MG ZT
Women's view
The MG ZT has never struck me as a particularly feminine car. It looks meaty and everything about the car has a real weight to it. Colleagues promised me that the steering, the gearbox and the pedals all require quite a bit of muscle power. I didnt know whether Id relish this sort of physicality on a day in day out basis, but there were upsides.
Its a decently spacious car and I quite like the image. Despite the recent facelift, which I must say I dont think has done any great favours to the cars nose, the ZT possesses a gravitas that eludes many sporting saloons. The car I tried was the ZT190, the model which was the top of the range before the powerful ZT260 V8 was introduced. Its more than enough engine for me.
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Upgraded security features now include locking nuts to prevent thieves from relieving you of your wheels and theres also a few new paint colours including Black Pearl micatallic, Firefrost Red micatallic and Goodwood Green pearlescent. Twelve monogram paint colours in a range of 24 shades are also available so there should be something to suit. The interiors have also come in for a sprucing, with a Technical Grey finish offered alongside the more traditional Black Oak or Burnt Walnut. The instrument graphics are as special as ever but this time round theyre backlit in blue.
Rear passenger space has been worked on with re-profiled seat cushions and squabs answering the traditional ZT complaint that for such a big car, theres not a lot of rear knee room. Both saloon and estate variants have ample carrying capacity, and the ZT190 is a surprisingly practical car when weighed against the amount of fun it can dish out.
Although the ZT 190 is a very good overall package, its perhaps a little surprising that the weakest link is probably the engine. For a car that bills itself as a sportster, its a very lazy and relaxed powerplant. MG Rover have worked hard to liven the feel of the engine up with lighter flywheels, a more extreme program for the Electronic Control Unit and a lowered final drive gear ratio to make the acceleration punchier. The cars all-up weight of 1550kg is still enough to blunt acceleration, although the ZT 190 cracks 60mph in 7.
8 seconds before running out of gear ratios at 141mph. Bigger brakes have been fitted to cope with the enhanced velocities and more aggressive driving styles the ZT will be exposed to, and the suspension has come in for a massive overhaul.
There can be very few complaints about the ZTs value proposition. Prices start at £16,225 for the ZT120 model, with the ZT160 opening at £19,395. The top of the line ZT+ 190 SE I tried is priced at £26,090, although there is a more affordable model which costs £22,095. The powerhouse ZT 260 V8 kicks off at £28,495, offering a lot of bang for your buck from its Mustang-sourced 4.
6-litre engine. Diesel ZTs can be yours for less than £20,000 with ZT-T Tourer estate versions tacking another £1,000 onto these quoted prices. Stacked up against sporting rivals, the prices look competitive, but one cant help but feel that if MG is serious about shifting big numbers it may need to carve a little more off these prices again. Those with a talent for negotiation may well be able to make some headway with their dealer.
The ZT wouldnt be the first car Id look to when choosing a sports saloon, if only for the reason that it feels like a real mans car. I would personally prefer an MG ZS, but for those looking for a car that feels as if its hewn from a solid billet, the ZT makes a very good choice.
