Rover 25
The
Rover 25 is a small car with a lot of class but is that enough to combat supermini competition from newer rivals? June Neary decides
The Rover 25 has all the confidence of youth, yet neither its freshened clear lens headlamp looks nor performance claim that it's solely a young person's car. It's bright and bubbly, but it's not frivolous, marked with a maturity that comes with Rovers heritage. If you dont like that, then Rover hope youll go for the
MG ZR version basically the same car with a sportier outlook. Don't be deceived by the apparently compact dimensions, either. Inch for inch it's on a par with other family hatchbacks in the class and inside offers a tad more room than many. I liked the solid Rover feel to the cabin. My 25 1.4 SEi test car enjoyed the high quality trim, switchgear and wood inserts which add a classy look to a practical package.
The vehicle as a whole was very appealing and the latest model is much better equipped than its 200 predecessor and considerably more modern in appearance than previous 25 models.
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It seems inconceivable that
Rover once tried to market this design as a Focus or Astra-sized family hatchback: it certainly isnt that. Now that the marketers have come to their senses and pitched it properly as a Fiesta-sized supermini, it makes far more sense for the money. The 25's 10.7cuft luggage space with the split-folding rear seats up is pretty useful for a car of this type, though access to the boot area is slightly hindered by a rather narrow opening. Front passengers will enjoy the clever trick which Rover have employed to create more legroom. Their market research has shown that most owners only use the back for young children, so the front seats have very long-travel runners to boost front cabin space.
The three-door model I was driving is ideal for singles and couples of any age while the five-door would be an eminently practical family car. Boot space is at a premium, but you would expect that in a car of this size. The driving position is relaxed and comfortable and all round vision is good. The car handles well in all situations and is even pretty amenable to stop-start driving around town.
On the road, the youthful enthusiasm of the 25 becomes more apparent. In the 103bhp 1.4 16v version I was driving, rest to sixty occupies just over 10 seconds on the way to a maximum (on paper) of 115mph. More importantly, the 25 feels good to drive.
True performance, as far as I'm concerned isn't about speed - I try to be law-abiding in that respect. It's more about response, an engine that doesn't let you down when you go to overtake or to nip into a lane of traffic at rush hour. I didn't have to change gear as often as I might have expected with this small 1.4-litre engine - not that the transmission was anything but smooth to operate. The dashboard plastics are a grade above what you would normally expect for a car of this class - and there's wood trim in the cabin of even the cheapest models. I also liked the four circular vents mounted on top of the dash, theyve been added to this latest edition of the car and theres more than a touch of
Audi TT about them. On the safety front, there are ABS brakes, seatbelt load limiters and larger door mirrors than normal.
My test car was priced at £11,395, the five-door £600 more. The 1.4-litre models start at only £8,795. for the entry-level 25 i though that has a less powerful engine.
Prices start at £7,995 for a 1.1-litre model. Other engine choices include a 1.6-litre petrol unit, plus a pair of 2.
0-litre turbo diesels. Go for the mid-range SEi trim package that was fitted to my car and you'll enjoy a substantial helping of standard equipment too, including remote central locking, a choice of air conditioning or electric glass sunroof, front fog lamps, a CD stereo with remote controls, alarm/immobiliser, front fog lamps, 15" alloy wheels, full lap/diagonal inertia reel seatbelts for three passengers in the rear, body-coloured bumpers and a 60/40 split rear
seat.
The 25 still has plenty of life left in it. Other supermini rivals better it in terms of performance, handling and space but its certainly not disgraced in any of these respects. Plus youll get a good deal on a car that still looks classy on the driveway. In my book, that counts for a lot.
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