@@ -68,6 +68,15 @@ def __getattr__(self, attr):
         # to the underlying C implementation).
         return getattr(self._renderer, attr)
 
+    def close_group(self, s):
+        # docstring inherited
+        # If rasterizing can be stopped, stop it before closing the group so
+        # the vector backend receives the matching close_group (#32174).
+        if self._raster_depth == 0 and self._rasterizing:
+            self.stop_rasterizing()
+            self._rasterizing = False
+        self._renderer.close_group(s)
+
     def close_blend_group(self):
         # docstring inherited
         # If rasterizing can be stopped, stop it before closing the group
 
@@ -206,6 +206,39 @@ def count_tag(fig, tag):
     assert count_tag(fig5, "path") == 1  # axis patch
 
 
+def test_rasterized_zorder_axes_hierarchy():
+    # With rasterized artists ending an Axes draw, MixedModeRenderer must flush
+    # before close_group so SVG axes groups stay siblings (#32174).
+    fig, axs = plt.subplots(ncols=2)
+    for ax in axs:
+        ax.scatter([1, 2], [1, 2], rasterized=True, zorder=10)
+
+    with BytesIO() as fd:
+        fig.savefig(fd, format='svg')
+        buf = fd.getvalue().decode()
+
+    # Strip the default namespace so ElementTree tag matching stays simple.
+    buf = buf.replace(' xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"', '', 1)
+    root = xml.etree.ElementTree.fromstring(buf)
+
+    axes_parents = {}
+
+    # Recurses the SVG hierarchy to find any Axes parent for each Axes
+    def walk(elem, axes_ancestor=None):
+        gid = elem.get('id') if elem.tag == 'g' else None
+        next_ancestor = axes_ancestor
+        if gid is not None and gid.startswith('axes_'):
+            axes_parents[gid] = axes_ancestor
+            next_ancestor = gid
+        for child in elem:
+            walk(child, next_ancestor)
+
+    walk(root)
+    assert set(axes_parents) >= {'axes_1', 'axes_2'}
+    assert axes_parents['axes_1'] is None
+    assert axes_parents['axes_2'] is None
+
+
 # Use Computer Modern Sans Serif, not Helvetica (which has no \textwon).
 @mpl.style.context('default')
 @needs_usetex