The original Rover 200 (sometimes referred to by the codename SD3) was the replacement for the earlier Triumph Acclaim, and was the second product of the alliance between British Leyland (BL) and Honda.
 Only available as a four-door saloon, the 200 series was intended to be more upmarket than the company's Maestro and Montego models, which the 200 Series came in between in terms of size.

Essentially, the 200 series was a British built Honda Ballade, the original design of which had been collaborated upon by both companies.
Engines employed were either the Honda Civic derived E series 'EV2' 71 PS (52 kW; 70 bhp) 1.3 litre 12 valve engine, or BL's own S-Series engine in 1.6 litre format (both in 86 PS (63 kW; 85 bhp) carburettor and 103 PS (76 kW; 102 bhp) Lucas EFi form).
The resulting cars were badged as either "Rover 213" or "Rover 216".

The 213 used either a Honda five-speed manual gearbox or a Honda three-speed automatic transmission.
The British engined 216 also employed a Honda five-speed manual gearbox, unlike the S-Series engine when fitted in the Maestro and Montego.
There was also the option of a German ZF four-speed automatic on some 216 models as well.

The Honda badged version was the first Honda car to be built in the United Kingdom (the Honda equivalent of the 200 Series' predecessor, the Triumph Acclaim, was never sold in the UK).
Ballade bodyshells, and later complete cars, were made in the Longbridge plant alongside the Rover equivalent, with the Ballade models then going to Honda's new Swindon plant for quality control checks.

This original incarnation of the 200 series was only offered in saloon form.
It competed against the likes of the Ford Orion, Vauxhall Belmont, Volkswagen Jetta, Fiat Regata, Volvo 360 and even BMW's 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz 190.
Even as late as the 1980s, small family saloons were still popular in spite of the growing monopoly of hatchbacks in this sector.

This model of car is well known as Richard and Hyacinth Bucket's car in the BBC Television sitcom Keeping up Appearances (1990–1995).
Early episodes show a  light blue 1987 216S, but later episodes feature a 1989 216SE EFi model (re-badged for continuity as a 216S, and with the same numberplate).

Trim levels (as of July 1989) were:
X = Unavailable
✓ = Available
O = Optional
The original Rover 200 (sometimes referred to by the codename SD3) was the replacement for the earlier Triumph Acclaim, and was the second product of the alliance between British Leyland (BL) and Honda.  Only available as a four-door saloon, the 200 series was intended to be more upmarket than the company's Maestro and Montego models, which the 200 Series came in between in terms of size.
Essentially, the 200 series was a British built Honda Ballade, the original design of which had been collaborated upon by both companies. Engines employed were either the Honda Civic derived E series 'EV2' 71 PS (52 kW; 70 bhp) 1.3 litre 12 valve engine, or BL's own S-Series engine in 1.6 litre format (both in 86 PS (63 kW; 85 bhp) carburettor and 103 PS (76 kW; 102 bhp) Lucas EFi form). The resulting cars were badged as either "Rover 213" or "Rover 216".
The 213 used either a Honda five-speed manual gearbox or a Honda three-speed automatic transmission. The British engined 216 also employed a Honda five-speed manual gearbox, unlike the S-Series engine when fitted in the Maestro and Montego. There was also the option of a German ZF four-speed automatic on some 216 models as well.
The Honda badged version was the first Honda car to be built in the United Kingdom (the Honda equivalent of the 200 Series' predecessor, the Triumph Acclaim, was never sold in the UK). Ballade bodyshells, and later complete cars, were made in the Longbridge plant alongside the Rover equivalent, with the Ballade models then going to Honda's new Swindon plant for quality control checks.
This original incarnation of the 200 series was only offered in saloon form. It competed against the likes of the Ford Orion, Vauxhall Belmont, Volkswagen Jetta, Fiat Regata, Volvo 360 and even BMW's 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz 190. Even as late as the 1980s, small family saloons were still popular in spite of the growing monopoly of hatchbacks in this sector.
This model of car is well known as Richard and Hyacinth Bucket's car in the BBC Television sitcom Keeping up Appearances (1990–1995). Early episodes show a  light blue 1987 216S, but later episodes feature a 1989 216SE EFi model (re-badged for continuity as a 216S, and with the same numberplate).
Trim levels (as of July 1989) were:
X = Unavailable
✓ = Available
O = Optional
Rover R8 platform