BMW Z4 Roadster (09 on) - Review

Thanks to the metal folding roof, the Z4 is extremely quiet with slight road noise the only real intrusion at higher speeds. Wind noise is impressively cut out allowing you to enjoy the noise of the six-cylinder engines while the smooth ride means that over poor surfaces the Z4 is comfortable for both passengers. Compared to the previous Z4, this model has a wider cabin plus increased headroom and the difference is very noticeable, especially with both a driver and passenger. The standard seats offer good long distance comfort while the optional sports seats give more side support. With the roof down, buffeting is pleasingly minimal, even at higher speeds, helped by the optional wind deflector that sits between the headrests. The roof itself is very slick and folds up or down at the touch of a button in around 20 seconds

Like the majority of two-seater sports cars, practicality isn't a strong point in the Z4, but it offers enough space to make it useable everyday. With the roof up, the boot offers 310 litres of space - more than a Ford Fiesta - and the load area is easy to access, if not very wide. With the roof retracted, space is cut to just 180-litres which is marginally less than the Mercedes-Benz SLK and it's hard to get to items as they have to be loaded through a narrow slot. An optional through-loading system is available which includes a hatch between the two seats to allow longer items up to 1.7 metres long (such as skis) to be carried. In the front there's a decent central cubby, door pockets that fold open and a storage box with shelves behind the seats.

The cabin of the BMW has a very high quality feel to it, reflected in the precise feel of the air conditioning controls and soft-touch materials on the dash top and doors. Owners of cars with the optional satellite navigation system get an iDrive controller - it's basically a dial (plus a few extra buttons) on the central console that allows you to control all the main functions via a colour screen that flips up on the dashboard. Rather than a conventional handbrake, the Z4 has an electric parking brake which works via a switch next to the gearlever and frees up space. The driving position is perfect thanks to plenty of adjustment in the steering column and seat while the light-coloured roof-lining helps give the cabin a bright feel. One minor gripe is the position of the key. The slot is right in line with the driver's knee and taller owners may find it annoying, especially if they have several other keys attached.