MG Rover Streetwise

What do you get if you send a Rover 25 on a bodybuilding course? Answer: the Streetwise - one of the wackiest British-built models since the wooden-clad Morris Traveller.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Darren Wilson

March 2004

What do you get if you send a Rover 25 on a bodybuilding course? Answer: the Streetwise - one of the wackiest British-built models since the wooden-clad Morris Traveller.
I must admit that before the Streetwise joined the Auto Express long-term fleet, Rovers weren't really my cup of tea. However, after a month with the newcomer, I'm rapidly becoming a convert. The car attracts plenty of attention, particularly from the younger generation, something I'm sure Rover will be delighted with. Most people tend to look twice when they see it, then check the grille badge to find out what make the vehicle is.
My wife Dawn has no interest in cars, but likes the chunky look of the Streetwise. However, as with most unusual designs, there is a downside. Motorists familiar with the more mature image of the Rover 25 tend to look at the Streetwise with disdain. One such driver was so amused when he caught sight of our car in his rear view mirror that he nearly crashed - but we had the last laugh as the Streetwise's anti-lock brakes kicked in and prevented a shunt. I can see the purists' point, though. To them, the Streetwise is like Richard Madeley dressing up as Ali G - but if Rover is to survive and prosper, its models need to appeal to all generations of car buyers.
A major attraction of our Streetwise is that it has been converted to run on liquid petroleum gas (LPG) - the work is a ΂£995 option. And as LPG-powered cars are exempt from Ken Livingstone's London congestion charge, this saves us ΂£25 a week. Using LPG has also slashed running costs. A full tank of gas costs around ΂£18 and gives 26mpg economy, while petrol returns 34mpg but costs more than ΂£30 for a tankful.
What are the disadvantages of LPG? Although the situation is improving daily, there's still a shortage of refuelling points in the UK. Fortunately, when the gas runs low, I can switch the car to run on petrol until I arrive at my local BP garage, which happens to supply the alternative fuel. So far, the worst feature of the conversion has been the LPG display, which consists of a four-light read-out. As the gas supply is used up, the lights go out until a solitary green one flashes, but it's impossible to gauge whether there is a quarter of a tank left or it's nearly empty. I wrongly assumed that the car would automatically switch to petrol as the last of the gas ran out, but was shocked when I accelerated away from a roundabout and felt the power failing and the car juddering.
There is only one button on the central console that allows the driver to switch between the Rover's two fuel supplies, and I had to press it to allow the petrol to kick back in. Not ideal.
What's more, the LPG tank fits snugly into the spare wheel compartment underneath the boot floor, and as a result the wheel takes up most of the Rover's already limited luggage space. I did consider removing the spare - after all, plenty of new cars don't have one as standard these days - but decided against it. This proved to be a sensible move, because three days later a front tyre was punctured when the car clipped one of those unusually high new kerbstones that seem to be springing up all over central London.
Nevertheless, my early impressions of the Streetwise have been positive and encouraging. I love the car's unusual styling and, with the money I'm saving by not having to pay Mayor Ken's congestion charge, I feel even better when driving it.