The Rover brand – not to be confused with Land Rover – had a long and interesting history. The marque was discontinued in April of 2005, but many of its models are still regarded as some of Europe’s most distinctive products. That holds especially true for the Rover 75, a stately sedan that had a vintage design and technologies borrowed from BMW.
The D-segment, a fiercely competitive arena in the late 1990s, saw the Rover 75 venture into uncharted territory with its throwback design. While it had decent engines and advanced technologies, potential buyers often assumed it was hopelessly outclassed by its rivals. This perception, perhaps fueled by external factors like BMW’s publicized criticism and financial challenges, resulted in a situation where the Rover 75 faced an uphill battle for recognition.