Rover 600 Review: Generations and Best Versions to Buy
Overview of the Rover 600 sedan (1993–1999): its single generation, 105–200 hp engine range, and which of the 9 modifications makes the best used buy.
The Rover 600 is a front-wheel-drive sedan produced from 1993 to 1999 in a single generation, with outputs spanning 105 to 200 hp across 9 modifications. It suits buyers looking for a classic 1990s four-door with a choice between economical diesel power and a genuinely quick 200-hp petrol flagship, all with manual or automatic transmissions.
Rover 600 generations
1 generation (1993–1999)
The first and only generation of the Rover 600 was built from 1993 to 1999 exclusively as a sedan with front-wheel drive. Power ranges from 105 hp to 200 hp, and buyers could choose between manual and automatic gearboxes across 9 modifications. The 2.0 MT (131 hp) with a 1997 cc engine was the mass-market choice, accelerating to 100 km/h in 10.2 seconds. At the top of the range sits the 2.0 MT (200 hp): despite the same displacement class (1994 cc), it reaches 100 km/h in just 7.5 seconds — the quickest Rover 600 ever offered. The lineup also included a 2.0 MT diesel with 105 hp (1994 cc) and a 115-hp petrol version with a rated consumption of 8.1 l/100 km.
Which Rover 600 to buy
- 2.0 MT (131 hp) (1 generation): the mass-market version with a solid balance — 131 hp and 0–100 km/h in 10.2 seconds.
- 2.0 MT (200 hp) (1 generation): the performance pick, 200 hp and 7.5 seconds to 100 km/h, the fastest of all 9 modifications.
- 2.0 MT (115 hp) (1 generation): the economical choice with a stated 8.1 l/100 km and a 1997 cc engine.
- 2.0 MT (105 hp) (1 generation): the diesel option with 105 hp from 1994 cc, reaching 100 km/h in 11.6 seconds.
Every Rover 600 on the used market today dates from 1993–1999, so age varies little between examples; with only one generation and a single sedan body, the choice comes down to engine and gearbox rather than model year. The simple front-wheel-drive layout shared by all versions keeps the mechanical picture consistent across the range.
Which Rover 600 to avoid
The 2.0 MT (105 hp) petrol-alternative logic does not apply here, but the numbers do show one dominated pairing: among the petrol 2.0 manuals, the 115-hp version (10.8 seconds to 100 km/h, 1997 cc) is quicker than the 105-hp diesel (11.6 seconds, 1994 cc), though the diesel remains the distinct fuel-type choice rather than a strictly worse one. Within the same 1997 cc petrol family, the 131-hp car outperforms the 115-hp car in acceleration (10.2 versus 10.8 seconds), so choose the 115-hp version only when its documented 8.1 l/100 km consumption is the priority.