How reliable is the MG ZR compared with other cars?

We do not publish a comparison for the MG ZR, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 65.6% across 1,710 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.

What do testers most often warn about on a MG ZR?

The most common advisory is "A tyre seriously damaged", noted on 18.7% of all MG ZR tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a MG ZR usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 84,822 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Are most MG ZR models petrol or diesel?

Of the MG ZR cars tested, 92% are petrol, 8% are diesel. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

Model reliability file

MG ZR MOT pass rate & common failures

From 1,710 recorded MOT tests of the MG ZR, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

Across 1,710 MOT tests, 65.6% of MG ZR tests ended in a pass. This figure is not adjusted for age or mileage, so it is not a reliability ranking: the MG ZR fleet does not yet cover a wide enough spread of ages and distances to compare it fairly against other models. Its most commonly recorded failure is strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, which appears in 21.8% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 84,822 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Recorded pass rate

65.6%unadjusted, not comparable1,710 tests

We are not publishing a ranking for the ZR. The examples tested do not cover a wide enough spread of ages and mileages to compare it fairly, and an unadjusted pass rate mostly sorts models by how recently they were bought rather than how well they were built. The failure and advisory patterns below come from the same 1,710 tests and are worth reading on their own terms.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed MG ZR tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired21.8%
102 occurrencesSuspension mounting corroded or insecure explained
2.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc19.7%
92 occurrencesDriveshaft CV joint gaiter split or missing explained
3.Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake10.5%
49 occurrencesBrake binding or imbalanced across an axle explained
4.Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement9.8%
46 occurrencesParking brake efficiency too low explained
5.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning9.6%
45 occurrencesLamp not working explained
6.Exhaust system leaking or insecure9.4%
44 occurrencesExhaust leaking or insecure explained
7.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements9.2%
43 occurrencesHeadlamp aim incorrect explained
8.Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning8.8%
41 occurrencesStop lamp not working explained
9.Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer8.5%
40 occurrencesEmissions above the permitted limit explained
10.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen8.5%
40 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all MG ZR tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.A tyre seriously damaged18.7%
319 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
2.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements13.5%
231 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
3.The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired10.6%
181 testsSuspension mounting corroded or insecure explained
4.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured10.5%
180 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
5.Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users10.4%
178 tests
6.Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded7.6%
130 testsBrake pipe corroded explained
7.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened7.5%
129 testsRoad spring broken or fractured explained
8.Exhaust system leaking or insecure6.6%
112 testsExhaust leaking or insecure explained

What gets tested

The ZR fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 84,822
Fuel mix of tested cars: Petrol92.0%
Diesel8.0%

Check a specific MG ZR

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other MG models

MG ZS — 82.1% unadjusted
MG HS — 88.3% unadjusted
MG 3 — 75.1% unadjusted
MG 5 — 84.3% unadjusted
MG TF — 69.6% unadjusted
MG Mgf — 66.9% unadjusted
All MG models

Common questions

How reliable is the MG ZR compared with other cars?: We do not publish a comparison for the MG ZR, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 65.6% across 1,710 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.
What is the most common MOT failure on a MG ZR?: The item recorded most often is "The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired", which appears in 21.8% of failed MG ZR tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a MG ZR?: The most common advisory is "A tyre seriously damaged", noted on 18.7% of all MG ZR tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a MG ZR usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 84,822 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.
Are most MG ZR models petrol or diesel?: Of the MG ZR cars tested, 92% are petrol, 8% are diesel. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. No adjusted rate is shown because this model's tested examples do not cover enough of the national age and mileage range for standardisation to mean anything.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.