Rover Model History

United Kingdom · founded 1878

British marque (1878–2005) — bicycle pioneer turned maker of refined middle-class saloons, from the P-series and SD1 to the retro Rover 75, ended by MG Rover's 2005 collapse.

Models

P4

The dignified 'Auntie' Rover — a mid-size luxury saloon that defined the marque's reputation through the 1950s.

Luxury saloon · 1949–1964
P5

Rover's stately 3-Litre saloon and coupé — the V8 P5B was the car of choice for British Prime Ministers and the Queen.

Luxury saloon · 1958–1973
P6

The advanced Rover 2000 — the very first European Car of the Year, with a base-unit chassis and the 3500 V8.

Executive saloon · 1963–1977
Rover 8

Rover's very first car (1904) — a single-cylinder light car designed by Edmund Lewis that launched the marque.

Veteran car · 1904–1912
SD1

The Ferrari-Daytona-inspired fastback Rover 3500 — European Car of the Year for 1977 and home of the hot Vitesse.

Executive hatchback · 1976–1986
800

Rover's flagship executive car, co-developed with Honda (sister to the Legend) and sold in the US as the Sterling.

Executive car · 1986–1999
200

Rover's compact family car — from Honda Ballade clone to a genuinely well-regarded British hatchback before becoming the Rover 25.

Compact car · 1984–1999
400

The slightly larger saloon/hatchback sibling of the 200, Honda-related, later renamed the Rover 45.

Compact car · 1990–1999
600

An elegant mid-size saloon based on the Honda Accord — the last and most successful of the Rover-Honda cars.

Compact executive car · 1993–1999
Metro

The Mini's intended successor — launched as the Austin Metro, rebadged Rover, and reborn as the Rover 100.

Supermini · 1980–1998
75

Rover's acclaimed retro-styled executive saloon — the last all-new Rover, offered late on with a 4.6-litre Ford V8.

Executive car · 1998–2005
25

MG Rover's small hatchback — a renamed third-generation Rover 200, built at Longbridge until the 2005 collapse.

Supermini · 1999–2005
45

MG Rover's compact saloon and hatchback — a renamed Rover 400, twinned with the MG ZS, to 2005.

Compact car · 1999–2005
Streetwise

A rugged-styled Rover 25 with raised ride height and body cladding — marketed as 'urban on-roader' crossover styling.

Supermini · 2003–2005
CityRover

A rebadged Tata Indica imported from India — MG Rover's troubled budget city car, criticised on price and quality.

City car · 2003–2005

Other makes