PLEASANT - that's the word that best describes the Rover 25.

It's not an outstanding car, not a great car, but most assuredly a very pleasant one.

Rover describes its little family hatchback as the "largest small-car in the sector", which it isn't, because it doesn't really fit into the supermini bracket and neither is it up to Ford Focus dimensions.

In short, the 25 is in a class all of its own.

The original wedge-shaped Rover 200s of 1984 have morphed into a very capable, very refined three and five-door range, offering a choice of four petrol engines and one diesel, all of them solid performers, and reasonably fleet-footed, too.

The 25 is the plush partner in the MG Rover stable, whereas the ZR is the sharper, sportier version.

This is exactly the kind of car you'd be happy with as a retirement buy, or if your back-seat needs are not so great.

The car's instruments and front air vents are incorporated in neat, stylish hoods, although some motoring pundits have hit out at the simple, fairly sparse layout as being dated.

But not everyone wants to be blinded by cabin science, or be confronted by something that was conceived after a visit to Blackpool Illuminations.

Indeed, the 25's sales success must, in part, be rooted in drivers who shun the push-button, bells-and-whistles approach.

There's also the faithful who will opt for the Rover simply because it's a Rover, a name to be reckoned with when it comes to Britain's motoring heritage - even if the company has changed hands a fair bit.

The test car, finished in a rich tempest grey metallic, was the five-door 1.4-litre petrol Si, which has a basic price of £11,045.

The paint job added an extra £325 and then there was a set of 15-inch Turbine alloy wheels at £450, front fog lights at £185, rear parking sensors costing £265, and a surprising £175 for the addition of a passenger airbag.

That little lot tots up to £1,400 exactly, but astute buyers will easily haggle most of that down with the salesman.

Those options might make it sound as if the Rover 25 is lacking in original equipment, but it certainly isn't.

Anti-lock brakes with electronic force distribution are standard across the whole 25 range, and the Si also carries air conditioning, a CD tuner, an electric glass sunroof, remote central locking with "superlocks" on the front doors, electric door mirrors, powered front windows, and a Trafficmaster jam-busting system.

Rover offers two versions of this particular engine, in 83bhp guise or the sampled 102bhp output tested here - and the latter will certainly go places in a hurry if needs be.

Good gear changes help bring out the best in the smooth 1.4-litre unit, which has a top speed of 112mph, and a nought-to-60mph sprint time of 10.2 seconds.

Mpg is an acceptable 51.1 for the country cycle, with the economy superstar of the 25 range being the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel version, which boasts an impressive 68.9mpg on the same cycle.

Body control is good over the bumps we're so accustomed to in Britain, with the suspension taking rough roads well and smooth roads even better.

The driver gets decent seat adjustment, so it's a case of settling back to enjoy a very pleasant ride.