The Rover 45 replaced the Honda Civic-based 400 in 1999, but it was far from an all-new model. The headlights, front grille and bumpers were revised, but much of the bodywork remained the same, although the engines and interior were revamped. Two models were launched, this four-door saloon and a more practical, family-friendly five-door hatch. The petrol engines have always enjoyed a good reputation for refinement and performance, and the gearboxes are good, too. Although Rover steadily improved the 45’s ride and handling during its six-year life, it’s fair to say the car was never at the forefront of the class.
The sense of feel and driver involvement never matched that of the much more enjoyable Ford Focus. The 2.0-litre KV6 engine was well received and worked well when mated to the Steptronic CVT automatic gearbox, but whether such a small car merited such a large engine is debatable and awesome!
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