Rover Metro Overview: Generations, Specs and Which One to Buy
Overview of the Rover Metro cabrio (1987–1994): its single generation, 60–103 hp engine range, gearboxes, and which versions make the most sense to buy used.
The Rover Metro is a compact cabrio produced from 1987 to 1994, offered in a single generation with outputs from 60 to 103 hp. All versions are front-wheel drive, with either a manual gearbox or a CVT. It suits drivers who want a small, simple open-top car: the economical 1.1 for city use, or the 103 hp 1.4 for livelier driving.
Rover Metro generations
1 generation (1987–1994)
The only generation of the Rover Metro was built from 1987 to 1994 as a cabrio, with 7 modifications spanning 60 to 103 hp. All variants are front-wheel drive; buyers could choose between a manual gearbox and a CVT. The engine lineup covers a 1.1-litre unit (1119 cc, 60 hp) and 1.4-litre units (1396 cc, 75–103 hp). The most widespread version is the Rover Metro 1.4 CVT with 75 hp, which reaches 100 km/h in 11.1 seconds and consumes 6.8 l/100km. The top version is the Rover Metro 1.4 MT with 103 hp: 8.6 seconds to 100 km/h and 6.6 l/100km. At the economical end, the Rover Metro 1.1 MT with 60 hp uses just 6.1 l/100km, though acceleration takes 14.8 seconds.
Which Rover Metro to buy
- 1.4 CVT (1 generation): the mass-market choice with 75 hp and a two-pedal CVT — 11.1 seconds to 100 km/h with 6.8 l/100km.
- 1.4 MT (103 hp) (1 generation): the strongest version — 103 hp, 8.6 seconds to 100 km/h, and still only 6.6 l/100km, the best combination of pace and fuel use in the range.
- 1.1 MT (60 hp) (1 generation): the economy pick — 6.1 l/100km from the 1119 cc engine, at the cost of 14.8-second acceleration.
- 1.4 MT (75 hp) (1 generation): the manual counterpart to the CVT version — 75 hp from the 1396 cc engine and 12.1 seconds to 100 km/h.
Since every Rover Metro dates from 1987–1994, any used example is over three decades old, so the specific car's condition matters far more than the choice of version. The single-generation lineup keeps the search simple: all cars share the same body style and front-wheel-drive layout, differing mainly in engine and gearbox.
Which Rover Metro to avoid
The Rover Metro 1.4 MT (75 hp) is dominated on paper by the Rover Metro 1.4 MT (103 hp): the same 1396 cc engine and manual gearbox, but 28 hp less and 12.1 seconds to 100 km/h against 8.6. Unless a particular car stands out, the 103 hp version delivers strictly more from the same layout.