Though the original three-door Alfa Romeo 147 was showered with awards, it was only when the more versatile five-door version joined the range that UK sales really got into gear. With the bigger bodystyle came a wider choice of engine and transmission options and hence the mass-market appeal the Italians were seeking.

The Alfa 156 trick of hiding the rear door handles in the trailing edge of the rear window frames continues here, giving the five-door car a far less frumpy appearance than, for instance, the A3 Sportback. The B-pillars have been moved forward to make room for the back set of doors, and the overall profile is slightly less sleek, but the trade off is on the deft side of acceptable. Those deeply scalloped flanks draw the eye away from the extra set of doors and the black window pillars also serve to deflect attention from the additional portage. Prices start at £15,715.

Anybody thinking the styling of the 147 has gone soft in five-door form should think again. After all, the main profile hasn't changed. There's something about the nose of the car that provokes pugilistic references. There's a tension in the design, the bonnet crease points curling over like the whitened knuckles of a balled-up fist. Like an oncoming jab, the overall effect isn't subtle; instead the bearing is one of threatening aggression. Park an Alfa 147 on your driveway and your neighbourhood instantly becomes a prettier place. This is particularly true in light of the facelift that defines the latest cars. Alfa experts will spot their pointier headlamps housing triple light clusters and restyled bumpers with inset fog lamps. Round the back, the rear lights are larger and a chrome strip has been added below the tailgate.

"The Alfa's not just knocking at the door of the premium compact hatch sector. It looks set to kick it down."

Not that the 147 five-door is looking to rely on obviously retro influences. Instead, those who had been gravitating towards the resolutely modern Audi A3 or even a Mercedes A-class will instead be tempted by the Milanese offering. The big news for enthusiast drivers is that the JTD common rail diesel engine now packs a full 150bhp thanks to a revised fuel injection strategy and with 305Nm maximum torque it feels more muscular than the old 3.2-litre V6 equipped GTA.

Equipment levels on all cars look class-competitive and include cruise control, climate control, rain sensing wipers and steering wheel buttons for stereo and optional phone and voice controls. Safety is well catered for too, with seat belt pretensioners, ABS, a brake force distributor system and traction control on top of the VDC stability control program. At present the engines on offer are the 120bhp 1.6-litre Twin Spark petrol, the 150bhp 2.0-litre Twin Spark petrol and the 1.9JTD diesel with 120 or 150bhp outputs. Performance is reasonable, bearing in mind these are surprisingly heavy cars. The 120bhp 1.6 manages to hit 62mph in 10.5 seconds as opposed to 9.3 for the 2.0-litre car. Expect the manual model to shave the best part of a second off this figure. Top speeds are 121mph for the 1.6 and 129mph for the 2.0-litre Twin Spark. The JTD diesel will return an average of around 48mpg whichever power rating you choose.

Performance tends to be taken for granted with Alfa Romeo ownership, but build quality has in past times often been woeful. Fact is that since the 156 was launched at the end of 1997, Alfa's understanding of how to screw together a decent quality car has come on leaps and bounds. Anybody exiting a Mercedes E-class and then entering the 166 executive saloon could attest to this and the latest 159 is better still. The 147 takes this foundation and reinforces it further.

Alfa hasn't forgotten its heritage and has built upon the inherent romantic appeal of Italian cars. Whereas the 156 brought back the classic cowled fascia dials, the 147 goes a step further by squeezing in two additional dials, evocatively labelled 'benzina' and 'aqua'. The tachometer bears the legend 'giri' making you feel if not like Nuvolari, then at least distantly following in his wheeltracks. It's not all dewy-eyed nostalgia, however. Elsewhere in the well-finished cabin are some determinedly high-tech touches. State-of-the-art multiplex wiring has made possible the option of a full-screen voice activated satellite navigation system with an inbuilt Bose stereo and GSM telephone system.

Perhaps the greatest compliment it would be possible to pay the 147 is to ignore the awards and praise heaped upon it. Judged as a worthy rival to Audi and BMW, it's a testament to how far Alfa Romeo have progressed. The availability of the 147 in five door guise broadens its appeal without diluting the bloodline. With new engines and more beguiling choices on the horizon, the Alfa's not just knocking at the door of the premium compact hatch sector. It looks set to kick it down.