Rover STREETWISE
The Streetwise May Look Rough And Tough But Underneath The Macho Body Cladding Lays A Humble
Rover 25. June Neary Tries It For Size
Im probably betraying my age a little here, but I remember back in the late seventies a car called the Matra Simca Rancho. This looked to all intents and purposes like a rugged 4x4 but look underneath the beefy exterior and the simple two-wheel drive chassis of a Chrysler Alpine lay beneath. Many dismissed it as a fraud but these days this sort of vehicle is coming back into vogue. Rovers Streetwise offers the macho looks and raised driving position of a compact 4x4 but is mechanically similar to the Rover 25 shopping hatch that we all know and many of us love.
I wasnt sure if I I was entirely comfortable with this subterfuge but from behind the wheel you soon forget youre at the wheel of something that looks more at home in the Congo than the Costco car park.
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OK, 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, theres a unique four-
seat configuration, with front and rear sports style individual seats.
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. Trim levels range from standard up through S and SE but the more recently included GLi and GSi specifications look good value theres certainly no shortage of choice.
Other special Streetwise interior design details include a new centre console with new switchpack and improved storage plus a new floor console incorporating the gear lever, window lift switches and rear ashtray. There are distinctive blue instrument graphics, and the new circular front ashtray can be transferred, if required, to the cup holder section of the door pocket.
Rover is offering the Streetwise with a selection of petrol and diesel power units, various transmissions and three trim levels. Buyers can choose the familiar twin-cam alloy 1.4 litre K Series petrol engine in both 84Ps and 103Ps tune or a 1.6-litre 109Ps unit.
Then theres the 101Ps L Series turbo-diesel unit. All these come with 5 speed manual transmissions but you can opt for a CVT automatic gearbox driven by a 117Ps 1.8-litre engine if the fancy takes you. The diesel is curiously the 101bhp unit, rather than the more recently introduced 115bhp version of the same engine.
Apparently, the Streetwises high-sided stance convinced the engineers that in terms of power, less is more in terms of safety. 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 a kind of '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.
Prices are reasonable but its worth bearing in mind that this is quite an old basic design. If you want something cutting edge, the Streetwise is not it. That said, the £9,340 Rover are asking for the entry-level 1.4-litre model seems fair and even the 2.
0-litre turbo diesel version I got to play with fails to significantly threaten the £13,000 barrier.
Those looking to pour scorn on this market niche were quickly smacked down when
Volkswagen helped legitimise the 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. At least MG Rover have had the courage of their convictions to follow the project through and for that they should be given credit. Although the Streetwise name may be a misnomer, it nevertheless offers a different spin on the Rover 25 theme.
I thought Id hate the Streetwise but ended up quite enjoying its eager feel and no-nonsense value.
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