

Summary

There's something immensely satisfying about driving a car that looks and feels this good without having to make frequent punitive sacrifices. The 147 JTDm 120 has a notable aversion to fuel stops, it's realistically priced, it's fun to drive and it'll seat five with decent provision for their bags. It comes fitted without the aggressively boorish image of some of its rivals and should turn in some reasonable residual values when the time eventually comes to sell. This diesel-engined model is, in fact, only fractionally slower than the 2.0-litre petrol car, a model which gets nowhere near the JTDm's average fuel return of nearly 49mpg. A CO2 emissions showing of just 153g/km also helps to make the diesel car a winner in the environmental stakes. Can you see the fly in the ointment? From where I'm sitting there isn't one.

150 Word Summary

There's something immensely satisfying about driving a car that looks and feels this good without having to make frequent punitive sacrifices. The 147 JTDm 120 has a notable aversion to fuel stops, it's realistically priced, it's fun to drive and it'll seat five with decent provision for their bags. It comes fitted without the aggressively boorish image of some of its rivals and should turn in some reasonable residual values when the time eventually comes to sell. This diesel-engined model is, in fact, only fractionally slower than the 2.0-litre petrol car, a model which gets nowhere near the JTDm's average fuel return of nearly 49mpg. A CO2 emissions showing of just 153g/km also helps to make the diesel car a winner in the environmental stakes. Can you see the fly in the ointment? From where I'm sitting there isn't one.

250 Word Summary

There's something immensely satisfying about driving a car that looks and feels this good without having to make frequent punitive sacrifices. The 147 JTDm 120 has a notable aversion to fuel stops, it's realistically priced, it's fun to drive and it'll seat five with decent provision for their bags. It comes fitted without the aggressively boorish image of some of its rivals and should turn in some reasonable residual values when the time eventually comes to sell. This diesel-engined model is, in fact, only fractionally slower than the 2.0-litre petrol car, a model which gets nowhere near the JTDm's average fuel return of nearly 49mpg. A CO2 emissions showing of just 153g/km also helps to make the diesel car a winner in the environmental stakes. The torque of this 1.9-litre engine makes the big-boned 147 appear rather lithe, sprinting to 60mph in 9.6 seconds and on to a maximum speed of 120mph. Other more elemental changes to the car include a revision to the suspension, aimed at improving ride quality. There's a great deal of 'tuneability' in the double wishbone front and MacPherson strut rear setup and weight has been reduced significantly. Revised damper settings and a wider availability of electronic driver aids such as anti lock brakes, brakeforce distribution and stability control are also featured. Can you see the fly in the ointment? From where I'm sitting there isn't one.

500 Word Summary

We are often reminded that style and practicality are mutually exclusive concepts. If you want something that looks good, chances are you'll need to make sacrifices. The most glamorous shoes will cripple you in a matter of metres. The most exotic cars have no luggage space and are possessed of a devastating appetite for fossil fuels. Rare indeed are the products that manage to broker a compromise deal between style and practicality but Alfa Romeo have one on their books - the 147 JTD 120 diesel. We're talking here of course about the latest facelifted 147 of course, a car that offers buyers a choice of two 'performance-orientated' diesel engines, the most powerful of which develops a huge 150bhp punch. We're looking here however at the entry-level 120bhp unit, likely to account for the majority of diesel 147 sales and available in three or five-door guises at prices which start from around £16,000. There are of course diesels and diesels. Some aren't too far removed from the smelly old clatterers that many of us grew up with, whereas others are unrecognisable from cars of this ilk and are actually preferable to a similar capacity petrol engine. Chalk the JTD 120 engine as fitted to the 147 up to the latter category. It's pleasantly punchy, if not in the category of super diesels that are now being explored by companies such as Volkswagen. With common-rail Multijet technology, the 8-valve JTD engine offers a smooth, progressive power delivery, with its 280Nm of torque arriving at only 2,000rpm. All of which means you don't need to bury the accelerator pedal through the carpet in order to make respectable progress. The torque of this 1.9-litre engine makes the big-boned 147 appear rather lithe, sprinting to 60mph in 9.6 seconds and on to a maximum speed of 120mph. This is only fractionally slower than the 2.0-litre petrol car, a model which gets nowhere near the JTD's average fuel return of nearly 49mpg. A CO2 emissions showing of just 153g/km also helps to make the diesel car a winner in the environmental stakes. The diesel engine suits the 147's personality, feeling languid and nonchalant, getting results without trying too hard. Prices won't cause you to blow a gasket either, starting as we've said at around £16,000 for the Turismo models and rising up to around £19,000 for the plushest Lusso version. Even Turismo standard equipment includes six airbags, climate controlled air conditioning, electric front windows, heated electric mirrors, 'follow me home' headlights, remote central locking with an immobiliser and alarm and ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution. Opt instead for the Lusso specification and you'll also receive cruise control, front foglamps and an adjustable from armrest with recess. There's something immensely satisfying about driving a car that looks and feels this good without having to make frequent punitive sacrifices. The 147 JTD 120 has a notable aversion to fuel stops, it's realistically priced, it's fun to drive and it'll seat five with decent provision for their bags. It comes fitted without the aggressively boorish image of some of its rivals and should turn in some competitive residual values when the time eventually comes to sell. Can you see the fly in the ointment? From where I'm sitting there isn't one.

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