Chunky and funky is the image that MG Rover wanted to give their latest derivative of the 25 hatchback, stretching its buyer base and life just a little more.

The niche they’re targeting is the sports activity vehicle (SAV) one, the most visible vehicle in it being the Ford Fusion.

The buyers here are supposed to be 25-35 looking for a car with ‘street presence’ that complements their modern active lifestyle.

In the Streetwise, butch raw plastic is the image, ‘move over on my street’ looks that distract from the fact that the car is essentially much the same as the 25 on which it is dressed.

The aggressive look desired by the designers has been accentuated by raising the car on its suspension.

Silver-theme bumper inserts front and rear are shaped to suggest the kind of metal protectors you get for serious off-roading in a real SUV.

There’s a new Rover badge, too, a rather less fussy derivative of the original Viking motif.

The entry-level car has 15” steel wheels, while upper-spec version sport 16” alloys. And even 17” ones are possible.

Inside, the traditional Rover timbering is out, replaced by silver-themed accents. Sports seats are standard for all four occupants (a fifth rear seat is an extra, and you then lose a console effort that comes with the rear pair).

The instrumentation is in style straight 25, clear and simple, but for Streetwise it gets a funky blue look.

Electric windows come with higher-spec cars.

The car comes in 3- and 5-door body styles, and with E or S trim. There are three engines so far, a pair of 1.4-litre K series Rover engines of some 80bhp and 100bhp respectively, and a 98bhp 2-litre turbodiesel.

All Streetwise versions come with a sophisticated security system, which has been rated at the highest level in the stringent ‘Thatcham’ testing.

There are a range of extras available, most of them lifestyle-oriented. Roof-boxes and cycle-carriers are among the possibilities, as is a DVD player (presumably for the back-seat occupants only).

The entry car has a radio/cassette ICE unit, while S spec cars get CD players and there’s even an option of MP3-play capability.

On the road, the basic engine is surprisingly sprightly, given the weight of the car (the 25 has always felt tough, one of its better features). The paperwork says 0-100 km/h figures of 10.6-12.7 seconds are possible, the fastest being the diesel. That last engine also offers fuel consumption of up to 58.1mpg.

In a fairly short initial experience, the Streetwise felt very capable on country roads, main and side, its wide stance and slightly firm suspension and the newly-styled steering wheel all working to give a decent experience.

Small first gripe: the height-only adjustment on the wheel isn’t enough for some drivers. Because of the driving position, fore-aft is required to suit particularly the taller owner.

Pricewise, Streetwise isn’t actually cheap, ranging from €16,700-€24,225.

But with some slick advertising already targeting the lifestylers, the Streetwise is an extra oar in the Viking longship, and without the company having had to spend much on the basic car, any incremental sales will probably be much more profitable than the volumes themselves might suggest.