irishcar.com - MG ZT review

Big, bluntly aggressive, and its front end with all that heavy mesh looked down from the billboard near the Red Cow Roundabout on the day I was travelling to collect the car. It set my pulses racing even then.

And a very short time afterwards, the ZT190 became, for me, the best car in MG Rover’s new range.

This model is based on the regal Rover 75. But it has gained a real sleek ‘cominatcha’ look, along with a taut muscular appearance. The man behind the design is Peter Stevens, who also designed the 231mph McLaren F1 supercar and the Subaru Impreza World Rally Car.
The review vehicle came with an Impreza-type spoiler, an option on the ZT model. Unlike similar wings on some other models, it added real character to the ZT, whatever it might have done about the aerodynamics. The large size of the car itself also meant that the spoiler didn’t dominate. The 18” sports alloys also helped give the ZT a greater road presence.

Inside, the cabin is spacious with plenty of head and leg room. The look is understated, but sporty. Gone is all the timber which previously adorned the dashboard, replaced with lots of bright modern materials which look bang up to the moment.

The fascia has also gone metallic in look. Distinctive, yet simple. And all the materials not only look good, but feel good too.

The instruments feature black figures against a white background. A modern classy look as opposed to the ‘retro’ aspect of the 75 itself.

The seats, more sporting in design than the 75s own, are extremely comfy and supportive, and in the review car were finished with a mix of leather and cloth materials.

You get everything in this car: driver and passenger front, side and curtain airbags, electric front window and door mirrors, air conditioning, power steering with sports characteristics, alloy and leather gear knob, immobiliser and perimetric anti-theft alarm, remote control central door locking, ABS and Electronic Brake Distribution.

Driving is the REAL experience with the ZT. Firstly, with a flat power curve, there’s an instant sharp response from the powerful 190PS 2.5-litre V6 engine. I found it equally responsive on the motorway, or along twisty country roads. Yet, even about town it was still easy to drive slowly. And knowing there’s so much power available should you need it generates confidence.

It is power with absolute control. British Touring Car Champion Anthony Reid, who now heads the MG challenge in the British Touring Car Championship and at Le Mans, says you can take your hands off the wheel at 120mph!

(But don’t try it at home!)

The 5-speed manual gearbox is light and precise. Braking performance is very good too. Progressive and easily managed by ordinary drivers, even those with size 5 shoes. They won’t send you suddenly lurching forward at the slightest touch.

Overall, there’s a great feeling of balance about this sporty saloon, even when cornering such a large vehicle. The low profile tyres, certainly on good surfaces, do much to provide this reassuring perception.

The suspension also manages to suppress the thump which those same low profiles can cause on our more normal, poor Irish road surfaces.

The ZT can do the 0-60mph trip in 7.7 seconds, and comes with a top speed of 140mph. You’ll get fuel consumption of around 29mpg.

There’s an option of a 160bhp version. But if you have the 190 first, you might never go back.

They’ve since taken down the big billboard ad. It doesn’t matter. I’ve driven the real thing.