Item: Used Rover 25 Hatchback 1999 - 2005
Rating: 2
Author: What Car? Team

What is it like?

Ownership cost

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Hatchback

<p dir="ltr">Once a bastion of the British car industry, Rover is no longer a going concern anywhere but in the used car market.</p>

<p dir="ltr">For the canny buyer, that can be as good news as it is for the enthusiastic collectors of the firm’s finer models. Some of the cars from its later history remain in reasonable supply, can prove mechanically sound and come at rock-bottom prices.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Most collectable of them all is the Rover Mini, but for those looking to buy some no-nonsense transport for pocket money, the likes of the 25, 75, CityRover and Streetwise can make sound investments, especially if you can find later examples that aren’t yet overwhelmed by having covered giant mileages.</p>


ROVER

<p>The Rover 25 is a cheap supermini with a decent drive, but well past its sell-by date</p>


Used Rover 25 Hatchback 1999 - 2005

<p>Used prices nose-dived when Rover went bust, but they've since stabilised. However, they're still nice and low (good news for buyers), just no longer dropping like an elevator in a horror movie (good news for selling on again later).</p>

<p>Routine servicing won't put too much of a dent in your wallet, and neither will filling up at the pumps - just over 40mpg for the 1.1 and 1.4, high-30s mpg for the 1.6 and 1.8, and low-50s for the 2.0 TD.</p>

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The Rover 25 is a cheap supermini with a decent drive, but well past its sell-by date

<p>Not the turbodiesel. It's like diesels used to be before they got smooth, strong and refined. Worst of all, you'll probably pay extra for the privilege of being saddled with the worst engine.</p>

<p>All of the petrols (1.1, 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8) are eager, while the 148bhp 1.8 VVC turns the 25 into a respectable hot hatch. They're also economical, but our money would go on the 1.4.</p>

<p>And, we'd recommend you go for a five-door, too, unless you rarely use the back seats. Access to them in the three-door is a contorted affair.</p>

<p>Many 25s have air-con, but otherwise, it's a bit spartan for creature comforts and safety kit - a passenger's airbag was an option, and only the plush models have anti-lock brakes. Basic spec is no-name 'i', and E ups the ante only slightly, so aim for the L or sportier S.</p>

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Spacious enough for four adults to sit comfortably</li> <li>Logically laid-out interior that doesn’t</li> <li>feel too cheap</li> <li>Mature driving manners </li> <li>Decent-sized boot</li> <li>Competitive buying and running costs</li></ul>

<p>Small cars, or superminis as they’re also known, used to be bought by single people or couples with no children – but the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Seat Ibiza and Volkswagen&nbsp;Polo have grown to the point where they can be considered all-round family transport, albeit with the odd compromise.</p>

<p>The Fiesta remains a star of the class, thanks to its strong Ecoboost petrol engines and suspension settings that are beautifully judged for British roads. However, the latest Volkswagen offers even more practicality, decent performance and a classy interior that has the edge on the Ford’s for quality.</p>

<p>Any of these models will be a competent commuter car – especially if fitted with one of the increasingly popular small turbocharged petrol engines – but just remember that while you’ll be able to carry two adults and two children, it might still be a struggle to get all of their luggage into the boot.</p>

Small

<p>The petrol engines are vulnerable to head gasket trouble if the coolant is allowed to get too low. Look for signs of overheating - make sure you take the car for an extended test drive to see - and check for oil leaks between the top and block of the engine. Also, inspect the inside of the oil filler - any milk-like emulsion there means trouble.</p>

<p>The steering arm bush can wear, which affects handling and makes the car chew through tyres quickly. Look for uneven wear and be sure the car tracks straight and turns smartly in to corners. Watch out for leaking dampers.</p>

<p>Build quality on some cars is iffy. Keep an eye out for sticking boot locks, dodgy central locking, faulty electric windows, leaking seals and rusty hinges inside the boot. Give all the electrical kit a thorough going over, too, because Warranty Direct indicates that this is a particular weakness.</p>

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<p>The Rover 25 is a reworked 200 - and far better for the revisions.</p>

<p>Steer clear of the diesel, and you won't have any complaints about the engine. All the petrols respond willingly for their size and go easy on the juice. They can sound a little rowdy when you're going for it, though.</p>

<p>And you'll certainly do that, because the 25 handles well enough to make back roads fun. The ride is firm at town speeds, but the suspension works well once the car's going a bit quicker and it absorbs motorway creases well. The car's also nicely refined on a cruise.</p>

<p>However, with nothing else to concentrate on, you can't help but notice the cabin, which is bland and drab: it's a bad combination. Still, it's all laid out logically, and, fiddly stereo buttons apart, easy to use. The driving position isn't the best, though.</p>

<p>Inside, you get reasonable space for passengers, and the boot is family-shop friendly. However, getting at the back seats in the three-door is difficult.</p>

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Used Rover 25 Hatchback 1999 - 2005 review

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