CarCostCheck

ROVER 214 (1993)

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 183 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£2,087

£174/month

MOT Pass Rate

67%

Below Avg

Road Tax

£195

Based on CC/year

Insurance

Grp 8-20

1396cc Petrol

Proceed With Caution

67% pass rate, £2087/year to run. 15 points below average.

Buying this car? Check for finance, write-offs & theft
£4.99

Check a specific ROVER 214

Enter a reg plate for full MOT history, mileage check, health score, running costs, and reliability data. Free, instant, no signup.

GB

Free instant check using official DVSA and DVLA data

Petrol1396cc33 years old183 tests79k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1396cc)

~42 mpg

£1,137
Road Tax

Based on 1396cc

£195
MOT Test
£55
Predicted Repairs

Higher estimate due to low pass rate

£700
Total per year£2,087
Per month£174/mo
Per week£40/wk

Based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), current fuel prices, and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included.

🛡️

Get an insurance quote for this ROVER 214

Compare quotes and find the best deal

Reliability Verdict

67% MOT pass rate(Below Avg)
0%National avg: 82%100%

Below average reliability. Budget extra for maintenance and repairs. That's 15 points below the national average of 82%. It falls below the ROVER brand average of 74%.

At 33 years old, 67% of ROVER 214s from 1993 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 183 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 79,416 miles.

Got a ROVER 214 you're looking at?

Enter the reg plate to check its specific MOT history, mileage, and health score.

GB

Free instant check using official DVSA and DVLA data

How Does It Compare?

Rank among 1993 cars161th of 194(top 83%)
Rank among ROVER models135th of 153(top 88%)
vs national average-15%(82% avg)
vs 1993 cars average-9%(76% avg)
vs ROVER average-7%(74% avg)

Mileage Analysis

79,416

Average miles

vs

244,200

Expected for age

The average 1993 ROVER 214 has 79,416 miles on the clock, which is significantly below the expected 244,200 miles for a 33-year-old car. Low-mileage examples may have spent time sitting unused, so check for issues like corroded brakes or perished rubber seals.

Looking at a specific ROVER 214?

Enter its reg plate for a free check with full MOT history, mileage verification, and predicted costs.

GB

Free instant check using official DVSA and DVLA data

Best Year to Buy?

The most reliable year is the 1994 model with a 77% MOT pass rate, while the 1993 model has the lowest at 67%. Consider a different year if reliability is a priority.

ROVER 214 by Year

YearPass RateTestsAvg Mileage
199972%26360,699 mi
199872%33269,951 mi
199775%17354,915 mi
199669%13177,263 mi
199572%34180,241 mi
199477%19181,071 mi
199367%18379,416 mi
199277%15175,290 mi
199174%7872,799 mi
199084%37105,072 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

Check a Specific Rover 214

Enter a reg plate to get the full MOT history, health score, and mileage verification.

Upgrade to Premium (£4.99) for stolen, finance, and write-off checks.

GB

Free instant check using official DVSA and DVLA data

About the 1993 ROVER 214

The 1993 ROVER 214 is a small family car with a 1396cc petrol engine. 183 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it a rare model on UK roads. It sits in the bottom 83% of 1993 cars for MOT pass rates.

With an average of 79,416 miles at 33 years old, ROVER 214 owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver. Very low mileage could mean the car has been garaged or used only for short trips, which can cause its own issues like battery drain and moisture buildup.

1993 ROVER 214 Fuel Costs

The 1396cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 42 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,137 per year at current petrol prices of 142p per litre (based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 1993 ROVER 214?

Total estimated annual running cost is £2,087 174/month), broken down as £1137 fuel, £195 road tax, £55 MOT, and £700 predicted repairs. The higher repair estimate reflects the 67% MOT pass rate. Cars in this bracket tend to need work on suspension, brakes, and emissions components.

ROVER 214 Reliability Trend

The ROVER 214 has maintained consistent MOT pass rates across model years, varying by only 2 percentage points.

Buying a Used 1993 ROVER 214

At 33 years old, the ROVER 214 is firmly in budget territory. Purchase prices are low, but check for rust, worn suspension bushes, and electrical gremlins. A full service history is especially valuable at this age.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 1993 ROVER 214's fuel type, age, and engine size, these are the most likely problem areas to check.

Rust and Corrosion

Watch out

At 10+ years, check wheel arches, sills, subframe, and brake lines for rust. Structural corrosion is an MOT failure. Prevention is far cheaper than repair.

Suspension Bushings

Watch out

Rubber suspension bushes harden and crack with age, causing knocking noises and vague handling. A full refresh costs £300-£800 depending on the car.

Higher Than Average Failure Rate

Watch out

With a 67% MOT pass rate, this model fails more often than most. Budget for unexpected repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 1993 ROVER 214 stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

CarPass RateFuel/yrTax/yrInsuranceTotal/yr
ROVER 214(1993)67%£1137£195Grp 8-20£2087
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF(1991)80%£1327£135Grp 18-32£1867-£220
ROVER MINI(1993)74%£1137£30Grp 8-20£1722-£365
MAZDA MX-5(1995)74%£1327£135Grp 18-32£2017-£70
BMW 3 SERIES(1991)82%£1327£135Grp 18-32£1867-£220

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT data. Insurance groups are indicative. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Related Rover Models

Explore other Rover cars or similar models in the same category.

Related Guides

In-depth articles relevant to the Rover 214.

Check a specific ROVER 214

Enter the reg to see its MOT history, mileage check, and predicted costs.

GB

Free instant check using official DVSA and DVLA data

Premium History Check

Buying a ROVER 214? Our premium check covers:

  • Stolen check (PNC)
  • Outstanding finance
  • Write-off history (Cat A/B/N/S)
  • Previous owners count
Just £4.99 per check

Competitors charge £10-£20 for the same data

Share this page

X
GB