Rover STREETWISE RANGE
MG Rover Never Stops Its Search For New Ways To Create New Markets For Its Existing Designs. Heres Another Example, The Rover Streetwise. Jonathan Crouch Reports On The Latest Line-Up
You have to admire MG Rover. Theyve certainly stretched their product range to cover every possible market niche. Check out, for example, the product we feature here, the latest Rover Streetwise, a car with 'urban-tough' attitude.
| Build |
 |
| Comfort |
 |
| Depreciation |
|
| Economy |
 |
| Equipment |
|
| Handling |
|
| Insurance |
|
| Performance |
|
| Styling |
 |
| Value |
|
This was the kind of approach that Fords Fusion tried (and failed) to bring to the supermini market. Rovers attempt has proved to be far more successful but fashion is a fickle thing and the Streetwises popularity had begun to wane until
Rover recently introduced a more tightly priced, more highly specified line-up. You basically now choose between only two trim levels GLi and GSi. Prices start at £9,495 (with a £500 premium for five rather than three doors) and all models feature items that in many cases youd have to tick the options box for with pricier rival urban on-road models like Citroens C3 XTR and
Volkswagen Polo Dune.
These include ABS, silver roof rails, a CD stereo with four speakers, rear headrests, body-coloured door mirrors and electric front windows. Pay a £1,000 premium for one of the GSi models (priced from £10,495) and you can expect to find air conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, electric heated mirrors, remote steering wheel audio controls, front foglamps, drivers
seat height and lumbar adjustment and electric rear windows. In short, its probably worth finding the extra pennies. The other advantage of stretching to the GSi trim level is that it also gives you the option of considering Rovers 103PS 1.
4-litre petrol engine as well as the 84PS 1.4 fitted to entry-level Streetwise models. Mind you, youre starting to get into reasonably large sums at this point, with prices starting at £10,995. The other options at GSi level are the familiar 2.
0-litre turbo diesel engine (priced from £11,995) or (for five-door buyers only) an automatic 1.8-litre Stepspeed model.
"A kind of 'urban on-roader'."
Enough of the marketing: lets get to the car. 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.
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 (rather loud) 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.
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.
Inside, theres a unique four-seat configuration, with front and rear sports style individual seats. A Burnished or Chagall Blue painted centre console and door pulls underline the younger approach of the latest Streetwise models, with their new Target interior design and matching twill door casings. Between the rear seat cushions is a special central console with storage cubbies. Ingeniously, the folding seat squab retains the useful 60/40 split to allow four different cargo/passenger-carrying arrangements. For those needing five seats, there is the option of a normal bench rear seat, with 60/40 split folding squabs and three lap and diagonal seat belts. Other special Streetwise interior design enhancements over the 25 Supermini on which its based include a specially designed centre console with unique switchpack and improved storage plus a bespoke floor console incorporating the gear lever, window lift switches and rear ashtray.
There are distinctive blue instrument graphics, and the circular front ashtray can be transferred, if required, to the cup holder section of the door pocket. Its all a very clever way of prolonging the life of what is basically quite an old design. Given this fact, you wont be surprised to learn that the Rover 25 ancestry shows through in terms of both handling (unremarkable) and interior build quality (somewhat behind the standards set by some of the latest leading superminis). Still, its quite easy to forgive the Streetwise for these things, given its sheer joie de vivre.
Why be boring when you can be Streetwise?
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Rover Streetwise range
PRICES: £9,495 - £13,245 [GLi and GSi] - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 5-6
CO2 EMISSIONS: 150-164 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
<< Back to Rover car reviews
<< Back to car reviews homepage
Find New & Used Cars in the UK |
New & Used Rover Cars For Sale UK
