Rover 75 2004 review

Over the past few weeks, several manufacturers have introduced diesel-powered models, no doubt for the same purpose.

The latest of these is Motor Group Australia (MGA), which offers a diesel version of its stylish and popular Rover 75 sedan.

The good news is that this is a BMW engine that offers a good combination of power and economy.

The Rover 75 CDti carries a $4000 surcharge over the base model, bringing the car's price to $53,990 before travel expenses.

But in addition to the diesel powerplant, it also comes with leather upholstery and a fully functional trip computer.

This makes the car an interesting proposition when you consider the fuel economy and extra durability offered by a diesel engine, making it an attractive long-term investment - maybe even a nice retirement gift?

The 2.0-liter four-cylinder DOHC turbocharged common rail diesel engine develops 96 kW of power and 300 Nm of torque at a low 1900 rpm.

The combination of low power and high torque characterizes the diesel engine.

Ignore the power rating for now, because we're more interested in high torque - torque is what gets cars off the ground quickly and makes it easier to work on the steepest hills.

In this case, 300 Nm is almost the same torque as a six-cylinder Commodore.

To get the same amount of torque from a gasoline engine, you have to upgrade to a much larger power plant, which in turn means the car will use more fuel.

However, the Rover consumes just 7.5 l/100 km of diesel fuel, which, combined with a 65-litre fuel tank, gives it a range of more than 800 km on a single tank.

It's food for thought, isn't it?

But it's not just about economy, because the car has to look good and drive well, otherwise no one will want to drive it.

Although the Rover is a little slow to respond to the gas pedal at times, it performs well here too.

It has strong acceleration at low to mid-range, but with the typical turbo power burst when the boost is turned on.

This can be difficult to handle in stop-and-go city traffic because if you're not careful, you'll be breathing down the back of the car in front of you.

The diesel is mated to a five-speed adaptive automatic transmission.

But it does require sequential shifting, which is something you take for granted in a car of this price and caliber.

Changes must be made accurately or you may find yourself in a gear jump.

Keeping it at level four is best for city driving.

Other than that, it's all good, with plenty of old-fashioned styling, beaded leather upholstery, light oak trim, dual-zone air conditioning, front, side and overhead airbags, and cruise control and audio buttons on the steering wheel.

However, it should be noted that both the audio system and the on-board computer displays are almost invisible behind polarized sunglasses.