213 / 216 - Tests and Reports

Original Title: Letzte Rettung?
Autor: Wolfgang König
Fotos: Schmid

"What used to be called Triumph Acclaim and was a Honda Ballade is now called Rover. Because that sounds, as market researchers undoubtedly found out, even better. Since the Honda Ballade was due for a model change, the opportunity to change the name was good. The Honda alias Rover not only looks different from its predecessor, the Triumph brand, it also has a number of technical improvements to offer, all in keeping with its new upscale status."

"The Austin Rover engineers have refined the whole thing a little - especially with regard to the rather uncouth ride comfort of the Japanese original. The focus was on a more effective containment of the Honda's distinct noise and vibrations from the engine compartment, which was achieved by a modified structure of the body stem and modified engine mounts. The British were not entirely satisfied with the suspension either, and gave the Rover version a softer suspension tuning."

"The latest production methods and an army of robots are to make the company's inglorious past forgotten in terms of quality.“

"Seats, carpets and parts of the door trim were, as one proudly notes, created not only in production, but also in design on British soil. The top version, Vanden Plas, even had dry root wood strips attached to the doors on the inside - a rather grotesque gesture to the English car tradition here."

"The space available in the rear seats is rather limited, which requires a generous willingness to compromise on the part of the occupants when using the rover as a four-seater touring car. Light luggage is recommended, as the loading edge of the luggage rack is very high."

"But the fact that the Rover is not exactly one of the temperamental sedans of the lower middle class is also due to the engine. The acceleration seems tough, the power development beyond 4500 rpm breathless, and the gear ratios in the gears seem rather too long in view of the lean power reserves."

"The new edition of the Acclaim should therefore not fall on fertile ground, at least in this country - not even when the prestigious name Rover is used for it."

Original Title: Zwei temperamentvolle Engländer
Autor: 'Wy'

"In the case of the Rover, which is now supplemented by the more powerful Model 216, however, the domestic English share is up to a respectable 83%, for some versions up to 88%. While, for example, the entire drive block of the 213 (1342 ccm), like other parts, is also shipped from Japan, the 1.6-liter engine of the new 216 comes from our own production, and for the 216 Vanden Plas EFi Automatic the gear factory Friedrichshafen figures as the supplier for the four-speed automatic.“

"With the more powerful engine, the 'small' Rover - not available in Switzerland - develops more and more into an independent type, although the relationship to the corresponding Honda model remains.“

"The Austin Rover Group successfully covers the existing gaps in the mid-brand segment with interesting new developments".

Note: The second vehicle described in more detail in this article is the MG Montego. The Rover 200 series was not available in Switzerland at the time of this writing.