MG ZT

Which MG ZT generation to choose

There is 1 generation. Years, body, and the version list do not change across a facelift in this file. Restyling is not listed as a separate generation. The choice is version versus version, not year versus year.

There is 1 generation. Years, body, and the version list do not change across a facelift in this file. Restyling is not listed as a separate generation. The choice is version versus version, not year versus year.

Engines and specs (all 12 shown versions)

Engine position is Front, transverse on 11 of 12 versions. Only the 4.6 MT 260 hp is Front, longitudinal. Gasoline feed, where measured, is Distributed injection (multi-point). Diesel feed is not measured on all four diesel rows. Valves per cylinder are 4 on every shown version. Compression: diesel 18; 1.8 MT 160 hp 9.2; 4.6 MT 9.4; remaining measured gasoline 10.5. Bore × stroke: 1.8-litre gasoline 80 × 89.3; 2.0-litre diesel 84 × 88; 2.5-litre 80 × 82.8; 4.6 MT 90.2 × 90.

Power per litre (hp ÷ litres): 1.8 MT 160 hp 89.1 hp/L; 2.5 MT 190 hp 76.1; 2.5 AT 177 hp 70.9; 2.0 AT/2.0 MT 131 hp 67.1; 1.8 AT and both 1.8 MT 120 hp 66.9; 2.5 MT 160 hp 64.1; both 2.0 116 hp diesels 59.5; 4.6 MT 260 hp 56.5. The V-shaped 8 is the least specific; the Turbo 1.8 is the most.

Diesel vs gasoline: what the extra displacement and boost buy

Four diesel rows share 1951 cm³, 4 Inline, Turbo, FWD, tank 65 L.

The 2.0 MT 131 hp versus the 2.0 MT 116 hp: +15 hp, +40 Nm (300 vs 260), peak torque 100 rpm earlier (1900 vs 2000). 0–100 is 11.3 s versus 11.7 s (0.4 s quicker). Top speed is the same 193 km/h. Mixed use is the same 5.8 L/100 km. City is 8.1 versus 7.7 (+0.4); highway 4.4 versus 4.7 (−0.3). Kerb 1535 kg and gross 2030 kg match. The 15 hp does not change mixed economy and barely changes the sprint; it mainly raises city use and lowers highway use.

The 2.0 AT 131 hp versus the 2.0 AT 116 hp: same +15 hp / +40 Nm. 0–100 12.2 s versus 13.2 s (1.0 s). Top speed 190 versus 180 km/h (+10). City/highway/mixed are identical: 10 / 5.2 / 6.9. Automatic diesel economy does not move with the 131 hp tune in this table; acceleration and top speed do.

Automatic versus manual on the same 131 hp diesel: 2.0 AT 131 hp is 0.9 s slower than 2.0 MT 131 hp (12.2 vs 11.3) and 3 km/h slower (190 vs 193). Mixed 6.9 versus 5.8 (+1.1 L/100 km, about 19% more). On the 116 hp diesel: 2.0 AT 116 hp is 1.5 s slower than 2.0 MT 116 hp (13.2 vs 11.7) and 13 km/h slower (180 vs 193). Mixed again 6.9 versus 5.8. The gearbox costs more fuel and time than the 15 hp step.

Gasoline 1.8 No boost, 120 hp, 160 Nm: the 1.8 AT 120 hp is 13.2 s and 190 km/h, mixed 9.4. That is 2.6 L/100 km more mixed than the 2.0 AT diesels (6.9) at the same 13.2 s as the weaker diesel automatic — the 2.0 AT 116 hp matches that sprint on less mixed fuel. The 1.8 MT 120 hp (1500 kg) is 11.6 s / 195 km/h / mixed 7.8. Versus its automatic twin: 1.6 s quicker, +5 km/h, −1.6 mixed, −2.0 city (10.6 vs 12.6). The third 1.8 MT 120 hp (1550 kg) is 12.2 s / 188 km/h / city 11.4 — 0.6 s and 7 km/h behind the 1500 kg 1.8 MT 120 hp, +50 kg, city +0.8, mixed still 7.8. Same name, same 120 hp, not the same car on the stopwatch.

