AROnline
  • Home
    • Go to random page
  • Cars
    • Austin/Morris
      • Morris Minor
      • Austin A30/A35/A40
      • Austin FX4/FL2 Black cab
      • BMC 1100/1300
      • BMC 1800/2200
      • Austin 3 Litre
      • Austin Maxi
      • Austin Kimberley/Tasman (X6)
      • Austin Apache
      • Morris Marina
      • Leyland Sherpa
      • Leyland P76/P82
      • Austin Allegro
      • Austin-Morris Princess
      • Morris Ital
      • Austin Metro
      • Austin Ambassador
      • Austin Maestro
      • Austin Montego
    • Rover
      • Rover P5
      • Rover P6
      • Rover SD1
      • Rover 200 (SD3)
      • Rover 800 (XX/R17)
      • Rover 200/400 (R8)
      • Rover Metro/100 (R6)
      • Rover 600 (SK1)
      • Rover 200/25 (R3)
      • Rover 400/45 (HHR)
      • Rover 75 (R40)
      • Rover Streetwise
      • CityRover (RD10)
    • Jaguar
      • Mk2/S-type/420
      • MkX/420G
      • E-type
      • XJ6/XJ12 (XJ4)
      • XJ-S
      • XJ (XJ40)
      • XJ (X300/X308)
      • S-TYPE (X200)
      • X-TYPE (X400)
      • XJ (X350)
      • XK (X150)
      • XF (X250)
      • XJ (X351)
      • XF (X260)
      • F-Type (X152)
      • XE (X760)
      • F-Pace (X761)
      • i-Pace
    • Land Rover
      • Defender
      • Range Rover (Classic)
      • Discovery
      • Range Rover (P38A)
      • Freelander
      • Range Rover (L322)
      • Evoque
      • Range Rover (L405)
      • Range Rover Sport
      • Discovery Sport (L550)
      • Discovery 5
      • Range Rover Velar (L560)
    • MG
      • Midget
      • MGB/MGC
      • Austin/MG Metro (LC8)
      • Austin/MG Maestro (LC10)
      • MGF/TF
      • ZR
      • ZS
      • ZT
      • XPower SV
      • MG6
      • MG3
      • MG GS
    • Mini
      • Mini (ADO15)
      • Mini Cooper
      • Mini Clubman
      • MINI (R50/R56)
      • MINI (F56)
      • Countryman/Paceman
    • Triumph
      • Triumph Herald/Vitesse
      • Triumph Spitfire
      • 2000/2500
      • Triumph 1300/Toledo/Dolomite
      • TR6
      • Triumph Stag
      • Triumph TR7/TR8
      • Triumph Acclaim
    • Ford
      • Consul/Zephyr/Zodiac
      • Cortina
      • Escort
      • Capri
      • Ford Granada (1972-1985)
      • Fiesta
      • Sierra
      • Mondeo
    • Vauxhall
      • Viva
      • Victor
      • Chevette
      • Cavalier
      • Astra
    • Rootes/Chrysler/Talbot
      • Hillman Imp
      • Hillman Hunter
      • Hillman Avenger
      • Simca 1000
      • Simca 1100
      • Chrysler 160/180/2-litre (C Car)
      • Chrysler Alpine/Talbot Solara
      • Chrysler Sunbeam
      • Chrysler Horizon
      • Matra Bagheera/Murena
      • Talbot Tagora
      • Talbot Samba
    • TVR
      • M-Series
      • TVR Tasmin
      • Griffith
    • ‘Other cars’
      • AC 3000ME
      • Alfa Romeo Alfasud
      • Argyll Turbo GT
      • Bond Equipe
      • DeLorean DMC-12
      • Enfield 8000 Electric
      • Lotus Esprit M70/X180
      • Matra-Simca Rancho
      • Midas
      • Nissan Qashqai
      • Reliant Scimitar
      • Sinclair C5
      • Trident Clipper
  • Reviews & Drives
    • Car Reviews
    • Drive Stories
    • Our Cars
      • Mike’s Rover 400
      • Mike’s Rover 416GSi
      • Mike’s Montego
      • Mike’s Rover 75
      • Mike’s Rover 214SLi
      • Mike’s 214GSi
      • Alexander’s Citroën XM
      • Alexander’s Rover 800
      • Keith’s Range Rover P38
      • Keith’s Freelander
      • Keith’s Rover 75
      • Keith’s Citroen Xantia Activa
      • Keith’s Citroen C6
      • Keith’s Polish Rover SD1
      • Keith’s Rover SD1 Vitesse
      • Keith’s Renault Avantime
    • Staples2Naples 2004
    • Staples2Naples 2005
    • Czech Wrecks 2008
    • RatRod 2011
  • News
    • All News
      • Jaguar Land Rover
      • MG Motor UK
      • MINI
    • All Events
    • MGR@10 Month
    • Rover SD1@ 40 Special
    • Geneva Motor Show
    • Archive
  • Opinion
    • Opinion
    • Your Cars
    • Best of AROnline
    • Videos
  • Facts & Figures
    • Mechanical marvels
      • Commercials
      • Buses
      • The bus section
      • Rail Projects
    • History Files
      • British Leyland – The Grand Illusion
      • British Motor Holdings – the joining of BMC and Jaguar
      • Evolution of the AR logo
      • The Road to Perdition
      • The Whole Story
      • Road vs Rail
      • Urban myths and old wives’ tales
      • Interviews and personalities
      • Production figures
      • Development codes
      • Project Drive
    • The converters
      • Avon Coachworks
      • Chris Humberstone
      • Crayford
      • Lynx Engineering
      • Mumford
      • Panther
      • Paul Banham Conversions
      • Rapport International
      • Startins/MacNeille
      • Tickford
      • William Towns
      • Wood & Pickett
      • Woodall Nicholson
    • Concepts & Prototypes
      • BMC, BL and ARG Concepts
      • Ford concepts
      • Jaguar concepts
      • Land Rover concepts
      • MG concepts
      • MINI concepts
      • Rover concepts
      • Sports car concepts
      • Supermini concepts
      • Vauxhall concepts
    • AROnline Overseas
      • Around the World
      • Also known as
      • Carrozzeria designs
      • Connections
    • People
      • Alec Issigonis
      • Spen King
      • George Turnbull
    • Galleries
      • In production
      • Museums
    • Resources
      • Buying Guides
      • BMC, Leyland and Rover engines
      • Press photos
    • The Ryder Report
  • Marques
    • Austin
    • Authi
    • Hillman
    • Hindustan Motors
    • Innocenti
    • Jaguar
    • Land Rover
    • MG
    • Morris
    • Riley
    • Rover
    • Standard
    • Standard Motor Products
    • Sterling
    • Triumph
    • Vanden Plas
    • Wolseley
  • Timeline

