[4] Unlike the Princess, a six-cylinder 2.2-litre version was not available; the Ambassador was offered only as a four-cylinder, initially with either a 1.7-litre or a 2.0-litre variant in "L", "HL", "HLS", and "Vanden Plas" trims.

In the HLS and Vanden Plas trims, the Ambassador was equipped with a 2.0-litre engine sporting twin carburettors - this replaced the earlier "six" and allowed a power increase to 100 hp (75 kW) with torque measuring 120 lb⋅ft (163 N⋅m).

A benefit of not having to accommodate the taller E6 engine was that the bonnet could be made lower and flatter, although this meant that the wipers were now no longer concealed (unlike those of the Princess).

The redesigned interior was generally not considered an improvement over that of the Princess, feeling cheap and lacking a rev counter – even in the top HLS model.

[3] The gap it left in the Austin-Rover range was effectively filled by the slightly smaller Montego, and by lower-specced versions of the new Rover 800 series.