MG Zr MOT pass rate: 72.6% (1,703 tests, 2025)

The MG Zr passed 72.6% of its 1,703 MOT tests in 2025 — 4.9 points below the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 21 years old with 80,518 miles on the clock.

72.6%Pass rate (2025)

1,703MOT tests analysed

80,518 miMedian mileage at test

21 yrsMedian age at test

How the Zr compares

MG Zr

72.6%

UK average (all Class 4 vehicles)

77.5% across 33.1 million tests

MG average (all models)

84.9%

What fails most on the MG Zr

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the Zr:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	369	24.9%
2	Brakes	263	17.7%
3	Body, chassis, structure	235	15.8%
4	Noise, emissions and leaks	185	12.5%
5	Suspension	179	12.1%
6	Tyres	108	7.3%

Pre-MOT checklist for Zr owners

Based on the failure profile above, ten minutes with a torch before your test removes the most likely fail items:

Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
Look underneath for corrosion around sills and subframes, especially on older cars
A blowing exhaust or visible smoke will fail; warm the engine fully before the test
Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system

Check the engine before the tester does

A stored fault code with the engine light on is an automatic Major defect. Scan and clear resolved faults before booking.

Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

Zr pass rate by registration year

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2003	1,570	69.9%	+4.8 pts	84,051
2004	1,997	69.4%	+5.1 pts	79,578

Check a specific Zr before you buy

Pass rates describe the model; they can’t tell you about the one car you’re looking at. Run its plate through our free MOT history check to see its personal record of failures, advisories and mileage readings.

Other MG models

378.5% pass rate · 19,553 tests ZS79.0% pass rate · 18,837 tests Hs Exclusive S-A92.5% pass rate · 10,003 tests 5 Exclusive90.2% pass rate · 9,518 tests ZS Exclusive EV87.7% pass rate · 9,445 tests ZS Exclusive Vti-Tech88.4% pass rate · 9,373 tests Tf73.7% pass rate · 8,549 tests Hs Exclusive90.9% pass rate · 8,098 tests

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a MG Zr?

In 2025, 72.6% of 1,703 first MOT tests on the MG Zr were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the Zr fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (24.9% of its recorded defects), followed by brakes.

Is the MG Zr reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 72.6% it performs below the national average at a median age of 21 years and 80,518 miles. Always check the individual car's history too.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 extract (Class 4 initial tests only; retests excluded). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures rounded to one decimal place.