MG EXPRESS VAN RANGE
What Is The World Coming To?
MG, One Of The Last Vestiges Of British Motorings Golden Age, Now Produce A Compact Commercial Vehicle. Thats right, A Small Van - And Rather A Good One At That. Steve Walker Investigates
There was a time, back in the not too distant past, when the famous MG badge was borne by just one solitary vehicle the MGF Roadster. Now MG
Rover have spawned a whole family and amongst this sporty young litter we even find a commercial vehicle - the MG Express. The purists can mutter into their morning papers and furrow their brows as much as they like. MG were going nowhere with their one-model product range and today the brand is reborn with new-found popular appeal and a newly diverse line-up.
| Build |
 |
| Comfort |
 |
| Depreciation |
 |
| Economy |
 |
| Equipment |
 |
| Handling |
 |
| Insurance |
|
| Performance |
 |
| Styling |
|
| Value |
 |
The
MG Express is just another part of this renaissance.
Its always going to be hard to equate the thrill of the open road, on a sunny Sunday afternoon with the monotony of the traffic-strangled streets on a dismal Monday morning. MG
Rover, however, obviously wanted to do more than simply create another hard-working car-derived van: they wanted one that was an MG at heart. That meant instilling performance, handling and looks as well as the inkling that though this might be a commercial vehicle, you can still enjoy driving it. As luck would have it, MG Rover already had the ZR supermini gracing their product portfolio. From there, it was just a little matter of whipping out the rear seats, flattening/lining the resulting load area, adding a partial steel bulkhead and panelling over the back windows.
Before too long, they had a small car-based commercial vehicle on their hands the MG Express was born. In fact, at the same time that MG Rover unleashed the Express onto UK van operators they also launched its sister model, the Rover Commerce. Its essentially the same vehicle, just without some of the Expresss sporting pizzazz and more frivolous equipment options. Since their launch both of the MG Rover commercial vehicles have benefited from a facelift.
Todays Express features the current MG family grille with a single bar running across its middle. The headlamps are sculpted in to an unorthodox shape that owes something the BMWs current styling direction and at the back the flat plane of the tailgate hosts large MG badge.
"its compact size means its perfectly at home in urban areas where road-space is at a premium"
So, what do you get with the MG Express? Its a small van (think, supermini minus rear seats) with a maximum payload of between 475 and 505kg, depending on the engine option you go for. This means that its going to be best suited to courier or light load carrying work, while its compact size means its perfectly at home in urban areas where road-space is at a premium. The Rover 25/MG ZR platform, on which the Express is founded, is a good starting point for a light van. It offers plenty of space, solid build and a nice ride.
The suspension is set on the sporty side of comfortable, however, so you will have to experience some bumpy moments by way of a trade-off for the aforementioned driving enjoyment. Also, the spoilered and skirted Express sits very low to the road for a vehicle being marketed with urban use in mind Mr speed hump will not be your best friend. There are three engines to choose from in the range: a 1.4-litre K-series petrol unit with 103PS and a £8,249 price tag, a 2.0-litre turbo diesel with 101PS that will cost from £9,440 and then the range-topping 1.8-litre VVC petrol.
The later generates 160PS, enough to propel the Express to 60mph in well under 7.5 seconds, and costs £12,163. Now this might sound pricey for a car-derived van but few hot-hatches can match its performance, never mind the direct CV competition. You have to shudder at the thought of the MG Express 160 falling into the hands of those tailgating white van men who prowl the British road network.
They already display an uncanny ability to extract sound-barrier speeds from their clapped-out Mercedes Sprinter panel vans. With a hot hatch putting out 160 horses to carry their wares, well barely be able to see them go by. Theres no doubt that the 160 model displays the most showboating potential of all the MG Express range and its sure to bring buyers into showrooms but sometimes the head has to rule the heart and, when they get there, most will probably go for the turbo diesel. This 2.
0-litre oil-burner will still manage 60mph from rest in around 9.7 seconds but you get the added bonus of 54mpg on the combined cycle - compare that to the 160s 38mpg. It also produces 240Nm of torque at only 2,000rpm. Which, if you did fully utilise the Expresss payload capacity, would make all the difference on stop/start journeys about town.
The smaller 1.4-litre petrol is the budget option in the range but an average of only 41mpg means the economy-minded should probably raid petty cash and buy the turbo diesel. The only other alternative is the approved conversion to LPG thats offered on the 1.4.
The MG Express has inherited a cabin from its ZR sibling, that is well suited to the stresses and strains of everyday business use. Following a recent facelift, theres a newfound solidity about the switchgear and no trace of flimsy plastics or fussy controls. The chunky, bevelled air vents are a particularly nice touch. You wont find a great assortment of storage options for paperwork, lunch, etc, about the cab but this is par for the course with supermini-based CVs.
Standard equipment includes remote central locking, a Kenwood radio cassette, rear wash wipe and alloy wheels but the 160 goes the whole hog by adding ABS with EBD, air-con, electric windows, electric mirrors and front fog lights. The options on the Express read like a boy-racers Christmas list with various stereo upgrades, leather steering wheel, bigger alloy-wheels, sculpted side sill finishers and the like. If youve got the cash and you want a van thats going to get you noticed, this could be it. With what represents their first serious entry into the commercial vehicle market, ever, MG Rover have taken distinct steps to put the cat amongst the pigeons.
The MG Express 160 derivative is far and away the best performing car-derived van available in the UK but most businesses will prefer the slightly more sedate turbo diesel for its price and fuel economy. Is there a market out there for a bespoilered van with motorsport pedigree? If there is, MG could have developed the vehicle to find it and exploit it.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
VAN: MG Express Van range
PRICE: £8,249 - £12,163 + VAT ENGINES: 1.4-litre 16-valve petrol, 1.8-litre VVC petrol, 2.0-litre TD diesel.
PAY
LOAD CAPACITY: 505kg (1.4 16v), 480Kg (1.8 VVC) 475Kg (2.0TD).
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (2.0TD) (urban) 36.7mpg/ (extra urban) 67.3mpg/ (combined) 51.
5mpg.
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 156/66/56"
<< Back to Rover car reviews
<< Back to car reviews homepage
Find New & Used Cars in the UK |
New & Used Rover Cars For Sale UK
