Bring on the power - Road report: MG ZT 1.8T & ZT-T 135 2.0 CDT-i

Let me start by saying that everyone is different and we all have different tastes This may sound as if I am trying to squirm my way around to saying something controversial about the MG Rover ZT/ZT-T ... and I am.

Based on the highly acclaimed Rover 75, the ZT is an absolute stunner of a oar to look at And thereby hangs the problem for me. I think it looks too good!

Let me explain this somewhat radical sounding thought of mine.

To me the ZT looks like it could outperform a lot of the other so-called sports cars that you see on the road. But it doesn't because, quite simply, this isn't a real sports car.

It has the looks though. It appears as it MG wanted to move away from the Rover 75's middle of the-road family car image and appeal to the more daring type of buyer someone who wants people to know that he or she has got something a bit special about them. If only from a purely aesthetic point of view you have to admit that MG has certainly achieved that goal.

The sleek looks of that sweeping bonnet with the racing style grille together with the rear spoiler just say 'racing machine' to me. The interior is not as nice perhaps due to its plastic look and feel although it is an improvement on the 75. I wasn't happy with the driving position though. Despite the adjustability of the seat and steering wheel, I felt slightly cramped. There were also some blind spots caused by the wide A pillars.

As a four-seater sports car the MG certainly coped well. Squeezing a fifth person in would have been tight and the boot space was a little skimpy. But the ZT-T had masses of luggage space and would have put most other estates in this class to shame.

The handling was quite firm but there was still a suppleness to it. This is not an out-and-out sports car but does add a little spice to driving.

What really let it down in my mind was the lack of low-end grunt. While the ZT and ZT-T both performed exceptionally well at the top end of the rev counter they lacked any real initial burst of power. The ZT's 1.8-litre 120PS petrol engine and the ZT-T's 2.0-litre 131 PS turbo diesel both failed to give a burst of power worthy of the exterior athleticism of the vehicles. Pulling out of junctions and away from lights is simply no fun if, when you floor the accelerator, the car just rolls off smoothly.

The stiffened suspension certainly took nothing away from ride comfort for me in either the saloon or estate. But I wanted these cars to be so much more than they actually were There is no doubt in my mind that the ZT has the looks of a sports car but it lacks that bit of oomph!

DRIVER'S LOG: ZT

LIST PRICE (P11D): 19,625 [pounds sterling] (+ 1075 [pounds sterling] of extras on our model)

ENGINE: 1796cc 16V DOHC four-cylinder petrol

POWER: 120PS @ 5500rpm

TORQUE: 160Nm @ 4000rpm

C[O.sub.2] RATING: 184g/km (22% for 2004/5)

2004/5 BIK: 4554 [pounds sterling] incl. extras

INSURANCE GROUP: 15D

OFFICIAL COMBINER: 36.4mpg

DRIVER'S LOG ZT-T

LIST PRICE (P11D): 20, 215 [pounds sterling] (+ 3375 [pounds sterling] of extras on our model)

ENGINE: 1951cc 16V DOHC common-rail turbo diesel

POWER: 131PS @ 4000rpm

TORQUE: 260Nm @ 2000rpm

C[O.sub.2] RATING: 163g/km (21% for 2004/5)

2004/5 BIK: 4954 [pounds sterling] incl. extras

INSURANCE GROUP: 10E

OFFICIAL COMBINER: 48.8mpg

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