The 1.8 MT 160 hp adds Turbo, +40 hp, +55 Nm, displacement 1796 vs 1795. 0–100 stays 11.6 s and top speed 195 km/h versus the 1500 kg 1.8 MT 120 hp. Mixed stays 7.8; highway stays 6.1; city rises 10.6 → 11.4. Kerb falls 1500 → 1440 kg (−60 kg). Extra power here buys mass reduction and torque, not a shorter 0–100 in this table.

2.5 MT 160 hp versus 1.8 MT 160 hp: same 160 hp, 118 kW, but 6 V-shaped No boost versus 4 Inline Turbo. Torque 230 vs 215 Nm, and it arrives at 4000 rpm versus 6750. 0–100 9.2 s versus 11.6 s (2.4 s). Top speed 211 versus 195 (+16 km/h). Kerb 1485 versus 1440 (+45 kg). Fuel use for both 2.5 MT rows is not measured. The extra 701 cm³ and the 6 cylinders buy a clearly shorter sprint at the same rated horsepower.

2.5 MT 190 hp versus 2.5 MT 160 hp: +30 hp, +15 Nm, same 2497 cm³, same kerb 1485 kg and gross 2000 kg. 0–100 8.3 versus 9.2 s (0.9 s). Top speed 227 versus 211 (+16 km/h). Peak power rpm 6500 versus 6250. Fuel still not measured.

2.5 AT 177 hp sits between the two manuals on power but not on the clock: 9.4 s and 215 km/h. Versus 2.5 MT 160 hp it is 0.2 s slower despite +17 hp. Versus 2.5 MT 190 hp it is 1.1 s slower and 12 km/h slower. Mixed 10.9 L/100 km (city 16, highway 7.9) — the highest measured mixed gasoline automatic, 1.5 above the 1.8 AT 120 hp.

The 4.6 MT 260 hp versus 2.5 MT 190 hp: +70 hp, +165 Nm, +2104 cm³, 8 vs 6 cylinders, RWD vs FWD, longitudinal vs transverse. 0–100 6.5 versus 8.3 s (1.8 s). Top speed 250 versus 227 (+23 km/h). Mixed 13.2 versus not measured on the 2.5 MT. City 17.9, highway 10.4. Kerb 1595 versus 1485 (+110 kg). That is the largest step in this catalogue.

Performance, mpg, and range

0–100 km/h, fastest to slowest among measured values: 4.6 MT 260 hp 6.5; 2.5 MT 190 hp 8.3; 2.5 MT 160 hp 9.2; 2.5 AT 177 hp 9.4; 2.0 MT 131 hp 11.3; 1.8 MT 160 hp and 1.8 MT 120 hp (1500 kg) 11.6; 2.0 MT 116 hp 11.7; 2.0 AT 131 hp and 1.8 MT 120 hp (1550 kg) 12.2; 1.8 AT 120 hp and 2.0 AT 116 hp 13.2.

Top speed: 4.6 MT 250; 2.5 MT 190 hp 227; 2.5 AT 215; 2.5 MT 160 hp 211; both quicker 1.8 manuals 195; both 2.0 MT diesels 193; 2.0 AT 131 hp and 1.8 AT 190; 1.8 MT 120 hp (1550 kg) 188; 2.0 AT 116 hp 180.

Mixed L/100 km, where measured: diesel manuals 5.8; diesel automatics 6.9; 1.8 MT all three 7.8; 1.8 AT 9.4; 2.5 AT 10.9; 4.6 MT 13.2. 2.5 MT 160 hp and 2.5 MT 190 hp mixed/city/highway are not measured. CO2 and eco class are not measured on every version.

Tank is 65 L on all 12. Implied mixed range (65 ÷ mixed × 100), where mixed exists: diesel MT ≈1121 km; diesel AT ≈942 km; 1.8 MT ≈833 km; 1.8 AT ≈691 km; 2.5 AT ≈596 km; 4.6 MT ≈492 km. The 4.6 MT uses about 2.28× the mixed fuel of the 2.0 MT diesels.

