ROVER 25 RANGE
Rover's Latest 25 Offers A Plusher Leather and Wood-Trimmed Solution To Supermini Transport. Jonathan Crouch Reports
When youre buying a supermini for less than £9,000, your expectations when it comes to equipment usually arent too high. You certainly dont expect to find features like wood trim, leather upholstery, alloy wheels and an electric sunroof. So Rover has thrown all three items at its latest 25.
Its technically true that you can buy a 25 without these things (from £7,995) but its doubtful whether many buyers will bother, given that for such a small increment, they can buy into a GLi level of specification not usually featured on cars of double the price. About the only thing missing from this spec list is air conditioning which you can also have if you step up to GSi level (from £9,995). Both these two trim levels start with 1.4-litre petrol power but with the GSi models, you get a 103PS engine rather than the GLis wheezier 84PS unit.
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With both trim levels, theres the choice of three or five doors and the option (for £1,800 more) of 2.0-litre turbo diesel power. Better-heeled buyers also have the single extra alternative of a 1.6-litre five-door GXi petrol model priced at £11,995 and equipped with an MP3 player, 16-inch alloy wheels and a passenger airbag.
When the restyled 25 range was launched in mid-2004, we criticised it for trying to compete head-on with
Volkswagen Polos and
Ford Fiestas. We suggested instead that
Rover should concentrate on things they were good at namely value and interior ambience. It would seem that someone at Longbridge reads our editorials for thats exactly what is happening with these extra value models. Since you probably wont have tried a 25 with the latest styling changes, these are well worth covering before we go any further.
Lets take a look at that front end first. 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 the Rover badge sits on a wider chromed plinth plus there is black diamond mesh in the air intakes. 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.
"If you want a small car with genuine presence and a soothing feel good ambience, theres nothing to touch the Rover 25"
The interior has been spruced up a little as well. The fascia design 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 includes additional storage space under the stereo and theres even a pair of cup holders. Soft touch switches make an appearance and SXi versions get wood-effect interior door handle covers. 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.
Engine-wise the 25 range has been left untouched but the engineers at
MG Rover havent been twiddling their oily thumbs. 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.
Theres a sports suspension option available for owners who relish a more engaging drive, offered on models from 103PS 1.4-litre models and above. All the engines on offer are quite efficient, particularly the 84PS 1.4-litre 16v unit.
This powerplant tends to account for the majority of sales, though there is also theoretically a 1.1-litre engine on offer. For buyers with a little more to spend, the 1.4, as weve said, also comes in 103PS form, plus there is also a 1.
6-litre petrol option and the aforementioned 101PS 2.0-litre turbodiesel. Arguably the most impressive engine in the line up is the 2.0-litre turbo diesel.
It features a high pressure injection system and offers a plump torque curve, giving extraordinary pulling power through the gears. Even in high gears at low speeds, acceleration is instant the engine almost feeling a match for the 2.5-litre V6 used on the 75 luxury saloon. A diesel, in other words, to convince even die-hard petrol buyers - or at least that's the idea. The changes to the 25 undoubtedly make it a better car but do they make it a more appealing proposition to new car buyers? Its a good question. As weve said, our contention is that marketing initiatives like the low priced GLi, GXi and GSi models with their leather and wood ambience represent a better way to go than trying to compete head-on with impressive but pricey supermini class leaders. If wiser heads in Longbridge continue to prevail and this kind of approach carries on, the 25 range may well yet have a longer shelf life than many expect.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Rover 25 range
PRICES: £7,995-£14,095 on the road
CO2 EMISSIONS: 150-178g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.4 84PS] 0-60mph 11.8s / 0-60mph 105mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.4 84PS] (urban) 32.1mpg/ (extra urban) 53.1mpg / (combined) 42.8mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Driver's Airbag
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height" 156/66/56"
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