MG still in demand

Dec 22 2008 Peter Hayward

BY the time MG-Rover came up with the chunky ZR, the 25 it was based on was already well behind the times.

But it's a measure of the design success their styling gurus came up with that the cars are still in demand years after the company went bust.

The reworking turned a staid family car into a great looking and properly focused 'warm' hatch.

It's agile and fun to drive even with the smallest 1.4, 104bhp engine - partly thanks to a close ratio gearbox.

And with those spoilers, fat tyres on pretty alloys and bright in-your-face colours, it has appealed to a wide range of buyers who would never have considered buying the 25.

Marvellous suspension gives excellent grip and road holding and sharp power steering with a chunky wheel gives all the right road feel. However, the downside is a pretty hard ride.

Other engines include a 115bhp 1.8 and the range topping 157bhp tuned version of the same size. There is also a 2.0-litre turbo diesel with 100 or 111bhp.

Interior

It has the 25's failings of a poor driving position and cramped rear leg and headroom for taller people.

But it is available as a three or five door hatch and the re-worked interior is funky to look at and good to live with.

FAST FACTS

MG ZR

Price : Pay around £1,800 for a '02 02-reg 3dr, £2,500 for an '03 53-reg 3dr, £3,300 for an '05 05-reg 5dr

Mechanical : 102bhp, 1,396cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox

Max speed : 111mph

0-62mph : 10 secs

Combined mpg : 41

Insurance group : 7

Marks : 8/10

Main rival : VW Polo 1.6, Ford Fiesta 1.6