Dimensions, weight, wheels

Ground clearance is 120 mm where measured. It is not measured on 2.5 MT 160 hp and 2.5 MT 190 hp. Wheel sizes are not measured except 4.6 MT 260 hp: 245/40 R18 and 275/35 R18. Front suspension Independent, spring on all 12; rear Independent, spring except both 2.5 MT rows, where rear is not measured. Brakes front and rear: Disc on all 12.

Kerb, where measured: 1.8 MT 160 hp 1440 kg (lowest); 2.5 MT both 1485; 1.8 MT 120 hp (1500 kg row) 1500; 2.5 AT 1510; both 2.0 MT 1535; 1.8 MT 120 hp (1550 kg row) 1550; 4.6 MT 1595 (highest measured). Kerb is not measured on 2.0 AT 131 hp, 1.8 AT 120 hp, 2.0 AT 116 hp.

Gross: 1.8 MT 160 hp 1940; both 2.5 MT and 2.5 AT 2000; four diesel rows 2030. Gross not measured on 1.8 AT, both 1.8 MT 120 hp, 4.6 MT.

kg per hp (kerb ÷ hp), where kerb exists: 4.6 MT 6.13; 2.5 MT 190 hp 7.82; 2.5 AT 8.53; 1.8 MT 160 hp 9.00; 2.5 MT 160 hp 9.28; 2.0 MT 131 hp 11.72; 1.8 MT 120 hp (1500 kg) 12.50; 1.8 MT 120 hp (1550 kg) 12.92; 2.0 MT 116 hp 13.23. The 4.6 MT carries the least mass per horsepower; the 116 hp diesel manual carries the most.

Which version to choose

Daily distance, lowest measured mixed fuel: 2.0 MT 116 hp or 2.0 MT 131 hp (both 5.8 L/100 km). Take 131 hp if you want 11.3 s and 300 Nm; take 116 hp if you want 7.7 city versus 8.1. Do not take a diesel Automatic unless you accept 6.9 mixed and a slower 0–100.

Automatic without diesel: only 1.8 AT 120 hp and 2.5 AT 177 hp. The 2.5 AT is 3.8 s quicker (9.4 vs 13.2) and 25 km/h faster (215 vs 190), at +1.5 mixed (10.9 vs 9.4) and +3.4 city (16 vs 12.6). If the gearbox must be Automatic and the sprint must be under 10 s, the data leaves 2.5 AT 177 hp. If mixed fuel matters more than the clock, 1.8 AT 120 hp still uses less than the 2.5 AT.

Lightest, highest hp/L gasoline four: 1.8 MT 160 hp — 1440 kg, 89.1 hp/L, Turbo, same 11.6 s / 195 km/h as the lighter-tuned 1.8 MT 120 hp (1500 kg). You do not buy a shorter 0–100 versus that 120 hp manual; you buy 215 Nm, 60 kg less, and Turbo.

Avoid mixing up the three 1.8 MT rows: 160 hp Turbo; 120 hp at 1500 kg / 11.6 s / 195 km/h / city 10.6; 120 hp at 1550 kg / 12.2 s / 188 km/h / city 11.4. Same badge, three outcomes.

V-shaped 6 without economy figures: 2.5 MT 190 hp if 8.3 s and 227 km/h are the target; 2.5 MT 160 hp if 9.2 s / 211 km/h is enough and you want the same 1485 kg. Fuel use is not measured — do not treat either as “economical” from this file.

Only RWD, only 8 cylinders, only 250 km/h, only listed wheels: 4.6 MT 260 hp. It is 1.8 s quicker than the 2.5 MT 190 hp, 110 kg heavier, mixed 13.2, range on 65 L about 492 km. Ground clearance still 120 mm where measured — the V8 does not buy extra clearance.

Problems / reliability: not measured in this data. Do not infer durability from hp, kg, or L/100 km.

Short list: commuting and measured mpg → 2.0 MT 131 hp (or 116 hp). Manual gasoline four with least mass → 1.8 MT 160 hp. Automatic that is not the slowest → 2.5 AT 177 hp. Fastest FWD with measured 0–100 → 2.5 MT 190 hp. Fastest overall and only RWD → 4.6 MT 260 hp. Slowest gasoline and highest 1.8 mixed → 1.8 AT 120 hp. Nine further versions exist in the model count (21 − 12) but are not shown here, so they cannot be ranked.