BMW Z4 Review 2024

If you want something nice to sit in and be seen in, with a drop top and two seats that’s fun to drive but not overly compromised, then step right up. The Z4 might not have quite the levels of driver engagement of a Porsche 718 Boxster, but it’s got a better chassis, and is newer, than the Audi TT - likewise Mercedes' SLC. 

It’s surprisingly practical, too, with a capacious boot, while there’s no denying that it’ll turn more heads than any of its roadster rivals thanks to its striking exterior style and relative rarity in comparison to its competition. It’s about as sensible a sports car as you could ask for, which for the most demanding drivers won’t hold a great deal of appeal, but for the rest of you it’s a compelling all-round package.  

The list isn’t very long, and it’s largely German, with the Z4’s long-held foes being the Audi TT Roadster, Porsche 718 Boxster and the Mercedes-Benz SLC. Buyers could also go for a Jaguar F-Type, too. Alternatively, you could save some cash and opt for the Mazda MX-5 that is still one of the most engaging sports cars out there.

It is not just the Z4’s design that pleases, BMW’s considered material choices make sure you feel like you’re in a high quality car. It all feels superbly built, with no evidence of flimsy or hard/scratchy surfaces anywhere in the cockpit-like cabin. 

Unlike its key Porsche rival, you don’t have to spend lots of money on optional, upmarket trim materials, either, with the choices inside limited to the colour of your leather – these being black, cognac, ivory white or magma red – and whether you want aluminium or black high gloss trim, the choice not adding any additional price to your bill. Indeed, the only interior material option is that of Aluminium Mesh effect, which is bundled with some other upgrades.  

BMW was among the first to adopt screens into its interiors, and its expertise here remains very evident, with the Z4's infotainment operation being among the very best to operate. 

The main screen is a 10.25-inch touchscreen, but if you’re unconvinced by it, or just don’t want messy fingerprints showing up on it – these always more obvious in the sun with the roof down on a roadster – then the iDrive controller on the centre console can be used instead. Likewise, most of the controls that the iDrive manages is replicated by buttons on the steering wheel. 

The main screen provides access to the DAB tuner, Apple CarPlay preparation, BMW’s Connected Package Professional which bundles concierge services, real time traffic information, connected navigation, connected music and more connected things you’ll probably never knew you needed or wanted.

There’s the option of adding a Technology Package for £1890 with the BMW Z4, which adds Harman/Kardon audio, enhanced Bluetooth connection with wireless charging, a parking assistant, WIFI hotspot preparation and a head-up display. That head-up display is a useful feature, because the 10.25-inch configurable screen that replaces conventional instruments isn’t particularly clear, or pleasing to look at, the head-up display projecting everything you need into your line of sight in the windscreen. 

Sports cars aren’t really bought with practicality and space in mind, but the BMW Z4 does at least have some concessions to practicality, indeed, it’s among the best in its class here. The cabin itself feels spacious, there’s a good amount of cubby storage, though the cup holders in the rearward section of the centre console do seem perilously close to elbows and arms– best stick to short espressos for your take-away beverage of choice, opposed to a super-sized Coke.

There’s space behind the seats to stuff jackets, a slim laptop bag or suchlike, and if you’ve optioned that Technology Package there’s a wireless charger for your smartphone in a cubby in front of the automatic gear selector.

The front passenger seat has an ISOFIX mount for baby and child seats, while the Comfort Plus Pack, an option we’d recommend for the other things its brings – electric memory seat adjustment – also adds a hatch between the seats for thru loading longer items in the unlikely event you take your Z4 skiing. 

You’ll not be short of space in that boot on the BMW Z4, either, which offers 281-litres of capacity. It’s a good size and shape, too, being able to accommodate a decent amount of luggage, swallowing a proper suitcase as well as a set of golf clubs with relative ease. Unlike some rivals the BMW Z4’s boot space isn’t impacted if you’ve got the roof down.      

The BMW Z4 was available with three different engine choices, with a pair of 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder units badged sDrive20i and sDrive30i, and the range topping M40i, which has a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six under its long bonnet. This was pared back to just the sDrive20i and M40i in mid-2022.

