Rover 45
Theres something rather classy about the
Rover 45, June Neary decides
Women are much more discerning these days about the cars they drive. Good looks and reliability are no longer enough performance is very much a factor in their decision-making. That said, first impressions still count where Im concerned and on that score my Rover 45 Club test car got off to a good start. It looks even more classy now thanks to a far-reaching facelift that gives the car a much more modern appearance.
Theres deeper front grille and twin lens headlamps looking distinctly
BMW in their styling influences. Integrated indicators and a new front bumper design give the 45 a more dynamic look. The rear end is, if anything, even more radical with an angular rear bumper entailing a repositioned number plate and a big, bold boot/tailback treatment. A rear lip spoiler and classy chromed Rover lettering across the cars posterior are also featured.
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Other exterior changes include side sill extensions and body coloured side rubbing strips.
I didnt agree entirely with Rovers perception of the previous 400 range as a rival for larger Mondeo or Vectra-sized models. Now, as the
Rover 45, the marketing is a lot more realistic, pitching the car against truer rivals like Fords Focus or the VW Bora. In this light, it makes plenty of sense. True, its essentially an older design but it does have a feeling of class from the outside at least that some other rivals struggle to match.
The interior was always the part which dated the 45 most appreciably and it too has come in for a rethink. Its nothing too radical and if you get in anticipating the cabin to be as funky as a
Honda Civic or
Vauxhall Astra you may need your expectations managed. The fascia has been updated with four circular air vents finished in chrome and contrasting wood fillets inserted into the dashboard. Theres burr walnut for Rover traditionalists and for something a little more avant-garde there are light and dark oak finishes.
I found the various storage spaces useful and thought that the seats were impressively comfortable and supportive. I was also impressed to find rear head restraints and three-point
seat belts for all three passengers in the back.
Rovers award-winning 1.4-litre 16-valve petrol engine (as fitted to the 45 Club five-door model I tried) is surprisingly perky both around town and on the motorway. Given the size of the car, though, and depending on your weekly mileage, you might be tempted to opt for the larger engines available. Depending on which of the six trim levels you choose, theres the option of 1.
6 and 1.8-litre petrol engines or a 2-litre turbodiesel. Models with the 1.8-litre engine get the option of Rovers Continuously Variable (CVT) 'Stepspeed' automatic transmission system as used on the MGF. Though unlike that car, there are no steering wheel buttons to allow you to flick up and down the 'box yourself, you can do so by flicking the gear lever back and forth. On the road, Rover makes much of the 45's long distance ride qualities which the company attributes to the cars innovative suspension system and hydraulic engine mounts. I certainly found it comfortable over a distance and was pretty impressed with the low level of engine noise.
MG Rovers marketeers are certainly a lot more realistic about pricing than their
BMW predecessors were. The prices start at just £9,995 for the 1.4 Classic rising to £15,395 for the 2.0TD Connoisseur.
Meanwhile, the saloons start at a more luxurious level than their hatchback cousins. Priced from £13,495, every version includes heated seats and a CD player in a long list of standard inclusions. If youre after something that feels a bit quicker, your dealer will likely point you in the direction of the MG ZS model range essentially the same car with a sportier outlook. On the security front, a dual perimetric and volumetric alarm system with passive engine immobilisation is also fitted across the range.
I thought the whole package offered good value for money.
In my view the 45 offers everything you could want in a family car, plus a little bit more. Its well worth putting on your shopping list.
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