MG ZT 120

The ZT 120 isn't MG's most impressive offering, but it still has a lot to recommend it. The engine and performance are not up to sporting saloon standards, but this is offset by the car's incredible value for money. At this price, it looks hugely attractive alongside smaller and less racy models, and is a bargain buy.

Want to fill a car showroom with eager buyers? Then introduce an ultra-affordable entry-level machine to bring punters on to the forecourt.

It sounds easy, yet in reality it is anything but! After all, that base model is usually poorly equipped, unpleasant to drive and lacking in even the most rudimentary creature comforts. Well, impressively, MG Rover's MG ZT 120 is not like that at all. At £15,995, it is cheaper than a Ford Mondeo 1.8 Zetec, and is £1,000 less than the entry-level Rover 75 on which it's based, despite wearing the more prestigious and racy MG badge.

Unlike with some rivals, the bargain price won't leave you feeling short-changed. Specification is identical to that of other ZTs, which means you get a bodykit, alloy wheels, sculpted sport seats, a decent stereo, twin front foglamps and heated mirrors. The only difference between the ZT 120 and the ZT 160, which costs £3,200 more, is what lies under the bonnet.

Power here comes courtesy of the 1.8-litre K Series engine, a proven unit that has done sterling service in the 75 since the model's launch in 1998. The motor develops 118bhp and is mated to a close-ratio five-speed transmission. It offers reasonable economy, and will appeal to company car drivers thanks to its fairly low CO2 emissions of 184g/km, placing it in the 20 per cent tax bracket.

But despite the highly competitive price, the engine is the ZT 120's weakest link. That it is an old unit is apparent as soon as you turn the key. Refinement is poor, with plenty of cabin noise, while the powerplant has to be worked hard in order to make swift progress. Despite a box which has been set up to give better acceleration, the car still feels quite slow off the mark, while the short gearing means that engine noise is fairly intrusive when cruising at the legal motorway limit.

In all other respects, though, the 120 is a pleasant enough machine to drive. The interior is comfortable and logically laid-out, the neatly trimmed gearlever offers a positive change, while the steering and brakes have a reassuring level of feedback. Handling is better than on the 75, thanks to the ZT's sport suspension bushes and stiffened anti-roll bars.

This means the car is surprisingly nimble on twisty B-roads, although the ride is a little rougher. If anything, though, the competence of the chassis only reminds the driver that this car can handle more power than this coarse and unresponsive engine provides.

But the ZT undeniably looks like a car that costs far more than £16,000. So if you want a model with the ability to impress, and don't mind the loss of power or refinement, then the ZT 120 is an appealing prospect. It's reasonably good fun to drive, and offers excellent practicality and comfort.