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Rover 800 820 SI (XS) (133 Hp)
Overall Rating
Rover 800:
The Rover 800 series is an executive car range manufactured by the Austin Rover Group subsidiary of British Leyland, and its successor the Rover Group from 1986 to 1999. It was also marketed as the Sterling in the United States. Co-developed with Honda, the 800 was a close relative to the Honda/Acura Legend and the successor to the decade-old Rover SD1.
The first product of the BL-Honda alliance was the Triumph Acclaim – and shortly after its launch the two companies mapped out an advisable strategy for future collaborative projects. Plans for a midsize car were investigated, but were dropped because BL already had the Austin Maestro and Austin Montego in the final stages of development. However both BL and Honda had a pressing need for a full-size executive car in their lineups. BL had to start planning for a successor to the Rover SD1, whilst Honda was keen to expand its presence in the lucrative North American market – something which it couldn't fully do unless it had a full-size luxury saloon which would compete with similar large Japanese imports from Toyota and Datsun. Joint development of the car began in 1981 under the "XX" codename; the corresponding Honda version was known as the Honda Legend, and was codenamed as "HX". The development work was carried out at Rover's Cowley plant and Honda's Tochigi development centre. Both cars shared the same core structure and floorpan, but they each had their own unique exterior bodywork and interior. Under the agreement, Honda would supply the V6 petrol engine, both automatic and manual transmissions and the chassis design, whilst BL would provide the 4-cylinder petrol engine and much of the electrical systems....(Read more on Wikipedia)
800 Overview:
Rover 800 (800). A four-door car with a separate trunk, ideal for families and daily commuting. Seating for 0 makes it ideal for daily use.
The Rover 800 generation was produced before Euro NCAP testing began in 1997, and as such, no official Euro NCAP safety rating is available for this model.
820 SI (XS) (133 Hp) Verdict:
Performance Verdict
A noticeable improvement over the base model, offering a more balanced blend of power and refinement. Capable of highway speeds with ease.
Fuel Economy
Acceptable fuel economy for a 2.0L engine of its time, though spirited driving will impact consumption significantly.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Comfortable and spacious interior, especially for long journeys
- • Smooth and refined Honda V6 engine options
- • Distinctive, executive styling for its era
- • Good value on the used market
- • Strong performance from higher-end engines
Cons:
- • Variable reliability, particularly with Rover-developed engines and electrics
- • Some interior ergonomics felt dated even for its time
- • Significant depreciation from new
- • Fuel economy can be poor on larger engines
- • Rust can be an issue on older examples
Specifications:
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Rover |
| Model: | 800 |
| Generation: | 800 |
| Modification (Engine): | 820 SI (XS) (133 Hp) |
| Start of production: | 1988 |
| End of production: | 1991 |
| Powertrain Architecture: | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type: | Sedan |
| Engine: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 133 Hp |
| Engine Model/Code: | M16i |
| Engine aspiration: | Naturally aspirated engine |
| Engine oil capacity: | 4.5 l |
| Coolant: | 10 l |
| Performance: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type: | Petrol (Gasoline) |
Does the Rover 800 live up to the hype? Give us your verdict!