Rover 25 1.1i
As A Small Car For People Who Hate Small Cars The
Rover 25 1.1 Fits The Bill Nicely. Andy Enright Reports
What does Rover stand for these days? With the Rover aspect increasingly subsumed beneath the welter of headlines that accompany any of the sensational
MG models, its good to find a model that reinforces our impressions of the marque. Simple, charming and good value for money, the Rover 25 1.1-litre is a straightforward proposition.
According to customer clinics, the Rover brand denotes class a quality in short supply when you come to spend around £8,000 on a new car. The Rover 25 is a welcome breath of fresh air for those grimly resigned to a lifetime behind the wheel of a tinny citycar. When you think about where the Rover 25 was originally priced up against Escort and Astra sized cars the current facelifted model seems a remarkable bargain now that its available from £7,995 for the entry-level 1.1i.
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Where else can you buy the gravitas of that
Rover 75 -style front end and this combination of practicality, build quality and space for this sort of price sticker? Youd have to look at Korean or Malaysian cars and whilst the Far Eastern manufacturers have come a long way, wed all rather have a Rover parked on the drive than a
Proton or a
Daewoo. At least thats what
MG Rover are banking on.
"The interior features burr walnut cappings on the contoured fascia. Try finding that in a
Fiat Punto."
The lightweight K-series 1.1-litre engine thats plumbed into the Rover 25 generates 74bhp and 95Nm of torque, power which will embarrass a 1.2-litre Fiat Punto, and on a par with Daewoos 1.4 and SEATs 1.
6-litre units, so its unlikely youll feel hard done by. Naturally acceleration isnt going to render you insensible, breaching the 60 mph barrier in a class-competitive 13.5 seconds with another 40mph of potential in store. Fuel consumption isnt going to break the bank at a combined 42mpg, though if parsimony is your thing, there are more frugal cars about, one of which is the Rover 25 1.
4. The CO2 emissions figure of 160g/km isnt going to create a mobile greenhouse effect either. The Rover 25 1.1-litre is now solely available in the three-door bodystyle.
With 15,000-mile service intervals, prospective owners wont be stung when it comes to running the car and dealers are reporting steady demand for used 25 models, their residual values being buoyed up by the fact that they are perceived to be the biggest bargain in the Rover range. The latest round of styling changes have done much to modernise the 25s appearance. The headlamps have been revised to offer a more integrated family look and feature twin halogen lamps behind a clear glass lens thats slightly
BMW in its execution. The front bumper and grille have also been revised and moving around the car youll then pick out the body coloured side rubbing strips and alloy wheel designs before getting to the back where the changes are rather more obvious.
The bumper has been revised to take a lower mounting for the number plate. This frees up the tailgate so that it now features bold ROVER lettering in chrome and a 25 badge. The interior has been spruced up a little as well. The fascia design now includes four circular air vents finished in chrome.
A wood fascia insert is also available in a range of finishes burr walnut for the Rover traditionalists, and for customers after something a little more contemporary, light oak and dark oak finishes are also offered. Ash or Light Smokestone interior colour choices are offered while the centre console can be specified in either Light Oak, Black Oak or Walnut. This console now includes additional storage space under the stereo and theres even a pair of cup holders. The locking and alarm system has been thoroughly overhauled so that the 25 now features a remotely operable boot release and a master-locking switch.
A rolling code on the plipper means that thieves cant grab your code and the 25 also incorporates a panic alarm, drive away locking to prevent carjacking and auto relocking after 30 seconds should you accidentally leave your vehicle unlocked. Mechanically, things are much as they were but Rover have made tweaks to a few key areas. Brake feel has been revised to offer more responsive feedback. A lower positioned clutch pedal helps ergonomics and the throttle pedal has been altered.
The steering geometry has been revised for a more direct feel and new bushes for the rear suspension again offer better driver feedback. The 25 campaigns on value, and the 1.1-litre models offer it in spades. Despite its somewhat quaint charm, the 25 can look after itself in a tough corner of the marketplace, selling on more than just patriotic good will.
Take a look down the price lists and just watch the Rover 25 1.1 instantly justify itself
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Rover 25 1.1-litre
PRICES: £7,995 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 4
CO2 EMISSIONS: 160g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 13.5s / Top Speed 100mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 32mpg/ (extra urban) 51.3mpg / (combined) 42mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Driver's Airbag, seatbelt pretensioners, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 3990/1690/1420mm
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