MG ZR 105

As The Most Affordable Way to Join The MG Z Family, The ZR 105 Has A Considerable Weight Of Expectation Resting On It. Andy Enright Reports

What do hot hatch buyers look at when choosing their car? Image certainly comes pretty high on the list, as does performance, handling and the added credibility of a distinguished motor racing heritage. If you can bring these qualities to a more humble warm hatch, surely youre on to a winner? MG Rover hope so.

The 1.4-litre MG ZR 105 is never going to be the headline grabber of the range. As the entry-level model, its not going to give enthusiasts sweaty palms or grace the covers of motoring magazines. Nevertheless, it will be a significant seller and as such, needs to demonstrate to buyers that the MG philosophy of outrageous fun for all is truly an egalitarian claim.

Build
Comfort
Depreciation
Economy
Equipment
Handling
Insurance
Performance
Styling
Value

MG Rovers previous owners, BMW, developed a strategy that put drivers into the seat of their cheapest model, the 3-Series Compact and then seduced them with the brands values, inviting them to step up to more expensive, and therefore more profitable, models. If MG Rover have learned anything from the Germans it should be this trick and, as such, the more lowly ZR models need to build that brand loyalty, convincing the customer that heres a marque thats not only going places but is also offering better value and more fun than anybody else around. Lofty aspirations indeed, and the on-paper specification of the ZR 105 makes such ambition look a little optimistic. With just 100bhp on tap from its 1.

4-litre K-series engine, the ZR 105 is a little light in terms of outright power. Its got a few more bhp under its belt than the odd ZR turbo-diesel, but cant out perform the oil burner to 60mph, the ZR 105 requiring 10 seconds dead to pass the yardstick before running on to a creditable top speed of 111mph. Modest maybe, but put this in context with the cars sticker price, which starts at £9,995 for the three-door Trophy variant, and it starts getting decidedly interesting.

"If you feel that subtlety is best left to Private Eye columnists, heres your chariot."

After all, what does ten grand buy these days? Not a great deal of rivals are fitted with a full spoiler kit, sixteen inch wheels, sports suspension setups and an exhaust pipe so large youd need to check it for tramps in the morning. In fact, rivals around this price mark are worthy, but lack the inbuilt solidity of the MG. Keen drivers may prefer the Citroen C2 VTR, but you get more car for your money with the ZR 105 and its not that far off the French car in terms of driver entertainment and matches it in performance. Moreover, The Trophy and Trophy SE trim levels provide impressively high levels of equipment from side sills, bumper extensions, a leather steering wheel and an electric sunroof to an MP3 player, air-conditioning, 17" wheels and part leather seats on the SE version. The latest version ZR offers a less pugnacious but slightly more elegant image than the previous model, a tidied up interior, sharpened driving dynamics and more competitive equipment levels across the board. The headlamps are the first thing many will finger as different with sculpted BMW-style clear-lensed units covering twin lamps rather than the separate pods the original ZR sported. The rear end is even more distinctive with the number plate position moved downwards to allow for a bold bootlid with a bold MG badge on the centre line.

Revised alloy wheel designs are also offered. The interior has been tidied up a little with less of a random feel than the early car. There are now four circular satin chrome air vents across the dash top and while you still wont mistake it for an Audi TT, the ZRs fascia looks a good deal more contemporary. Brake feel has been revised to offer more responsive feedback.

A lower positioned clutch pedal helps ergonomics and the throttle pedal has been altered to make heel and toe downshifts that much easier. The steering geometry has been altered for a more direct feel and new bushes for the rear suspension again offer better driver feedback. The ZR 105, like all ZR models, is available in three-door form, and for a £500 premium, five-door guise is available. Its also offered in plusher + guise which adds a kenwood CD stereo, air-conditioning, adjustable drivers seat, electric heated door mirrors, leather-rimmed steering wheel and front fog lights.

This pack puts £1,550 on the price of the basic car but thats largely by the by because the Trophy SE provides more equipment than the + at a price thats nearly £1,000 less and the lower spec Trophy model performs a similar undercutting role on the base ZR trim level. Basically, if youre going to buy a ZR105, make sure its a Trophy. Wed already driven the ZR160 when it came to trying the ZR105, and began to wish wed experienced the cars the other way around. Surely the 105 was going to be a huge disappointment? Firing up the 1.

4-litre engine was reassuringly anticlimactic, the unit soon settling into a muted purr unlike the crackling ZR160. On the move however, all of the ZR160s unreconstructed fun factor is there to play with. Sophisticated it is most certainly not, but fun? Oh yes. The ZR has fun oozing from its bazooka exhaust.

In certain respects the ZR 105 is even more fun than the more powerful ZR versions. Its never going to be a scalpel sharp subtle performer, preferring to be thrown into corners with the same consideration that gym pants get stuffed into a holdall. Instead of trying to adjust the cornering line with the throttle, the ZR 105s modest power output encourages foot-to-the-floor progress wherever possible. A C2 VTR is undoubtedly a more accomplished drivers car, but neither encourages such devilishly lumpen cornering tactics as the MG.

If you feel that subtlety is best left to Private Eye columnists, heres your chariot. The bodykit, big wheels and spruced-up interior do a good job of consigning the Rover 25s middle-aged image to the distant memory, and theres little doubt that the younger buyers that MG Rover are aiming at will see the ZR 105 as an aspirational first performance car. Does it whet your appetite to move up the MG range? Not particularly. The law of diminishing returns has weighed down hard on the ZR range, and its difficult to avoid the conclusion that whilst the ZR160 is enormous fun, the ZR105 offers much of the attraction for two-thirds of its price.

Next time you hear somebody bemoan the fact that £10k doesnt buy them a decent new car, just nod knowingly in agreement but dont let them in on our little secret

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: MG ZR 105 range
PRICES: £9,995 - £12,495 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 8
CO2 EMISSIONS: 164g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 10s / Max Speed 111mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 31.1 (extra urban) 51.1 (combined) 41.3mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Drivers airbag
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 156/66/56"