MG · MG ZR · Cars
MG ZR Uncommon
As of 2026 Q2, 6,808 MG ZRs remain registered in the UK — an increasingly uncommon sight on today's roads. That's down from a peak of 31,650 in 2014 Q3 — only 22% of the high-water mark, a loss of about 24,842 cars. They're disappearing at roughly 520 a year (7.6% of what's left), a pace that would halve the survivors by around 2035 if it held — though in practice the last, most-cherished examples tend to linger far longer. Tellingly, 81% are declared SORN — kept off the road in garages and barns rather than driven, the signature of a car being looked after rather than used up.
Survivors over time
How rare is it?
Uncommon — a few thousand still about (6,808).
Rarer than 19% of the 2,315 UK car models we track.
Fuel breakdown
📉 Rate of decline
Disappearing at about 520 a year (7.6% of survivors). At that pace roughly 4,578 would remain in 5 years, and half the current fleet is gone by around ~2035.
About the ZR
The MG ZR is an MG branded "hot hatch" version of the Rover 25 supermini class car, produced by MG Rover at their Longbridge plant in Birmingham from 2001 to 2005. Compared to the Rover 25, the ZR featured a number of styling modifications and performance enhancements, such as updated sports suspension and a less baffled exhaust.
MG ZR — questions & answers
How many MG ZR are left in the UK?
As of 2026 Q2, 6,808 MG ZR were still registered in the UK — 1,295 licensed and on the road, plus 5,513 declared SORN (off-road). The figures come from official DVLA vehicle licensing data.
Is the MG ZR rare?
The MG ZR is uncommon, with 6,808 still about, making it rarer than 19% of the 2,315 UK car models we track.
Is the MG ZR increasing or decreasing?
Over the last year the number of MG ZR on UK roads fell by 168 (2.4%). At the current rate of decline, roughly 4,578 would remain in 5 years.
What fuel do most MG ZR use?
Most MG ZR run on petrol — about 90% of those still registered, with the rest split across diesel.
When did the MG ZR peak?
The MG ZR peaked at 31,650 registered in 2014 Q3, and was first recorded in the data in 2014 Q3.