Rover STREETWISE 1.4
As The First Step On The Streetwise Ladder, The 1.4-Litre Model Looks A Good Value Option In A Rather Odd Market Niche. Andy Enright Reports
What on earth is an "urban on-roader"? Unless you live in the middle of the sticks or routinely drive your car on the pavement, chances are theres one sitting on your drive by definition if nothing else. According to
MG Rover, its a new niche that their Streetwise models fill very nicely. Think normal front wheel drive hatch beefed up with a bunch of macho off-roader accoutrements and youre in the right ballpark. But is the 1.
4-litre Streetwise the ultimate sheep in wolfs clothing or a pragmatic response to a latent demand thats only recently raised its head?
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MG Rover claim this urban tough attitude is a key driver for many customers buying small 4x4s. Although they appreciated the raised driving position and tough plastic cladding to fend off supermarket trolleys etc, many buyers of small 4x4s werent too enamoured of mediocre fuel economy, flabby steering and roly-poly handling. These metropolitan buyers couldnt give a hoot if their ride had a locking central differential or a 30-inch wading capability as their cars never ventured off the often pockmarked blacktop. What if a product could be developed that gave them more of what they liked and a little less of the rest? The marketing heads at MG Rover reckon the Streetwise is just that product.
Its certainly priced attractively, the 1.4-litre version we examine here opening proceedings at just £9,340. To put that into perspective, the basic 1.4-litre Rover 25 starts at £8,795 so its not too much of a premium to drive a car that looks both tougher and more modern.
Those looking to pour scorn on this market niche were quickly smacked down when
Volkswagen helped legitimise the market sector with their Polo Fun project. Dont forget that original Fusion prototypes boasted 4x4 design cues before
Ford somewhat lost their bottle and toned the design down. The entry-level 1.4-litre engine is the same 84bhp powerplant that powers entry-level Rover 25 models.
Nevertheless its capable of a reasonable turn of speed, propelling the car through 60mph in 12 seconds on the way to 105mph. This makes it about as accelerative as a 1.8-litre
Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin and with a little more in hand at the top end to make motorway cruising that tad less frenetic. Stretch to £10,340 and youll be able to afford the same 103bhp engine thats fitted to the MG ZR105 and thus feels a good deal livelier, the punchy engine shaving a couple of seconds off the sprint to 60mph before running on to a creditable top speed of 111mph.
LPG versions are also available for those that want the performance alongside diesel style fuel bills.
"Is there really a market for a car like this? Well obviously, MG Rover thinks so"
The Streetwise features large wheels and raised suspension for greater ground clearance and a higher viewpoint. For extra toughness and durability, it has robust moulded bumpers, wheelarch protectors and rubbing strips all in a scratch-resistant dark grey-grained finish. Standard fit roof bars on all models offer a versatile carrying facility to complement the spacious interior and boot. The Streetwise is clearly a car of necessity.
MG Rover has to make the most of what it has until all-new models arrive in 2006. A major part of that will be a programme of facelifts and trim tinkering but more ingenuity than this will be required if the company is to keep sales at break-even point. At least the Streetwise is evidence that this exists at Longbridge. When styling chief Peter Stevens noticed that his junior designers werent driving Rovers, he asked them to design a car they would drive.
The 25-based Streetwise is the result. All right, so you dont get four-wheel drive or indeed any kind of offroad ability but both would in any case be largely pointless given the urban target market. Big wheels and raised suspension do at least deliver an offroader-style high driving position. And of course the aggressive front grille, mock skid plates, grey protective cladding and roof rails also give it an authentic 4X4 look.
Inside, the Streetwise has its own specially-designed seating and trim treatment, with individual front and rear storage plus individual sports-style seating for four as standard, yet it retains a practical and versatile 60/40 split folding rear
seat squab. But is there really a market for a car like this? Well obviously, MG Rover thinks so. The company points to an increasing trend for small car buyers to seek a more 'personalised' variation in style and configuration the so-called 'urban on-roader'. The Streetwise seems to meet this brief - robust, versatile and stylish, a small car that's fun to drive, handy in traffic, easy to park and able to shrug off hard use by active individuals and young families. It has elements of the SUV appeal, with good ground clearance and ruggedness, but without the costs and complexity of 4x4 transmission. At the same time, it offers decent all-round performance and capability out of town, from motorways to farm tracks. One of the first things youll notice in the showroom is the uncompromising
Volvo XC70/
Audi Allroad-style front end.
The Streetwise has the front bumper and grille formed in a tough unpainted grained moulding. The same resilient material, resistant to chipping and scratches, is used for the wheelarch spats, sill mouldings, side rubbing strips, rear bumper and tailgate lift handle. Beefy roof bars, securely bolted to the roof on all Streetwise models, are similar to those fitted to the Rover 75 Tourer, and accept the same kind of cross bars and carrying systems for loads up to 65 kg. As standard, unique five-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels are available from the mid range upwards but entry models must put up with 15 inch steel wheels with drilled centres and 'kerb-proof' centre hub covers. GLi and GSi trim levels have been added to supplement the existing standard, S and SE options. The MG Rover Streetwise 1.4-litre may at first seem something of a fraud but when you pause to consider how we really use our cars in the urban sprawl and crawl, it actually makes a lot of sense.
With a raised driving position and rugged bumpers that can see off parking scrapes, its a good deal more practical than the accompanying lifestyle marketing baloney would lead you to suspect. It might be the first of its type to appear but it certainly wont be the last. For that, cash-strapped MG Rover deserve an awful lot of credit.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Rover Streetwise 1.4 range
PRICES: £9,340 - £11,995 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 5-6
CO2 EMISSIONS: 174 g/km
PERFORMANCE: [84PS] 0-60mph 11.8s / 0-60mph 105mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [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/Heightmm 3990/1690/1420mm
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