Alfa Romeo - 147

2001 onwards

This is a stylish, sporty alternative to the Golf or Focus, even though it shares its underpinnings with the less fashionable Fiat Stilo. It's a car for those who really love driving.

	Sports hatch looks great and goes well
	Lively engines, responsive handling and good grip
	Comfortable cabin with generous equipment
	Ride is too firm for complete comfort
	Some rivals have roomier interiors
	Steady depreciation, so-so safety rating

Alfas have always been cars bought by aficionados to satisfy their hearts rather than their heads. The 147 is nonetheless a well-made car, though there have been a number of reliability niggles and early troubles with the Selespeed sequential gearbox.

Sportier to drive than the Stilo, and offered with engines including the GTA version's 250 bhp 3.2 V6, the 147 is a desirable and reasonably sensible way into Italian car ownership. It isn't the roomiest car in its class, nor is it the most refined, but it should prove thoroughly enjoyable.

Popular engine choices are 1.6 Twin Spark and 2.0 JTS petrol units, and there's also the lively but noisy 1.9 JTD diesel and smooth 2.5 V6. The diesel is practical and not a bad drive, but it doesn't feel quite such an authentic Alfa as the petrol models. All models are well-priced and well-equipped, but depreciation is relatively high.