BMW Z4 review

Sports cars are something of a vanishing breed. That's a shame because just a few hundred metres behind the wheel of the BMW Z4 is enough to confirm there's something special about this ultra-focused setup. Every journey becomes an occasion as you settle into its low-slung seats and point the long bonnet to the horizon, accompanied by the sounds and smells of the outside world with the top down.

Parked among more humdrum cars, the Z4 feels like something quite exotic. It looks low, long and wide with dramatically swept-back headlights helping it appear fast when it's stood still. We're not sold on the snout-like 'kidney' grilles at the front – which have become comically oversized in recent years – but the Z4's lasting impression is led by its dramatic sports-car profile, not its iffy styling details.

That long bonnet plays host to either a 2.0-litre or 3.0-litre turbo petrol engine. Our test car is a mid-range sDrive30i which, like the majority of Z4 models, is equipped with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Firing 258hp at the rear wheels, this engine makes light work of the Z4's roughly 1.5-tonne frame, and BMW's resisted the temptation to fit a fake engine noise generator, like you'll find on the M135i or Mini Hatchback JCW.

We'll cover the handling in more detail later on, but this is one of the Z4's slightly weaker areas. Make no mistake, the car is easy enough to drive in day-to-day use and remains stable at high speeds, but it can't seem to decide whether it wants to be a full-bore sports car, or a calmer grand tourer. The steering is ultra-quick with very little weight just off centre, which makes the front end feel darty, but the suspension allows more roll than you'd expect, which blunts the sense of handling accuracy.

That'll only matter to you if your biggest priority is the driving experience, in which case you might prefer the more organic setup you'll find in a Mazda MX-5 or Porsche Boxster. For most drivers, the Z4 is more about the overall experience, which includes the premium cabin, the clever on-board tech, and the image the car projects – all areas where the Z4 excels.

Between the Z4's posh image and the desirable badge on the bonnet, it's a fairly expensive car. Entry-level models cost more than £45,000 when new, with high-performance versions getting much closer to £60,000. That trails cars like the Porsche 718 Cayman but is more than you'd have paid for a contemporary Audi TT or Mazda MX-5. By way of comparison, at the time of writing Motorpoint has several used Z4s for sale, with prices comfortably below £30,000.

By most objective measures, the Z4's interior scores well. Build quality is solid and cabin materials feel appropriately expensive too. The dashboard layout makes sense, with lots of physical buttons and dials, making on-the-fly adjustments easier than prodding at a touchscreen. Meanwhile, the infotainment system itself features big, bright screens as standard with crystal-clear graphics.

Special mention must be given to the Z4's seats. All versions get the same M Sport heated bucket seats with premium-feeling Vernasca leather upholstery – extra marks for the no-cost optional Cognac, Ivory or Magma Red colours, which feel fancier than the ubiquitous black seats. The generous side bolsters hold you in place through tight corners, and there's attractive Art-Deco-style stitched detailing near the headrests.

The Z4 misses out on BMW's latest totally screen-based infotainment setup and, for many drivers, that's probably no bad thing. It means you still have physical controls for climate, track and volume adjustments, plus a row of configurable infotainment shortcut buttons. The touchscreen reacts reasonably quickly to your taps, but the Z4 retains a secondary rotary controller in the centre console, which makes on-screen selections easier if you're driving. Of course, this slightly old-school setup doesn't look as modern as recent BMWs like the new 5 Series, and some of the menu layouts try to pack too much information onto the screen.

So, objectively, there's little to complain about in the Z4's cabin. Subjectively, however, we're left with a sense that the interior doesn't quite feel as special when compared to the rest of the BMW range. Most of the Z4's hardware and switchgear is lifted directly from everyday BMW models like the 3 Series, whereas older Z4 models did more to mark themselves out from the brand's more conservative cars. It's far from a dealbreaker for most buyers, but we might've wished for a more outlandish cabin design to match the car's exterior.

