Facelifting cars is a minefield. All too often, the original stylists can't be persuaded to undertake a mid-life makeover and an in-house design team more often gainfully employed designing glove box hinges gets railroaded into drawing a whole new face for a model that probably didn't need it. That's the only explanation I can forward for some of the aberrations foisted on us in recent years by many manufacturers in a desperate attempt to remain newsworthy. There is, however, one maker who gets it right more times than not. Alfa Romeo has in recent years wielded the scalpel on their 147 and the results are, from where I'm standing, pretty impressive.

I was never really a fan of the original 147's face. The interior I thought was a masterstroke and the pert rear end also received a favourable report, but the nose just looked a little too soft and puffy, like a boxer who had seen better days. It passed muster in aggressive GTA guise, but the models that people really bought were just a little too flabby around the jowls to really get a thumbs up. The most recent restyle has changed all that, without much changing prices which start at £14,955 for the three and five-door models on offer.

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 original 147 have been replaced, giving the latest version 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 on the pre-facelift model, 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.

"Walk round the 147 and it's tough to spot one bad angle"

The 147 has enjoyed more than just a mere freshening over the last few years. 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. A 'Comfort' option on some models also allows for a more relaxed ride. Revised damper settings and a wider availability of electronic driver aids such as anti lock brakes, brakeforce distribution and stability control are featured. Buyers can also select the Q2 147 with a self-locking differential on the front axel that aids traction during more extreme cornering manoeuvres.

Since the larger 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. The latest 147 takes this foundation and reinforces it further, with the current car featuring a built-in sense of occasion that's utterly absent from a Volkswagen Golf or even an Audi A3. Sit inside the 147 and the memories of Italianate driving positions that we grew up with in Alfasuds and Giuliettas are banished forever. Seat, pedals, steering wheel, gearstick and mirrors all appear to be positioned around an anthropomorphic figure of a human being rather than a gibbon (as was the case with the 145). The rest of the interior has other such considerate touches too.

Various engines are offered: entry-level 120bhp petrol (1.6) and diesel (1.9) units, plus 150bhp petrol (2.0) and diesel (1.9 16V) powerplants. All models get six airbags, climate control, tinted electric windows and mirrors, remote central locking, an alarm and a decent RDS radio/CD player with eight speakers. Plusher Turismo models add a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear knob, while the top Lusso specification comes with steering wheel mounted audio controls, cruise control, alloy wheels, front foglamps and an adjustable front armrest with recess.

The 147 was a very good car that now appears to teeter on the brink of being something that not just Alfisti and auto bores will aspire to. With styling that is - to these eyes at least - the pick of the pack and a quality improvement programme that looks set to elevate it to a position equal with the best of the German marques, the excuses for not buying an Alfa 147 are starting to get rather bony. Factor in a range of great diesel engines and increasingly resilient residual values and resistance looks futile.

TOP 5 147 DEALS

The results below show the top 147 deals on buyacar

	Alfa Romeo 147 1.6 TS Lusso 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £271	Saving £1,996	Price £14,914
	Alfa Romeo 147 1.9 JTDm 16V Lusso 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £314	Saving £2,395	Price £16,915
	Alfa Romeo 147 1.6 TS Lusso 3dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £263	Saving £1,915	Price £14,495
	Alfa Romeo 147 1.6 TS 3dr [120] Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £1,721	Price £13,489
	Alfa Romeo 147 1.9 JTDm Lusso 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £291	Saving £2,201	Price £15,909

typical 10.54% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000