MG ZR

MG ZR

if you want a no-frills “hot” (oh, all right lukewarm) hatch that is fun to drive then take a closer look at the MG ZR. Since the demise of MG Rover earlier this year second-hand values across the MG ZR range have been in freefall amid gloom about parts availability and dealer back-up.
The news last week that MG ZR Rover has been bought by Nanjing Automobile, China’s oldest car manufacturer, could signal a mild recovery in second-hand values. So my advice is, if you fancy a second-hand MG ZR, get one soon.

Launched in Britain in June 2001, the MG ZR was designed to be a sporting sibling to the more conservative Rover 25. MG was keen to promote the car as offering affordable power, and with 101bhp even in the most basic 1.4 litre form it can put a grin on your face.

MG ZR

MG also launched a racier 1.8 litre 115bhp version, confusingly called the MG ZR 120, and a top of the range 1.8 litreMG ZR 160 with 158bhp. The latter has a 0-60mph time of 7.4sec, and with prices now dipping as low as £3,500 for a 2001 Y-registration model with 60,000 miles on the clock it’s also a real bargain.
There were also two diesel versions. A 99bhp 2 litre diesel was introduced in June 2001 and a 2 litre 111bhp unit appeared in December 2002. Although on paper these cars are apparently lacking in power, on the road they really fly. In fourth gear the 111bhp model takes full advantage of its mid-range torque and will out-accelerate the 158bhp MG ZR160.
In terms of all-round spec, the MG ZR isn’t at all bad. It has sportier suspension and wider tyres than the Rover 25. The steering is well weighted and precise and the well-shaped sports seats hold front passengers firmly. The brakes, despite the absence of rear disc brakes on all but the top-spec MG ZR 160, are effective enough, although for some buyers the lack of antilock braking will be a disadvantage.

MG ZR

In terms of size, the MG ZR sits between a supermini and a family hatchback. Rear legroom can be cramped and the 304-litre boot can be a pinch if you are thinking of much more than a couple of weekend cases. MG offered the ZR with a choice of three or five doors on all models in the range.
Horror stories about reliability on past Rover models did little to help MG ZR sales initially, but with the passing of time it has proven to be a reliable performer. Panel fit and finish are to genuinely high standards, although some of the interior switchgear now looks a little dated.
The MG ZR’s technology, or lack of it, is a mixed blessing. You won’t find traction control systems, advanced climate control or a plethora of airbags in the cabin, but neither will you be faced with bills for repairing any of these things.
To sum up, a used MG ZR offers a blend of good engines, sweet gearboxes and competent chassis. It’s the last of the of old MG Rover lineage, and who knows, the day may come when we say wistfully, “They don’t make ’em like that any more.”