With just two seats and two doors, practicality clearly isn't the Z4's strong suit. Despite that, it's one of the more spacious two-seaters on the market, handily outstripping the rather cramped Mazda MX-5. Tall adults will find the seats slide far back enough to get their feet on the pedals, though very lofty individuals might find their heads brush the fabric roof. Thankfully, you can fold it away in just a few seconds, even while moving at low speeds, to eliminate all headroom concerns.

It's easy to find a comfortable driving position too. There's a wide range of adjustment, plus a steering column that reaches far out if you prefer a more reclined position. In addition, all cars get adjustable under-thigh support, which helps combat knee strain on long drives. Drop the seat to its lowest position for the ultimate low-slung sports-car experience, and you'll barely see over the wheels of most passing traffic.

The Z4's 281-litre boot is small by most standards, but is actually one of the largest cargo areas in this class. You do have to lift luggage quite high to clear the Z4's high bumper, but overall access is reasonably good thanks to the wide boot opening. The area itself is wide and fairly deep, though ends up being quite short thanks to the rearwards cabin position. As a plus point, boot space isn't impacted by the folding roof mechanism.

Interior storage will probably be sufficient for the driver and sole passenger. There's a fairly deep centre cubby between the seats, plus an average-sized glovebox. You'll also find slim door bin pockets that are only really big enough for a pack of sweets. That's still better than the equivalent MX-5, however, which gets no door pockets at all.

There are really just two engines available for the Z4. Most cars are powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo engine making 197hp in sDrive20i models or boosted up to 258hp in sDrive30i versions. Above those sits the Z4 M40i, outfitted by a 3.0-litre, six-cylinder turbo engine making a meaty 340hp.

Our test car is the mid-range sDrive30i and we reckon most buyers will be very happy with this engine. It makes plenty of low-down torque which, when combined with the quick-shifting automatic gearbox, means the car can accelerate swiftly without any sense of strain. Lean more insistently on the throttle and you're rewarded by excellent straight-line pace with the engine pushing hard all the way to redline.

One of the main caveats to the Z4's sports-car credentials is that almost all models come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard. That does remove a layer of driver engagement, but most owners will probably prefer the auto's more relaxed everyday driving experience, making the Z4 liveable when you're just cruising around. A six-speed manual is available as an option for the range-topping M40i version.

Hopping quickly into an sDrive20i model, we think the more powerful sDrive30i is worth the upgrade. It feels like a bigger jump than the 61 extra on-paper horsepower suggests, and definitely pushes the Z4 from feeling 'pretty quick' into 'properly fast' territory. Of course, the M40i wins the most bragging rights, but we don't think there's much need to upgrade to that engine – the Z4 sDrive30i already feels as fast as it looks.

Probably the most important part of the sports car experience is that every drive should feel like an occasion. For the most part, the Z4 delivers on that promise. The natural excitement that comes from drop-top motoring is enhanced by your sporty seating position and the plentiful power available when you put your foot down.

Inevitably, you'll want to tackle a twisty road in your Z4 and this is where the experience becomes a little less convincing. It nails the usual BMW qualities – feeling stable at speed with plenty of acceleration and braking available under foot – but it doesn't quite feel as agile as a sports car should. That's mostly down to the suspension, which has a slightly soft initial response, resulting in some body roll through corners and direction changes.

If BMW was trying to set the Z4 up as a long-distance GT cruiser, we could've forgiven the supple springs. They certainly help make the car fairly comfortable during day-to-day use. However, no one seems to have told the engineers who developed the Z4's steering, which is ultra-fast to respond. That ends up making the front end feel hyperactive and skittish, with the suspension sent wallowing if you turn too aggressively. Ultimately, you sense the car would be improved either by firming up and becoming more sporty, or by softening up and relaxing into a calmer grand touring car.

These are nit-picky points, however, and most drivers will find the Z4's overall experience strikes the right balance between sports car excitement and everyday usability. And, of course, all of this is enhanced by its convertible roof that puts you closer to the action.