2024 BMW Z4

The 2024 BMW Z4 is a compact sports car that can seat up to two people. It’s meant for drivers who want a premium convertible with agile handling and punchy engines. BMW sells the Z4 with turbocharged engines that deliver strong performance and help the convertible get to 60 mph in as little as 3.5 seconds. It’s also one of the few convertibles in its class that’s available with a manual transmission. Beyond its impressive performance, the Z4 has a premium interior with high-tech features and premium interior materials. Its quiet interior and relatively roomy trunk that has 9.9 cubic feet of cargo space are rare for the class, as well.

The Z4 stands out in the high-performance convertible segment with its upscale interior, punchy turbocharged engines, advanced tech features, relatively spacious cargo area, and quiet interior. Keep in mind, though, it trails key rivals when it comes to handling capability, rear visibility, engine performance, and interior storage compartments. While the Z4 is enjoyable to drive and has strong engine performance, it doesn’t have the same sharp, track-ready handling as some competitors. Additionally, some of the Z4’s competitors are available with more powerful engines that bring quicker acceleration. And with its roof in place, the Z4 can be hard to drive, while its cabin has limited storage compartments.

BMW Z4 Changes for 2024

• Optional 6-speed manual transmission.

• Updated adaptive suspension settings.

Where the Z4 Sits in the 2024 BMW Lineup

BMW’s vehicle lineup includes sports cars, SUVs, and cars such as the 3 Series. The Z4 is the smallest convertible in BMW’s lineup. It’s positioned below the 4 Series, M4, 8 Series, and M8.

2024 BMW Z4 vs. the Competition

A performance-oriented convertible such as the Z4 is an ideal choice for shoppers who want something with a luxurious interior, powerful engines, and sporty handling. The Z4 competes against these rivals:

• Chevrolet Corvette: Powerful V8 engines, sharp handling, aggressive exterior styling, and a luxurious cabin.

• Porsche Boxster: Track-focused handling, mid-engine design, up to 493 horsepower, standard 6-speed manual transmission, and a driver-focused design.

• Jaguar F-Type: Elegant exterior styling, enjoyable handling, standard all-wheel drive, available 575-horsepower V8 engine, and strong acceleration.

What’s the Best 2024 BMW Z4 Trim for You?

Which Trim Is the Best Value

With features such as LED headlights, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a 10-speaker audio system, dual-zone automatic climate control, and synthetic leather upholstery, the sDrive30i is well-equipped with modern features. Its list of standard equipment also includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay, navigation, Android Auto, auto-dimming mirrors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a power-folding soft-top roof.

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Best Trim for Fuel Economy

The base sDrive30i has a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes 255 horsepower and rear-wheel drive. With an 8-speed automatic transmission, this trim can get up to 28 mpg combined.

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Best Trim for Cargo Space

The Z4 has up to 9.9 cubic feet of cargo space in its trunk.

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Top-of-the-Line Trim

The range-topping M40i is the best option for maximum performance and luxury. It has a turbocharged 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine that makes 382 horsepower, an adaptive suspension, M Sport brakes, a limited-slip differential, heated seats, keyless entry, a heated steering wheel, LED headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, push-button start, 10 audio speakers, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, navigation, and wireless Apple CarPlay.

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Should I Buy an Older BMW Z4 Instead?

The 2024 Z4 is in its third generation, which was introduced with the 2019 model year. Any older third-generation model (2019-2024) will be broadly similar to the 2024 Z4. You could therefore save money by purchasing a used Z4 that’s older than the 2024 model.

You can find a used BMW Z4 with Carfax used car listings. Each used car comes with a free Carfax vehicle history report.

Research the Z4 from other model years

BMW Z4 Hands-On Test Drive

Driven by Carter MacLeod

• Trim Tested: Z4 M40i

• Price as Tested: $76,570 (including destination charge)

The BMW Z4 is a rare breed of car: a competitively priced luxury roadster. This 2-seat convertible has only one real rival, the Porsche Boxster, and the Boxster costs about 20% more. We drove the BMW Z4 in the top-end M40i trim, and these are our impressions.

How It Drives & Handles

The BMW Z4 nicely balances performance, comfort, and practicality. It easily handles commuting duties, especially for the 70% or so of Americans who drive to work alone. The ride is firm but smooth, and the convertible soft top keeps out wind and road noise better than most other convertibles.

The Z4 has two engine options: a base 255-horsepower 4-cylinder and a 382-horsepower 6-cylinder, which is the one we drove. The 6-cylinder makes the Z4 very quick. According to BMW, it can hustle to 60 mph in around 4 seconds. Shifts from the 8-speed transmission (the only option) are discreet. The tires offer solid grip, there is little body lean and the steering is responsive.

Comfort, Quality & Usability

Inside, BMW favors simple lines over flashiness in the Z4, at least when it comes to styling. The simplicity does not carry over for the controls; in contrast to the minimalist dashboards of many competitors, the Z4 retains wide strips of small buttons for the infotainment and climate systems. The sound system boasts eight radio station preset buttons, which feels like a blast from the past. The buttons reduce the number of times drivers need to use the infotainment screen, which is set back into the dashboard. Drivers must use a knob on the center console to control it.

Seating is roomy enough for folks over 6 feet tall. The firm cushions have supportive bolsters and are heated, as is the thick leather-wrapped steering wheel. This, plus the good roof insulation, make a decent case for the Z4 as an all-season car, although it’s RWD-only, so buyers should probably invest in good snow tires.

Storage is not at all a priority in vehicles like this, but the Z4’s 10-cubic-foot trunk is a good deal bigger than the one on the Boxster. Cabin storage is OK, though BMW made an ergonomic blunder putting the cupholders under the armrest.

Editor’s Note: Review is based on test driving the 2023 model.

Carfax vehicle reviews let shoppers compare a vehicle’s specs against its competitors. However, some aspects of a vehicle – performance, comfort, usability – can only be evaluated through actual driving. That’s why we evaluate as many vehicles as we can, so you’ll know what to expect.

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