Rover hoped that by changing the name of the 400 to 45 and freshening up the styling it would shake off the rather lacklustre image of the range. But like many of Rover's cunning plans it didn't work and the Rover 45 became another nail in the company's financial coffin.
But now, nearly seven years after its introduction and with the benefit of hindsight, perhaps it's time to reassess the Rover 45. Second-hand values are certainly tempting: you'll pay around £1,000 less for a used 45 than a Ford or Vauxhall of the equivalent age and specification.
There are plenty to choose from, and despite Rover dealers having ceased trading when the factory shut down there are still numerous dealers happy to sell and service them.
Available as both a five-door hatchback and four-door saloon, it was the hatchback that was the bigger seller when new, although both variants offer generous-sized boots and split-folding rear seats. Confusingly, Rover originally offered the variants with different trim levels, the saloon sharing the Classic, Club and Connoisseur badges common to the larger Rover 75 model, while the hatchback made do with more humble E, L, S, XS and XL badges.
This peculiarity makes comparing hatchback and saloon models rather tricky but as a rule of thumb steer clear of base models with no air-conditioning or metallic paint and look for cars with alloys and walnut trim.
All models come with front and side airbags plus an alarm and immobiliser operated by the remote central locking and a height-adjustable steering column.
There is also a broad range of engines. Petrol power comes courtesy of a 101bhp 1.4 litre, a 107bhp 1.6 and 115bhp 1.8 for the hatchback, with the saloon offering the latter two. The saloon also came with a smooth but somewhat juicy 2 litre 148bhp V6. In addition there is a 2 litre turbodiesel for both variants. It originally produced 99bhp but from December 2002 was also offered as a 111bhp version.
If possible pick up this more powerful diesel - second-hand it commands only around £150 more but when heavily laden that extra power is most welcome.
On the road the Rover 45 is unlikely to make your pulse race no matter which engine you select. The power steering is a little too light and the softish suspension results in a fair bit of body roll. However, at no more than the national speed limit the cabin is quiet, the seats comfortable and the visibility good.
Cabin space is more on a par with a Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus than the VW Passat and Ford Mondeo that Rover initially hoped to compete with. Head and legroom are good in the front but a tad tight in the rear for a 6ft adult.
Rover's reputation for reliability suffered badly in its last few years, the cooling and head gasket problems associated with the 1.4 litre K-series engines causing most of it, but the reality is that these final Rover 45 models were pretty well put together. Regular servicing and average annual mileage should see a used example provide many years of relatively trouble-free, if not particularly exciting, motoring.
Air-conditioning Standard on all but the most basic models, it can be set to blow warm air to the feet and cool air to the face
Engine Check coolant levels regularly on the four-cylinder K-series engines as leaks can quickly result in a blown head gasket
Safety No Euro NCAP safety tests were carried out on the Rover 45 but front and side airbags are standard, together with antilock brakes
Electrics Check all the switchgear carefully as replacements can be expensive
Interior The styling and dashboard switchgear now look dated and the build quality is not the highest but the dials and controls are easy to read and use. Walnut wood is a classy touch, but check the panel fit, which can be patchy on some examples
Colours Steer clear of non-metallic finishes. Metallic British racing green looks smart but marks easily
Boot At 379 litres on hatchback models, it is larger than that offered on a Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf of the same year
VITAL STATISTICS
Model Rover 45 2.0 TD iXL five-door
Engine 1994cc, four-cylinder turbodiesel
Power 111bhp
Transmission Five-speed manual
Fuel 50.5mpg (combined cycle)
Acceleration 0-60mph: 9.8sec
Top speed 118mph
THE ONE TO BUY
Rover 45 2.0 TD iXL hatchback 2002 52-registration with 30,000 miles. Pay £4,475 at a dealer or £3,850 privately
OR, FOR THE SAME MONEY...
2001 Y Peugeot 307 1.4HDi LX
2001 51 Vauxhall Astra 1.7 DTi Club
2002 52 Ford Focus 1.8 TDi CL
2002 52 Citroën Xsara Picasso 2.0 HDi
2002 52 Renault Mégane 1.9dCi
VALUES