Category: City Cars 
Price Range: No data available
Cheap, roomy, lively engine, your chance to support a struggling British company.
Citroen C2, Skoda Fabia, Fiat Panda... even the aged Ford Ka and Rover's own 25 are much nicer to drive, and feel more modern. And it's not even that cheap once you start adding essential "options" like power steering and ABS brakes.
MG Rover desperately needs a new small car. But not this one.
The CityRover hasn't been through the Euro NCAP crash testing programme, and it's unlikely to do so. It meets minimum EU standards for safety, of course, but it just feels too low-tech, lightweight and old-fashioned to offer the same kind of protection as, say, the new C2 or C3, the latest Fiesta or the solidly-built Skoda Fabia. And in an era when many other small cars come with front, side, head and even 'curtain' airbags (albeit at a price) the CityRover has just one airbag, the driver's, as standard. A passenger bag is a £150 option (fitted as standard on top-spec Style versions). ABS anti-lock brakes - an absolute safety essential - also only come with Style spec, being a £300 option on the other versions. There is no centre three-point seatbelt in the rear, and nothing clever such as 'active' head restraints, seat belt pretensioners or the like, nor electronic brakeforce distribution or brake assist. You do at least get an alarm and immobiliser, and some sort of "anti-theft shielding" of the door locks, for security.