Rover 200 (SD3)

rover-200-sd3-review

Following on from the highly successful Triumph Acclaim, Austin Rover decided that its next joint venture with Honda should wear the Viking longship. For most people, this was a culture shock, considering that the Rover name had traditionally been the preserve of large cars.

So when the Honda Ballade-based 213 hit the market in 1984, the dealers and marketing people had quite some work to do. But it didn’t take long for the word to get out – here was a Rover that was reliable and efficient, with sweet-running Honda drivertrain, and within months of going on sale the 213 was mixing it in the UK top 10 sellers’ list.

The car was soon sold as a premium product within the Austin Rover line-up. The 200 range was extended in 1985 to include a locally-produced 1.6-litre S-Series engine, which was also available in fuel-injection form for the Vitesse version. 1987 saw the range lightly facelifted to include more equipment, a re-profiled boot lid, and uprated dashboard – subtle changes that really boosted sales.

In the end, the 200 would go on to out-sell the so-called volume-production Maestro and Montego, and setting its maker on a more upmarket course. All-round reliability was excellent, but the body suffered from horrendous rot all over, and as a consequence, not many are left now.


Reviews, blogs and news stories

Development story

The cars : Rover 213/216 development story

3 February 2018 Keith Adams 27

For some, the Rover 213/216 was a badge too far. But for others, this was a sensible new direction for the Austin Rover Group, and a lifesaver for the company. […]

Opinion

Essay : When the Quality Auditors met the Rover 200

7 May 2018 Keith Adams 6

Keith Adams shares the juiciest bits of an Austin Rover internal planning document that spills the beans on the Rover 200’s performance in one of the company’s regular internal quality […]

Austin Allegro (ADO67)

History : BMC, BL and Rover production figures

30 September 2017 Keith Adams 26

Ever wanted a full breakdown of BMC>MGR production figures, but didn’t know where to go? Fear not – AROnline has all the numbers you’ll ever need. […]

