Rover 25 road tests and consumer car reviews

Rover 75 Estate 1990

A brilliant motor car. I aquired it when in UK on an extended holiday in 1996 with 88000 on the clock. I have had it in Australia now for over 3 yrs. Other than having a problem finding an oil filter here I love this car!!

Rover 75 Connoisseur diesel 2000

I have had several Rovers and all have been real value for money. I’ve had the 620 with the Honda engine, which was brilliant. This 75 Connoisseur diesel is luxury without costing a fortune to buy. The 620 ran to well over 120000 and the 75 is coming up to 90000. I’m sorry they’ve stopped production.

Rover 75 2003

I have 2 Rover 75s in the family. A great car with more options at half the price of any other car. Parts are still easy to get (they use the same motor as the Landrover 2.5 engine). I have had to replace a few bits over the last 100,000km, but that’s to be exptected on any car doing this sort of mileage. The only things to keep an eye on are the nylon thermostat housing and front lower wishbone bushes. The best car I’ve ever driven.

Rover 75 2001

Owned since new and covered 146000 blissful miles in its understated luxury. If Marks & Spencers made cars this would be it. I’ve got other newer cars but can’t see myself without the baby Bentley.

Rover 75 2001

I bought this car on the strength of my previous experiences of Rovers over the years ranging through a P5,2000’s( tc & sc’s), 2800’s,SDI,75 tourers etc. This con. auto caught my eye and I decided to buy it; plus 10 yrs old, 75000 miles, one owner,and more service stamps that you could shake a stick at. But I had forgot the one thing that that disappointed me with all of them...FUEL CONSUMPTION, not bad, but not that good. The car that I got rid of was a Purgeot 407, very comfortable and fuel figures on a run down to Limoges in France giving me 57 to the gallon. However, the SLIGHTEST problem that arose and the computer says " NO", it’s the garage for you, and that is bloody megga expensive. Also the build quality of the Rover is superior to the Purgeot. Do I miss the Peugeot? A little. Am I happy with the Rover? Oh yes! It might be called a grandad’s car, that’s alright, I AM A BLOODY GRANDAD!

Rover 75 Connoisseur 2004

I have had my rover 75 since new (2004) and have covered 95000 miles absolutely trouble free. This is the best car ever comfortable and effortless to drive and you can cover long distances in it tirelessly and I regularly get 50 miles to the gallon. I have looked to replace it with a Jaguar XF, BMW 5 series but I think I will hang on to my Rover for as long as I can and if they still made them I would certainly buy another.

Rover 75 Connoisseur 2.0 V6 2000

I brought a Rover 75 in 2005 and what a sack of s***. There are a few fancy extras given, but the combination of flat leather seats and kick down lag whilst in auto usually results in you sliding into the door or over to the passenger seat when heading round a bend. With so many damn relays, it’s near impossible to quickly find where any electrical fault is! Poor quality overall and no space inside is no wonder why Rover went bust. It’s a cheap car for some internal luxuries but just save up and buy a Mondeo or Vectra. Alternatively, get a decent job and actually buy the Jag!

Responses to this review

You must have got a Friday afternoon car. I prefer my 75 diesel tourer to my E240 Merc - it’s more comfortable, better finish and front wheel drive,  much better in the snow - Geoff Knight from Hampshire

Rover 75 Connoisseur 2004

I bought my Rover 75 Connoisseur in May 2008. Before that I had a Rover 620si. I think the Rover 75 was a great buy for the price I paid, also my Rover 620si is still running spot on.

Rover 75 coniseur diesel cd 2001

Bought a year ago with about 100k miles, wanted a big comfy diesel and this car has filled the criteria. Have done 18k miles, motorway and urban, and car has has never flickered, big leather seats ,wood dash, cream dials, british racing green, nice. Road holding great and as many owners have already said you get a consistent 50mpg, my kids call it a grandad’s car but having owned many cars over the years this has been the best. I have always wanted the 75 as the retro styling really appealed to me and the interior is as nice as the exterior. The engine is a detuned BMW unit and when you first drive it you will find it slow, it doesn’t accelerate so much as wafts along, and its really is nice on the motorway and for 1500 its a bargain for me.

Rover 75 Tourer 2.5 Manual 2001

Drove recently purchased 75 2.5 lt Tourer Manual from Brisbane to rural Victoria with only refreshment breaks. No coffee, sugar, - only high protein plus milk and tuna and egg salad. Yes, I accept food sounds pretty wierd! Planned on breaking 1700 km trip, but roads (particularly Newell Highway) almost deserted. Low NVH of car appreciated - plus general responsive handling on standard Yokohamas. Done 4000 kms after arrival - very satisfied. Curious if anyone knows how many Manual 2.5 ltr Tourers (S/W) made, and how many exported to Australia. They all seem to be autos. Only quirk noticed is if one wishes to add octane booster/injection cleaner, one needs a screwdriver to depress fuel nozzle flap - and sometimes after this terrible sounding procedure fuel indicator sometimes stays at level before filling. Cannot be sender unit surely? Also vehicle has fitted a Blaupunkt TestPilot DX-R4. No manual resulted in me being told constantly to do U-Turns to travel back to Queensland in areas I never knew anything other than a Vespa could make such turns!! Have tried ’net etc. Has anyone got any idea where to get a manual? Used to be petrol head - now an ancient 56 though - but especially in Australia do not feel that vehicle underpowered, nor that torque peaks at too high rpm. Am concerned what needs to be done for 100,000 service as living in bush makes having reliable transport essential.

