Rover 75

The Rover 75 is a mid-sized V6-powered luxury sedan which spearheads the return of the Brit car company to Australia after a 10-year absence. The 75, which plans to compete with Euro staples like the 3-Series, C-Class and A4, has had a rather laboured birth in this country. Although available in Europe since June '99, it was first flagged here in March 2000, when BMW unveiled it at the Melbourne motor show.

BMW Australia subsequently dropped is plans to import the car and, in the UK, Rover was left to go it alone. After much wheeling and dealing it emerged from its own ashes under the aptly named Phoenix consortium. The new organisation is represented locally by MG Rover Australia, which distributes the two Brit brands via 11 dealers.

There are two models, the Club and the Connoisseur pictured here. Both are powered by an all-alloy, quad-cam 2.5-litre V6 mustering 130 kW at 6500 rpm and 240 Nm at 4000 rpm. Pricing starts at $51,950 for the Club with five-speed manual, while an extra $2000 buys the five-speed auto. The $60,500 Connoisseur is auto only, and both come with more standard features than we have space to list.

The 75 attracts attention, with some onlookers mistaking it for a Jag and others for a Hyundai Grandeur. We'd err towards Jag, although performance is definitely more Grandeur. The V6 is no great shakes below 3000 and doesn't gather its skirts until around 4500 rpm. The auto also proved frustratingly hesitant, even in Sport mode.

On the road the 75 wafts along with an air of luxury, its occupants well isolated from noise and vibration. The ride is plush, without being spongy, and there's just enough feedback through the wheel, but the car really doesn't encourage press-on driving.

BMW's ill-fated custodianship will be the subject of innuendo for years to come, but the Bavarian input has helped create a Rover of impressive quality and decent abilities.