Or as car enthusiast magazine words it -
The real benefit of this engine manifests itself at the fuel pumps; or rather it doesn't because you don't spend much time there. MG claims an extra urban figure of 67.3mpg, which is impressive to say the least. As per usual we never got anywhere near the claimed figures, but an average in the mid 40s (mpg) is no mean feat for a car in our hands; particularly a warm hatch, and especially one that serves up the driver enjoyment that the ZR does.
My most recent MG encounter, the ZR Express van, left me literally shaken and stirred whilst largely under whelmed by its real world ability. It was scintillating on the right road, but the journey to that road would be a filling-loosening cringe-fest. Anticipation was not a key word when I got behind the wheel of the diesel ZR. However, it only took a couple of hundred yards and a roundabout to reveal something very different in this new ZR chassis: compliance and subtlety. The chassis springing and damping is a world apart from the ZR Express. We're not sure how much the higher profile tyres and heavier engine contribute to this newfound ability; whatever, the result is very pleasing. Whereas the old ZR bobbed, weaved, bounced and tramlined under almost all conditions other than racetrack bitumen, the new one flows.
Your average UK B-road becomes the playground it should be as the revelatory compliance keeps the ZR planted to the line you chose with the excellently weighted and direct steering backing you up. I actually think that most modestly talented drivers could guide the ZR diesel down any given stretch of road as quick as they would the previous generation ZR Express (that car is lighter and significantly more powerful) and you would be a lot less rattled and drained at the end of it. The diesel's torquey nature complements the chassis well pulling the nose out of the bends with the kind of poke normally associated with a significantly bigger petrol engine. The brakes are also full of feel as well as plenty powerful and fade free. The ABS works well allowing you to modulate things right upto the limit, only really being required in an emergency.
So, the latest ZR delivers all that the blurb suggests in terms of driver pleasure and I can honestly say that I'm surprised and pleased by this in equally generous amounts.