The sDrive20i has 197PS, that enough to allow a respectable 6.6 second 0-62mph time, the now discontinued sDrive30i improving that by having 258PS for a 5.4 second 0-62mph time. Pick that M40i and the turbocharged straight-six ups the power to 340PS and drops the 0-62mph time to 4.5 seconds, it sounding the best of the three, too. 

Regardless of the engine choice all come fitted with an eight-speed automatic as standard, BMW not offering the Z4 with a manual transmission, unlike its Porsche 718 Boxster rival. 

It shifts well though, and offers the choice of controlling it yourself, via wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The M40i is effortlessly quick, but there’s enjoyment to be had with the lesser engines, as you need to work them fairly hard to get the best performance out of them. Being turbocharged does mean there’s good low rev flexibility for less hurried driving, and economy in the entry-level model is impressive for a sports car.  

Sports cars come with some expectation of compromises, but the BMW Z4 isn’t quite as bad as some in this respect, indeed, in some areas it’s a little too quiet. 

The engines aren’t particularly aural, BMW piping sounds through the audio system to supplement it, and it sounds a little bit false. The straight-six of the M40i is better in this respect, with a more purposeful growl than its four-cylinder relations. Elsewhere the Z4 is nicely muted, with the roof up it’s very hushed, even at speed, with wind noise better contained than some of its roadster competition.

There’s a bit of tyre noise on the road, it more notable on rougher surfaces, but it’s not any worse than its rivals in that regard. 

The BMW Z4 has scored a five-star maximum score in the Euro NCAP crash tests, its performance so good it was singled out by the safety organisation as setting a new benchmark for safety for cars of this type. A lot of that is down to its strength in an impact, but also its active safety aids in helping you avoid one in the first place. As standard, all BMW Z4s come with Active Guard, which comprises of front collision warning with brake intervention, lane departure warning with steering pulse and speed limit assist. 

All come with tyre pressure monitoring, too, and front and rear park distance control. Traction and stability control is also standard, while there’s a standard fit Isofix child seat mount on the front passenger seat, too. 

Driver and passenger front airbags, knee airbags and side airbags are all standard equipment with the BMW Z4. Optional safety-related equipment includes the availability of a head-up display, as well as a Driving Assistant, with Approach Control Warning, Cross-traffic Warning, Lane Change Warning, rear collision prevention and speed limit information, this package adding around £900 to the BMW Z4’s list price.   

BMW has finished in 12th position out of 29 manufacturers in the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index, which is better placed than both Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Remember that the BMW Z4 was jointly developed with Toyota, and the Japanese brand enjoys and excellent reputation for reliability.  

Sports cars are indulgent, performance focused cars, and they’ll be more to insure because of that. The BMW Z4 sDrive20i starts at group 30 insurance, with the M Sport version of the same engine adding a grouping to that for group 31. The bigger power sDrive30i Sport and sDrive30i M Sport are groups 33 and 34 respectively, and the M40i is up in groups 37 to 38. 

CO2 emissions for the sDrive2.0i are 161g/km, which means a first year VED tax payment of £680.

The M40i is now at 180g/km, so attracts a first year payment of £1095.

All Z4 models bought new will have to pay the surcharge applied to cars costing more than £40,000 new - currently set at £490 per year until the car passes its fifth birthday. That's on top of the £190 standard VED rate, too, remember.

Sport was the starting point to begin with for this generation of Z4. It has 18-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth, Two-Zone control air conditioning, BMW Live cockpit Professional, Connected Drive Professional, Cruise Control, M Sport seats, Park Distance Control, seat heating, leather upholstery, tyre pressure monitoring and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

M Sport is now the entry step to the range since the middle of 2022 and adds M Sport alloy wheels, high gloss exterior trim, M body styling, M braking system (sDrive3.0i only) M Sport suspension and an M leather steering wheel.

The M40i gets 19-inch alloy wheels, Adaptive M suspension, lumbar support in seats, and seat electric adjustment with memory function.