HowreliableUsed car reliability from every MOT

MOT results · tests in 2025 · Great Britain

MG ZS reliability: what the MOT shows

60,818 MG ZS cars had an MOT in 2025. 82.3% passed first time, against 86.8% for other cars of the same age and mileage. Most of the gap comes from cars registered from 2018 to 2020, which fail on brakes 2.3 times as often as comparable cars.

82.3%passed first time

−4.5points against cars of the same age and mileage

2.3×as many brake failures as comparable cars

Report card

MG ZS MOT results by registration year

Each dot compares how often MG ZS cars of that year failed on one area of the test with cars of the same age and mileage.

Much betterBetterAbout the sameWorseMuch worse

Year	Passed first time	Against same age and mileage	MOTs
2018	74.6%	−7.3	5,098
2019	75.6%	−8.9	8,676
2020	81.1%	−5.4	12,474
2021	86.6%	−1.4	15,157
2022	85.3%	−3.6	18,801

Much worse: failed on that area at least 1.5 times as often. Worse: 1.15 to 1.5 times. Better: up to 0.87 times. Much better: two-thirds as often or less. Gaps under half a percentage point count as about the same. Registration year is the year the car was first used.

MG ZS years to avoid, going by the MOT

Well behind2018 to 2020−5.4 to −8.9 ptsMost common failure in every one of these years: headlamp (not working on dipped beam). 26,248 MOTs.

Level2021−1.4 ptsMost common failure: brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick). 15,157 MOTs.

Behind2022−3.6 ptsMost common failure: coil spring (fractured or broken). 18,801 MOTs.

Well behind: 5 or more points below cars of the same age and mileage. Behind: 1.5 to 5 points below. Level: within 1.5 points. Ahead: 1.5 or more points above.

What fails

MG ZS common faults at the MOT

4.7% of MG ZS MOTs failed on brakes, against 2.1% for cars of the same age and mileage, and 2.8% on suspension, against 1.4%.

Most common failures

Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.0%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.3%

Headlamp: not working on dipped beam1.9%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.3%

Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.9%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.2%

Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.6%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.8%

Coil spring: fractured or broken1.4%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.3%

Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.3%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.8%

Headlamp: not working on main beam1.1%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.1%

Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative0.9%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.3%

MG ZSSame age and mileage

Fails more often than other cars

Headlamp: not working on main beam20.8×1.06% of MG ZS MOTs (645) against 0.05% for cars of the same age and mileage

Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits17.5×0.30% of MG ZS MOTs (180) against 0.02% for cars of the same age and mileage

Wheel bearings: rough when rotated13.6×0.46% of MG ZS MOTs (277) against 0.03% for cars of the same age and mileage

Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits10.6×0.25% of MG ZS MOTs (150) against 0.02% for cars of the same age and mileage

Service brake performance: excessively binding6.6×0.45% of MG ZS MOTs (274) against 0.07% for cars of the same age and mileage

Headlamp aim not tested: unable to be tested6.2×0.40% of MG ZS MOTs (246) against 0.07% for cars of the same age and mileage

Mileage

Behind at every mileage

MG ZS cars pass less often than cars of the same age and mileage at every mileage, by 2.3 to 8.8 points. The gap is widest at 60–90k miles.

MG ZS, first-time pass rateCars of the same age and mileage

Petrol, diesel or hybrid MG ZS

Fuel	MOTs	Passed first time	Same age and mileage	Gap (pts)	Median miles
Petrol	42,414	81.5%	86.6%	−5.1	30,847
Electric	18,372	84.0%	87.2%	−3.1	31,112

Against rivals

MG ZS against other small SUVs

Cars registered 2014 to 2021, each against cars of the same age and mileage. The MG ZS ranks 9 of 12.

Model	MOTs	Passed first time	Same age and mileage	Gap (pts)
1. MINI Countryman	85,231	85.2%	79.6%	+5.6
2. VW T-Roc	74,609	90.6%	85.0%	+5.6
3. Kia Niro	71,890	86.9%	83.4%	+3.4
4. Suzuki Vitara	64,194	84.2%	80.8%	+3.4
5. Ford Puma	54,374	90.9%	87.6%	+3.3
6. Toyota C-HR	84,597	84.6%	83.2%	+1.4
7. Renault Captur	147,562	75.8%	79.2%	−3.4
8. Nissan Juke	226,911	73.4%	78.1%	−4.7
9. MG ZS	41,754	81.0%	86.0%	−5.0
10. Ford EcoSport	101,045	76.1%	81.7%	−5.6
11. Peugeot 2008	126,311	72.5%	79.3%	−6.7
12. Vauxhall Mokka	216,957	67.4%	77.3%	−9.9

Check these before you buy a used MG ZS

What testers most often noted as advisories on MG ZS cars in 2025: wear that passed but was close to failing. Figures in brackets are for cars of the same age and mileage.

Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened17% (5%)
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge15% (13%)
Brake pads: wearing thin8% (6%)
Condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing7% (7%)
Condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords2% (2%)
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge2% (2%)
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively2% (2%)
Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement2% (1%)

Questions about MG ZS reliability

Is the MG ZS reliable?

At the MOT, 82.3% of 60,818 MG ZS MOTs in 2025 passed first time, against 86.8% for cars of the same age and mileage. 2018 to 2020: well behind (−5.4 to −8.9 points). 2021: level (−1.4 points). 2022: behind (−3.6 points).

Which MG ZS years should I avoid?

Going by 2025 MOT results, 2018 to 2020 and 2022. Those cars passed first time −5.4 to −8.9 and −3.6 points against comparable cars.

What is the most common MOT failure on a MG ZS?

Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm: 2.0% of MG ZS MOTs, against 1.3% for cars of the same age and mileage.

Is the MG ZS more reliable than the Nissan Juke?

For cars registered 2014 to 2021, the Nissan Juke passed 73.4% first time, −4.7 points against comparable cars. The MG ZS passed 81.0%, −5.0 points.

How we measure

Data. Every car MOT in Great Britain in 2025 (31,475,521 first tests on cars first used 2005 to 2022), from DVSA's anonymised MOT test data. Retests are left out.

Passed first time. A car passed if its first test that year ended in a pass. Cars that failed and were fixed within the hour count as fails, as DVSA counts them.

Same age and mileage. We group every car by the year it was first used and its mileage (under 30k, 30–60k, 60–90k, 90–120k, over 120k). The comparison figure is what those groups scored, weighted to match the MG ZS's mix of ages and mileages.

Model. Every car DVSA records as a MG ZS: 13 recorded model names, from "ZS" to trims such as "ZS EXCLUSIVE EV".

The full method, including how each report-card dot and year group is decided.