AROnline

eBay find of the Week : 22k Rover 216 Vitesse

24 March 2015 Craig Cheetham 14

Craig Cheetham If it weren’t for time, space and money, I’d have probably bought at least 50 cars already this year (I also say that every year, but hey). Irrespective of […]

2014 NEC Classic Motor Show

Best of British : Happy 30th to the Rover 200 series

4 December 2014 Mike Humble 18

Most of us know the Montego, along with the Leyland Roadrunner, celebrated a 30th birthday this year. Also, back in 1984, the Rover 200 was introduced – an important product […]

Opinion

Blog : Happiness is Rover SD3 shaped

12 October 2014 Keith Adams 28

Keith Adams As the relative hoopla surrounding the quarter century racked up by the Rover R8 (200/400) this week dies down, I feel that it’s down to me to restore […]

AROnline

News : Amazing SD3 unearthed…

18 August 2014 Craig Cheetham 12

Craig Cheetham Mind the cyclist, dear… because if you see this driving towards you, chances are you might take your eyes off the road for few moments… Cheshire Auto Promotions’ […]

Opinion

Blog : Raise a glass to… 30 years of the Rover 200

19 June 2014 David Morgan 32

David Morgan Yes, on 19 June 1984, Austin Rover Group unveiled the new generation Rover 200 Series, initially offered in 213 guise and four trim levels – and later to […]

The cars : Austin/MG Metro development history
AROnline News

News : Our most popular cars are Britain’s most endangered

14 May 2013 Keith Adams 44

The cars that form the backbone of AROnline are some of the fastest disappearing motors on British roads. New research into the top British family cars by Honest John Classics reveals that many of UK’s once-popular family cars are on the most endangered. […]

AROnline News

News : Unused 1988 Rover 213 sells for £5000

19 August 2012 Mike Humble 25

Original Story: John Coles – Sun on Sunday Rover’s little feel good saloon as we all know, was a massive success for the Austin Rover Group from 1984 through to […]

Hyacinth Bucket wannabes step this way...
AROnline News

For sale : SD3 with 12, yes 12 miles on the clock!

10 May 2012 Keith Adams 31

Keith Adams If you’re in the market to re-live a prime slice of 1980s motoring (or indeed 1990s BBC sitcoms), then this Rover 213S, which  has just popped up for […]

Rover

Unsung Heroes : Rover 213/216

20 December 2011 Mike Humble 83

One car that marked a milestone in the long and chequered history of BL Cars Ltd was the Rover 200 range of 1984. Another collaboration with Honda akin to the […]

Car of the Month

Car of the Month : March 2010

1 March 2010 Keith Adams 3

It seems like nice Rover 200s are really coming out of the woodwork now, with several having appeared in the space of a few short weeks, reassuring lovers of Hyacynth […]

  • Login
  • Register
  • Forgot

Have an account?

Register for this site!

Sign up now for the good stuff.

Lost Your Password?

Enter your username or email to reset your password.

AROnline on Facebook

In the Spotlight

I drove an electric car… and I liked it

by Keith Adams in Alternative power 26

Robert Leitch The whispers had gone beyond audibility, to a constant rumble of anticipation. My dear employers had purchased a fleet of electric cars, soon to be rolled out in a blaze of corporate publicity. Already charging [...]

Recent Comments

  • Paul on Opinion : Debunking the ‘unsafe’ Metro urban myth
  • Paul on Opinion : Debunking the ‘unsafe’ Metro urban myth
  • Nate on The cars : Panther Solo development story
  • Jonathan Carling on Opinion : Chrysler UK – an opportunity missed
  • Nate on Opinion : Chrysler UK – an opportunity missed
  • Mr Steve on Opinion : Debunking the ‘unsafe’ Metro urban myth
  • richardpd on Opinion : Chrysler UK – an opportunity missed
  • Craig Watson on Concepts and prototypes : Austin Ant prototype (1964-1968)
  • Craig Watson on Concepts and prototypes : Austin Ant prototype (1964-1968)
  • Craig Watson on Concepts and prototypes : Austin Ant prototype (1964-1968)

Archive (1959-2019)

AROnline © Keith Adams 2001-2019 - please refer to the 'Terms of use' pages.

Optimization WordPress Plugins & Solutions by W3 EDGE