Rover Metro GTI Polycarbonate Windows

The Rover Metro GTi is one of those hot hatches that doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves. While cars like the Peugeot 205 GTI, Ford Fiesta XR2i, and VW Golf GTI were stealing the spotlight, the Metro GTi quietly became a surprisingly capable, lightweight performance car, offering plenty of thrills in a compact package.
By the time the Metro GTi arrived in 1990, the Metro itself had already been through a transformation. Originally launched as the Austin Mini Metro in 1980, it had started life as a practical city car designed to replace the Mini. But when Rover took over in the late 1980s, they gave the Metro a much-needed modernisation, improving the styling, handling, and most importantly, under the bonnet.
The Metro GTi came with Rover’s 1.4-litre 16-valve K-Series engine, producing 95 horsepower in the single-point injection version and 103 horsepower in the multipoint injection (MPI) model. In a car that weighed just over 870kg, this made for genuinely impressive performance. The GTi could hit 0-60 mph in around 8.5 seconds, putting it right in the mix with bigger-name hot hatches of the era. The lightweight chassis meant it felt lively and eager, especially in tight corners where it could outmaneuver heavier rivals with ease.
Handling was one of the Metro GTi’s strongest points. It featured Hydragas suspension, which might have seemed outdated at the time, but actually gave the car a unique balance of comfort and sharpness. The quick steering, short wheelbase, and lightweight body made it a joy to throw around twisty roads, delivering the kind of go-kart-like agility that reminded people of the original Mini.
Inside, the Metro GTi was simple but functional, with sporty bucket seats, red seat belts, and a driver-focused layout. It wasn’t the most luxurious hot hatch, but it had everything you needed, clear instrumentation, supportive seats, and a proper five-speed manual gearbox that encouraged spirited driving.
On the outside, the Metro GTi had all the classic hot hatch touches, subtle body skirts, alloy wheels, and GTi badging that hinted at its performance potential. It might not have looked as aggressive as some of its rivals, but that only added to its sleeper appeal.
Despite its fun-to-drive nature and solid performance, the Metro GTi never quite reached the same cult status as the Peugeot 205 GTI or Renault 5 GT Turbo. Part of this was down to Rover’s struggling reputation in the 1990s, and part of it was because the Metro was still seen by many as a small economy car rather than a serious hot hatch.
That being said, those who have driven a Metro GTi know how underrated it really is. It might not have been the most powerful hot hatch of its time, but it delivered pure driving fun, fantastic handling, and impressive performance for its size. Today, it’s a rare find, but those who own one appreciate it for what it is, a lightweight, rev-happy, and seriously entertaining little machine.
For anyone looking for a quirky, fun, and forgotten hot hatch from the 1990s, the Rover Metro GTi is an unsung hero that deserves far more attention than it gets.