Rover 25 (2005)
2005 Rover 25
CarHunch analysed 5,045 real MOT records for the 2005 Rover 25. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2005 Rover 25 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.2%, which is 4.8 points below the UK average of 80%, signalling slightly below-average reliability for its age. Nearly one in five of these cars (19.1%) have recorded a dangerous defect during their MOT history, which is a meaningful concern for safety-conscious buyers—and diesel versions fare worse than petrol, with a 71.4% pass rate compared to 75.5%.
At a median mileage of 43,916 for a 19-year-old car, these examples are quite well-preserved, yet they still average 3.5 failures and 12.2 advisories per test, suggesting persistent wear issues rather than catastrophic problems. Before purchasing, insist on a full service history and a pre-buy inspection focusing on suspension, brakes, and electrical gremlins—common weak points on this generation.
What to check before buying a 2005 Rover 25
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Rover 25
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (93%) | 4,668 | 75.5% | 3.44 |
| Diesel (7%) | 373 | 71.4% | 4.24 |
| LPG (0%) | 4 | 73.4% | 4.25 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2005 Rover 25 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2005 Rover 25 vehicles fall between 32,801 and 56,205 miles.
2005 Rover 25 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 291 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (7% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2005 Rover 25
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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65.4%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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60.2%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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38.6%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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32.7%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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30.1%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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19.8%
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
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18.9%
Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively
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18.4%
Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2005. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Rover 25?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.