Item: Used Alfa Romeo 147 2001 - 2009
Rating: 3
Author: Steve Huntingford

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Alfa Romeo now has one of its strongest-ever model line-ups, after years of living off past glories.

The BMW 3 Series-rivalling Giulia executive saloon is one of the best cars in its class to drive and has performed very well in the annual What Car? Reliability Survey, while the closely related Stelvio competes in the booming SUV class.

Smaller and larger SUVs are planned, as is a two-door coupé version of the Giulia that will take on the Audi A5, BMW 4 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupé.

It’s all a long way from the days when Alfa Romeo just had a couple of dated hatchbacks (the Mito and Giulietta) and the niche 4C sports car in its range.

ALFA ROMEO

The Alfa Romeo 147 looks the business and its quite fun to drive, but the interior is cramped and the running costs high for this type of car.

Used Alfa Romeo 147 2001 - 2009

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/alfa-romeo">Alfa Romeo</a> 147s are relatively cheap to buy. However, running costs are high.

Servicing is as expensive as for a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mercedes-benz">Mercedes</a>, and some spares are more costly than you'd expect. To make matters worse, a few routine repairs are complicated and push up labour charges.

Most models are reasonably affordable to insure, the exception being the 3.2 GTA, which is best avoided if you're under 25 or have had an accident or two.

The diesels are pretty frugal, returning up to 48mpg. The 34mpg officially quoted for the 1.6 petrol and the 31mpg for the 2.0 look perfectly respectable, but plenty of owners claim they can't get even close to those figures.

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The Alfa Romeo 147 looks the business and its quite fun to drive, but the interior is cramped and the running costs high for this type of car.


The 1.6-litre petrol is the smallest engine in the range, but it still does a good job of pulling the car along, while the 2.0 packs real fizz. The larger engine also comes with the option of a semi-automatic gearbox, which works well, but isn't that reliable.

The 3.2 V6 in the top-of-the-range GTA has a whacking 250bhp, but can't be recommended because that is simply too much power for the car to handle.

There's also a pair of smooth 1.9-litre diesel engines, with 115bhp or 140bhp. But, given this is a sports hatch, we'd go for the model with the extra power.

Other than on the GTA, which has its own unique trim, the choice is between Turismo or Lusso across the range. On older cars, Turismo means no alloy wheels or CD player, so we'd go for Lusso, which includes both as standard.

Likewise, faced with a choice of three- or five-door models, we'd go for the extra doors for added practicality.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of practical space </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>A comfortable ride </li> <li>A healthy equipment list </li> <li>Quality materials and thoughtful touches inside </li> <li>Rock-solid reliability</li></ul>

Family cars arguably have the toughest brief of all: they have to be good at pretty much everything. They’re used as the daily drive, on the school run or work commute (often both), and have to be able to cope with a family’s clutter on weekends and holidays.

The Skoda Scala is a relative newcomer, but it's&nbsp;already carved out a name for itself in this segment.&nbsp;If you're looking for a moderately priced car that combines a supple ride, neat handling, a spacious interior and a capacious boot&nbsp;it's well worth a look.&nbsp;Alternatively, if you're looking for entertaining handling then the&nbsp;BMW 1 Series may well be for you. It's great to drive, rides well&nbsp;and also comes with a top-notch interior, featuring one of our very favourite infotainment systems.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Toyota Corolla&nbsp;is another great choice. This latest version of one of the world's best-selling cars of all time can be had with a choice of two different petrol-electric hybrid engines, both of which should mean&nbsp;potentially lower fuel bills. It's comfortable, well equipped and should be very reliable, too.&nbsp;

Family

There's no hard and fast rule with the Alfa Romeo 147. Some models are utterly reliable, their owners reporting not even a blown bulb between services, whereas others are nothing but trouble. That said, suspension repairs are where most money gets spent.

One particular worry is the cambelt, which is recommended for a change after 36,000 miles or four years, whichever arrives sooner. There's a known problem with these breaking, causing major engine damage. It's a wise move to change it as soon as you buy any used 147.

Alfas in the past were often unreliable, but recently the company has worked to throw off its poor reputation. The 147 shows that it's getting better, but it's still some way short of the best.

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Rasping engines and super-quick steering show that the Alfa Romeo 147 was designed to be a sporty car, but where a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n149">VW Golf GTI</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n26">BMW 1 Series</a> stay smooth and controlled over bumpy roads, the 147's body control is poor and the ride suffers, too.

Yet, if it can't cut it as a sporty car, it certainly looks right: inside and out, this is one handsome small hatch. The interior looks much better made than in older Alfas, too, but passenger space is tight and the boot small.

A facelift in 2005 smoothed the car's nose and brought extra equipment across the range.

The 147 scores only three Euro NCAP stars for occupant safety, a poor result when most rivals hace four or even five. It gained two stars for pedestrian protection, which is average.

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Used Alfa Romeo 147 2001 - 2009 review

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Read the definitive used Alfa Romeo 147 2001 - 2009 review from What Car?. We tell you what you need to know before you buy.

Rasping engines and super-quick steering show that the Alfa Romeo 147 was designed to be a sporty car, but where a VW Golf GTI or BMW 1 Series stay smooth and controlled over bumpy roads, the 147's body control is poor and the ride suffers, too.,Yet, if it can't cut it as a sporty car, it certainly looks right: inside and out, this is one handsome small hatch. The interior looks much better made than in older Alfas, too, but passenger space is tight and the boot small.,A facelift in 2005 smoothed the car's nose and brought extra equipment across the range.The 147 scores only three Euro NCAP stars for occupant safety, a poor result when most rivals hace four or even five. It gained two stars for pedestrian protection, which is average. 

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Used Alfa Romeo 147 2001 - 2009 review

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