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 JTD diesel engine suits the 147's personality, feeling languid and nonchalant"

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 just £16,000 for the Turismo models and rising up to around £18,000 for the plushest Lusso version.

So what's changed on the latest 147? Well, 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.

The 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. 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.

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.