Rover 45 statistics

• Licensed in Great Britain 1,188 −20.3% on a year earlier
• Declared SORN 3,315 Off the road, not taxed
• MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 58.6% Cars of the same ages 60.9%
• Rank by number licensed No. 655 of 1,159 models we cover
• Peak year 2005 70,410 licensed
• Average annual mileage 3,037 miles a year

How many Rover 45s are left in Great Britain?

There were 1,188 Rover 45s licensed in Great Britain at the end of March 2026, and a further 3,315 declared off the road (SORN). That is 98.3% fewer than the peak of 70,410 in 2005.

Rover 45 MOT reliability

In 2025, 58.6% of Rover 45 MOT tests were passed first time, against 72.8% for all cars. Cars of the same ages as the Rover 45s tested pass 60.9% of the time, so the Rover 45 does worse than average for its age, by 2.3 points. In 2024 its pass rate was 55.9%.

Rover 45 MOT failures

Suspension is the most common reason a Rover 45 fails its MOT, appearing on 37.2% of failed tests. A failed test can have defects in more than one category, so shares add up to more than 100%. 8.4% of Rover 45 tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 7.3% for all cars.

Most common Rover 45 MOT defects and advisories

The single most common reason a Rover 45 failed its MOT in 2025 was “Component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength”, on 21.5% of 629 failed tests. 67.1% of tests ended with at least one advisory, a problem to watch that did not fail the test; the most common was “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge”. The same fault on any wheel or side counts once.

Rover 45 engine sizes and fuel types

Of the 1,273 Rover 45s licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, 31.6% have an engine of 1,301cc to 1,400cc, and 30.4% have an engine of 1,501cc to 1,600cc. Petrols made up 81.2% of those licensed in 2014 and 86.3% in 2025.

United Kingdom figures from DfT table VEH0220 (licensed cars at the end of each year, SORN excluded), so they differ slightly from the Great Britain counts elsewhere on this page. How we use engine sizes.

Rover 45 fuel economy and CO2

The Vehicle Certification Agency’s new car data lists the Rover 45 from 2000, when the data begins, to 2006. On the NEDC test (listings 2000 to 2006), official combined fuel economy for its petrol and diesel versions ranges from 28.7 to 52.7 mpg, with CO2 of 150 to 234 g/km.

Source:VCA July 2000 to 15 September 2026 Updated 15 Sept 2026

• Official figures from laboratory type-approval tests. VCA says they may not be achieved in real-world driving, and should not be used to rank cars with similar figures.
• Engine sizes are rounded to the nearest 0.1 litre. A version is one line in VCA’s data (description, gearbox, engine and fuel), counted once however many years it was listed. Matched from VCA’s model name “Rover 45”. How we use VCA’s figures.

Rover 45 safety recalls

We found no recalls for the Rover 45 in DVSA’s records since 1992. That does not mean none apply: DVSA sometimes records a recall under a range or chassis name we cannot match to a model. Check a specific car on GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check.

A recall applies to cars built on particular dates or with particular VINs, not to every Rover 45. The details come from manufacturers through DVSA, which says they may be delayed or incomplete. To check a specific car, use GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check or ask the manufacturer or a dealer. How we match recalls to models.

Compare the Rover 45 with other Rover models