Item: Used MG Rover ZT Saloon 2001 - 2005
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

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One of the most famous names on British roads, MG is owned by Chinese firm SAIC these days and it's slowly beginning to rebuild its model line-up.

At present, just two cars are offered: the MG 6, which aims to match cars like the Skoda Octavia on space while beating them on price, and the Ford Fiesta-rivalling MG 3. Both cars look good value for money, but resale values have been an issue, as well as cabin quality and the tax bills created by relatively high CO2 emissions.

Things could improve with the arrival of the GS, a Nissan Qashqai-rivalling SUV that will bring a new transmission and new turbocharged petrol engines, as well as a revised diesel motor. It's scheduled to go on sale in 2016 - although it wouldn't be the first MG to have been delayed during the brand's rebirth.

<p>The MG ZT is a decent sports saloon for buttons</p>


Used MG Rover ZT Saloon 2001 - 2005

<p>Prices for these cars nose-dived when MG Rover went belly up, but have since recovered. Even so, they are slightly lower than rivals of a similar age.</p>

<p>Servicing was never steep - the costs for maintaining a ZT being comparable to those for a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/mondeo/hatchback/review/n15">Ford Mondeo</a>. But, thanks to the fact that there aren't any main dealers any more, servicing is now even cheaper because you have to go to an independent.</p>

<p>Beware, though - no matter how young the car you find may be, the manufacturer's warranty isn't worth the paper it's written on. So, you might want to budget for an aftermarket warranty package.</p>

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The MG ZT is a decent sports saloon for buttons

<p>Your best bet by far is the turbocharged 1.8-litre petrol engine. Its 0-60mph time of 8.5 seconds isn't too far behind the bigger 2.5-litre V6 engine, but you'll travel an extra nine miles on every gallon of petrol.</p>

<p>The entry-level 1.8 is even more frugal, but it isn't really fast enough to live up to the ZT's sports saloon billing. The same goes for both the 2.0-litre diesel engines.</p>

<p>At the other end of the scale, the V8 is a bit over the top. It's very quick, but 21.5mpg economy makes it very pricey to run, although, as V8s go, though, this one is extremely cheap to buy.</p>

<p>There are two trim levels for our favourite engine: ZT and ZT+. The standard car is well kitted out, with remote central locking, air-con, alloys, electric front windows, a sunroof and a CD player. You can get a ZT+ for a little bit more, which adds climate control, electric rear windows and a CD changer.</p>

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of practical space </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>A comfortable ride </li> <li>A healthy equipment list </li> <li>Quality materials and thoughtful touches inside </li> <li>Rock-solid reliability</li></ul>

<p>Family cars arguably have the toughest brief of all: they have to be good at pretty much everything. They’re used as the daily drive, on the school run or work commute (often both), and have to be able to cope with a family’s clutter on weekends and holidays.</p>

<p>The Skoda Scala is a relative newcomer, but it's&nbsp;already carved out a name for itself in this segment.&nbsp;If you're looking for a moderately priced car that combines a supple ride, neat handling, a spacious interior and a capacious boot&nbsp;it's well worth a look.&nbsp;Alternatively, if you're looking for entertaining handling then the&nbsp;BMW 1 Series may well be for you. It's great to drive, rides well&nbsp;and also comes with a top-notch interior, featuring one of our very favourite infotainment systems.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Toyota Corolla&nbsp;is another great choice. This latest version of one of the world's best-selling cars of all time can be had with a choice of two different petrol-electric hybrid engines, both of which should mean&nbsp;potentially lower fuel bills. It's comfortable, well equipped and should be very reliable, too.&nbsp;</p>

Family

<p>Rover had its fair share of reliability problems, but this ZT was probably the best-built car the company ever made. The materials feel solid throughout and the fit and finish are much improved on Rovers built before BMW's reign.</p>

<p>Although most owners reported trouble-free motoring, it has been known for front coil springs to break due to fierce corrosion. Also, check that the electric seat motor works.</p>

<p>If you go for the 1.8, make sure you keep your coolant levels topped up at all times because it's prone to overheating and blowing its head gasket - not nice at all. Check the oil filler cap regularly for white gunk because this indicates there's problem.</p>

<p>Suspension problems can be hard to fix on these cars, so steer clear of cars with signs of uneven tyre wear. Also, check that brake pipes aren't rusty, and on diesel models check that the clutch is sound.</p>

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<p>The MG ZT is surprisingly good, especially since the Rover 75 it's based on was such a soft and spongy drive. The ZT is grippy, stable and agile, with much less body roll in corners and sharper responses.</p>

<p>There's a good range of engines to suit all tastes, most of which give strong performance. They do need to be worked hard, though.</p>

<p>The conversion from 75 to ZT also brought about styling changes inside and out, which may be a bit too garish for some people. What wasn't lost, though, was the generous passenger space and lots of kit that came as standard.</p>

<p>On the downside, the boot is a bit small considering the size of the car, and visibility isn't all that great. However, buyers can take comfort in the fact that the ZT was built when <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> was calling the shots at MG Rover, so build quality is pretty good.</p>

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Used MG Rover ZT Saloon 2001 - 2005 review

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