Alfa Romeo 147 Facelift (2005–2008) Price Guide

The facelifted 147, produced from 2005 to 2010, addressed some of the original car’s rougher edges without altering its fundamental character. It is the better car to live with, but the early cars arguably remain the prettier ones.

What Changed

The nose was restyled with a smoother, more integrated look. The suspension was revised for improved ride quality. The interior received better materials and a redesigned centre console. The Selespeed gearbox gained steering wheel paddles replacing the earlier buttons. The 1.6 Twin Spark continued alongside the 1.9 JTDm diesel, which became the dominant engine in UK sales. A Ducati Corse limited edition added visual distinction. The Sport model, exclusive to the UK market, offered a value-oriented specification with sports suspension and body-coloured trim.

Buying

Facelift cars benefit from lessons learned during the first four years of production. Revised cambelt tensioners and better component quality reduced the failure rate, though the 36,000-mile belt change interval remains essential. The JTDm diesel is the sensible choice for high-mileage use, but check for DPF issues on cars that have spent their lives doing short urban journeys. The 1.6 Twin Spark is the budget petrol option but lacks the sparkle of the 2.0. A manual gearbox car with full service history from an Alfa specialist is the safest buy.

The facelift 147 outlasted the 156 it was related to, eventually being replaced by the Giulietta in 2010.