Rover 75 connoisseur tourer diesel 2003

I have owned this car from new and now have 120,000 on the clock. Previously I have driven everything from Morris Minors to Jaguars and have no hesitation is saying this is the best. It is a lovely car to drive, comfortable, practical, safe and very economival giving 50 mpg consistently. At 70,000 I had a new fuel pump and have recently had to replace the flywheel which was expensive at £1,000. But, bearing in mind the mileage and age, this is still one of the cheapest cars overall that I have owned. On the market it is worth bugger all so I intend to keep it for several more years of happy motoring.

Rover 75 1948 6 light 1950

Year of make is 1948 and I have also had a 1949 4 light. They don’t get any better. The real Rover 75.

Rover 75 connisour 2005

I bought this Rover diesel last year with 10,000 on the clock and it has been super. These cars are so underated, very comfortable and good looking. A wee bit different from the usual and very economical, it feels a lot faster and planted on the road than my diesel Mondeo that I had before, the auto gearbox is great. Shame they stopped making them.

Rover 75 Club SE Tourer 2002

Brilliant, brilliant car - best I’ve ever owned. Bought second-hand in 2005 with 30,000+ on the clock. It is just a superbly comfortable, economical (regularly returns 42-45 mpg in daily commuting) refined motor. I just wish they were still building them. My only non-service related bills have been a new (highly expensive) headlight unit, and a new starter motor at 116,000. Not sure what quality the Chinese produced copy - the Roewe - has got.

Rover 75 CDT Estate 2002

Having owned many hundreds of cars over the years (yes 100’s) the 75 diesel is one of only two cars I regret selling. 110% reliable, smooth to drive, not great on fuel but well equipped and rock steady on the road. I just love its looks and the wood cappings inside. Would I buy one again, yes, yes, yes. Oh and the other car I regret selling is a Mercedes 220se convertable 1963 model, pure bliss.

Rover City Rover metro knightsbridge 1994

Cheap as chips to run, 1994 model and still going. Nippy on corners and fits a small elephant in the boot.

Rover City Rover Saloon 2004

The Rover City is fast although a bit quirky. Cheap to buy, comfortable with my model (Style) having leather seats, it is comfortable and you are sat up high so you have good vision of the road especially what is needed with the road ahead. The Style has a full comprehensive electrics pack i.e., four electric windows, Sony stereo, front spots, variable speed on the delay wiper, alarm system (that is very loud) and much, much more! It is a very good-looking car. On the downside the suspension is a bit hard, however, this is well compensated with the car having lots of room for everything; the rear seats fold down giving lots of room for shopping. You can get a large load in easy and it is ideal for going car booting!

Rover Streetwise 105 SE 2004

Had our Streetwise for 5 years, haviing bought it "nearly new" from a car supermarket before the collapse of Rover. It has been the single most reliable car we have ever owned. Literally nothing has gone wrong with it; there have been no bills outside the usual wear and tear items like tyres. The 1.4 engine could do with a bit more pep on the motorway, but that’s not what it’s for. Excellent. Just wish we could buy another Rover!

Rover 75 2003

I have owned this 75 diesel automatic tourer from new and it has now done 70,000 miles. It is the most very comfortable car I have owned and driven BUT... the car has has its faults and as a consequence it has had the following new parts fitted:- ecu unit; cam and fuel sensors: numerous O ring to intercooler, and now, because of a starting problem, it will require a new lift pump and possibly a new fuel tank. This, I am told is a known fault. Last service also reported rear coil spring failure. My last car was a Ford Mondeo and all I did in ten years was service it and out in petrol. Would I swop it for my 75. NO. You pays your money you make your choice.

Rover 75 Club 2000 2004

I bought this car in August 2008, it was 4 years old. I had the tracking tested and it was out a bit; apart from this its been a real pleasure to own and drive; it really is a great car. Alright, i’ts not the fastest car on the block; but it is fast enough for me with a top speed of 137 mph. Have I driven at this speed? Well no, but the day I bought it i did open it up to 100 mph; it was the same as doing 60 mph; a great car for motorway cruising and I love it.

Rover 75 Contemporary SE Diesel Tourer 2005

I purchased the Tourer with 24K miles, the third I have owned and this one has been exceptional. High comfort levels mean you complete long journeys without body discomfort and a general feeling of well being due to the surroundings you are cosseted in. A trip to Northumberland last week end returned 49mpg at 60+ average. Like Alan Brown I have owned other prestige makes but this model really is underrated and you certainly stand out from the crowd more and more. If you can find a good one go for it as they do keep on going; as proved by a friends I was travelling in recently which has just topped 200k miles, but he did admit he has had to replace a master cylinder recently! Happy Rovering!

Rover 75 1.8t club se estate 2005

Hi, I own a rover 1.8t club se estate and can honestly say I am greatly impressed with it. It drives effortlessly with a high standard of finish, I have owned Mercs and BMWs but this just feels so nice to drive, it feels like you are driving a piece of England, and the power they squeeze out of that 1.8 turbo is amazing. Combine this with over 40 mpg and you start to get the picture this is a seriously underrated car with a great build quality,also something different that gives it great curb appeal.