2023 BMW Z4 Convertible

　　

2023 BMW Z4 Review

byBrian WongSenior Reviews Editor

　　Brian Wong has worked in the automotive industry since 2010, writing over 1,000 car-related articles and testing and reviewing hundreds of vehicles over the course of career. Brian is a senior reviews editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Cars.com, Motor Authority and Green Car Reports. Brian has also been featured on MotorWeek as an expert for several car comparisons. He loves convertibles (the smaller the better) and hates paying for parking, so Los Angeles is both the right and wrong city for him.

　　, rating written byBrian WongSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　The BMW Z4 is part of a dying breed of cars: the two-seat roadster. And that's too bad because the Z4 makes cruising around with the sun on your face a joy. Both of the Z4's available engines offer plenty of power, making it easy to zip through traffic or cruise along the highway. The cabin also has more space than expected from a roadster with up-to-date technology offerings, luxury-grade materials and comfortable seats.

　　Admittedly, the 2023 Z4 is not quite as sporty as its rivals in this class, the Audi TT and Porsche 718 Boxster. Its price also puts it up against the lower trim levels of the Chevrolet Corvette. Those vehicles will all be more fun on a twisty canyon road, but the rear-wheel-drive-only Z4 still satisfies as an all-around luxury drop-top.

　　For 2023, BMW is giving the Z4 a midcycle refresh, but the changes are minor. For starters, the base 2.0-liter sDrive30i model now comes with the M Sport package as standard equipment — it brings aerodynamic body kit, a sport suspension and a sport steering wheel. Other changes amount to a freshened grille (that's, mercifully, no larger than the one before), a new metallic purple paint color and a new wheel design. There's no new tech and no mechanical changes for the 2023 Z4, but that doesn't make it any less compelling in a dying subset of sports cars. Check out our Expert Rating below for a detailed breakdown of the pros and cons of the Z4.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Z4 drive? You might expect the four-cylinder option to pale in comparison to the six-cylinder model, but you'd be wrong. During our comprehensive testing regimen, we only found that to be true in terms of outright acceleration. The Z4 sDrive30i (that's the four-cylinder) we tested accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in a brisk 5.3 seconds, while the M40i (that's the six-cylinder) did the deed in a scant 4.1 seconds. Both engines offer good midrange punch, but we were especially impressed with the effortless thrust doled out by the M40i. The four-cylinder Z4 does start to lose steam toward the top of the rev band, especially at higher speeds, but it still scoots through traffic with ease.

　　Whichever model you choose, the brakes provide impressive stopping power. The sDrive30i we tested was equipped with the Dynamic Handling package, which we would heartily recommend, and it actually tied the M40i with a stop from 60 mph in just 104 feet. Both cars exhibited a slightly grabby brake pedal at low speeds on the street. As in many modern BMWs, the steering is mostly devoid of feeling, but it's quick, accurate, direct and stable on the highway.

　　Both versions we tested pulled some impressive numbers on our skidpad: 1.03 g for the sDrive30i and 1.05 g for the M40i. The Z4 lacks the razor-sharp reactions and balance of the Porsche 718 Boxster but it's still a lot of fun on a twisty road.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Z4? Ride quality and comfort depend highly on road conditions even if you're in a Z4 with the optional adaptive M Sport suspension. The Z4 cruises well on the highway and even over less than perfect pavement. That said, the seats are mounted so close to the rear axle that any bounces you do feel are fairly pronounced. The seats are shaped well, but we'd prefer more lateral support. The climate control works quickly and evenly, though there's no convenient way to sync the dual-zone system.

　　The most impressive part might be the Z4's relatively quiet cabin with the top up, especially for a convertible. You won't have to shout just to have a conversation on the highway, and the lack of a roof didn't seem to cause any unnecessary vibrations or rattles.

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