Alfa Romeo 147 JTD 2006 Review

7 Day Test

BMW isn’t the only car maker who’s small diesel offering ‘out-oomphs’ its petrol stablemate. Hitting the Australian market last December, Alfa’s diesel-engined 147 JTD matches the horsepower output and out torques its four-cylinder petrol stablemate.

Boasting an impressive 110kW and 305Nm, the 1.9-litre 147 JTD is 124Nm up on the identically equipped 147 Twin Spark. Indeed, like BMW’s 120d versus 130i comparison, the JTD actually out torques even the hottest 147 offered Down Under – the 300Nm 3.2-litre V6 GTA.

And while I’m labouring the point, just as BMW’s 120d (for our launch report click here) out accelerates its 120i equivalent, the 147 JTD easily betters the Twin Spark. At 8.8sec, it’s 0.5sec faster than the spark-ignited 147 from rest to 100km/h!

The secret to Alfa’s performance oiler is the marque’s Multijet (JTD) fuel-injection and engine management system. A second-generation system developed by parent company Fiat in conjunction with Bosch, Multijet is effectively a phased fuel-injection system that precisely times and injects fuel during the combustion cycle to minimize noise and emissions and maximize power and economy.

Alfa quotes efficiency gains of around 12 per cent and power boosts of up to 15 per cent for Multijet. The last generation of 1.9-litre Alfa turbodiesel was good for just 110hp -- the 147 JTD delivers 110kW (150hp)!

Make no mistake, these cutting-edge small diesels deliver excellent economy and sparkling performance. We got better than 7.0lt/100km and Alfa claims 5.7lt/100 combined. Perhaps that’s the reason the 147 JTD accounts for the lion’s share of 147 sales in Alfa’s home market. For the record over 75 per cent of Alfas sold to Europeans are diesel-powered.

Perhaps the only negative in comparison to Alfa’s sonorous petrol engines is the JTD’s fairly agricultural soundtrack. Number two son (10) is an Italian car nut and though while very taken with the car’s look, asked dad why this red rocket sounded like a little tractor.

At $39,990, the JTD is priced $2500 above the five-door 2.0-litre 147 Twin Spark. The two share identical spec levels and include antilock brakes, aircon, power windows and a decent sound system. That said, the JTD is offered with a unique six-speed manual gearbox -- the Twin Spark makes do with a five-speed manual but also offers the choice of Alfa’s Selespeed automated manual gearbox (at extra cost).

Ironically, it’s the JTD’s six-speeder that generates our only real issue with the Alfa turbodiesel. Why? Simply, the gearing is too tall.

Configured for fuss-free 140km/h cruising on Europe’s fast toll roads, autostrada and autobahn, the JTD’s top two gears are too tall to use around town. Even the torquey Multijet diesel struggles to percolate with less than 1500rpm on the tacho and that’s what you get in fourth at suburban speeds.

Decent urge comes in at around 1700rpm – around the same revs nets the national limit in top. Third gear is all you’ll ever need around town. Sure, use first away from rest but click it into third and you’re good from walking pace to the national limit.

The distinctive styling of the 147 inside and out gets a thumbs-up around here. As noted in CarPoint’s recent review of the 147 Ti (for more details click here) the latest 147 features subtle restyling front and rear and an updated interior complete with new dials and switchgear.

The JTD wears the same 17-inch alloys and has an unmistakably athletic stance despite the fact it rolls on what Alfa terms its Comfort Suspension. Purist can relax its still plenty sporting. Indeed, the JTD shares its stablemates’ well-weighted and quick-witted steering – there’s no sense of the car being handicapped by its presumably heavier diesel powerplant.

If this is a taste of things to come when the larger 2.4-litre turbodiesel finds its way into the 159 then count us in… Bravo piccolo trattore…