35i sDrive 2dr Convertible (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7AM)
sDrive35i Roadster RWD
28i sDrive 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl 240 hp 8A)
sDrive35i Roadster RWD
35i sDrives 2dr Convertible (3.0L 6cyl 335 hp 7A)
28i sDrive 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl 240 hp 8A)
28i sDrive 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl 240 hp 8A)
28i sDrive 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl 240 hp 8A)
28i sDrive 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl 240 hp 8A)
28i sDrive 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl 240 hp 8A)
28i sDrive 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl 240 hp 8A)
35i sDrive 2dr Convertible (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7AM)
28i sDrive 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl 240 hp 8A)
35i sDrive 2dr Convertible (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7AM)
Don’t want to go far?
Find all cars near me?30i sDrive 2dr Convertible (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7AM)
28i sDrive 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
28i sDrive 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl 240 hp 8A)
28i sDrive 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl 240 hp 8A)
28i sDrive 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl 240 hp 8A)
35i sDrive 2dr Convertible (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7AM)
35i sDrive 2dr Convertible (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7AM)
35i sDrive 2dr Convertible (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7AM)
28i sDrive 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl 240 hp 8A)
28i sDrive 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
Overall Rating
Z4 comes across as rather unathletic thanks to its heft and grand touring positioning. It corners with excellent stability and good balance, but it is ultimately soft for a sporting car if you're headed to a track.
Despite being one of the oldest models in the BMW catalog, the Z4 has aged well since its 2009 redesign. Up against the rivals like the rebooted Porsche Boxster, the Z4 comes across as rather unathletic thanks to its heft and grand touring positioning. It corners with excellent stability and good balance, but it is ultimately soft for a sporting car if you're headed to a track. In town or on a quiet byway, the suspension delivers a laid-back ride and an extra-cost Sport Package turns up the wick a notch or two.
The 2016 BMW Z4 offers sleek styling, a high-class interior, a roomy cabin for two, zippy acceleration, and a smooth ride, and more than enough performance to make it desirable. The base trim sDrive28i would be the recommended one here since it turns out to be the best value for money offering in the lineup.
35i sDrive 2dr Convertible (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7AM)
35i sDrive 2dr Convertible (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7AM)
28i sDrive 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
28i sDrive 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl 240 hp 8A)
28i sDrive 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl 240 hp 8A)
28i sDrive 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl 240 hp 8A)
Z4 comes across as rather unathletic thanks to its heft and grand touring positioning. It corners with excellent stability and good balance, but it is ultimately soft for a sporting car if you're headed to a track.
Despite being one of the oldest models in the BMW catalog, the Z4 has aged well since its 2009 redesign. Up against the rivals like the rebooted Porsche Boxster, the Z4 comes across as rather unathletic thanks to its heft and grand touring positioning. It corners with excellent stability and good balance, but it is ultimately soft for a sporting car if you're headed to a track. In town or on a quiet byway, the suspension delivers a laid-back ride and an extra-cost Sport Package turns up the wick a notch or two.
The 2016 BMW Z4 is a two seater convertible with a retractable hardtop roof. There are three versions that correspond to engine choice: sDrive28i, sDrive35i, and sDrive35is. The 28i trim comes standard with the turbocharged four-cylinder engine, 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic and adaptive bi-xenon headlights, LED running lights, automatic wipers, power-folding heated mirrors, a soft-close automatic trunk lid, cruise control, keyless ignition and entry, and dual-zone automatic climate control.
"SensaTec" premium vinyl upholstery, eight-way power sport seats (with power-adjustable side bolsters and lumbar and manually adjustable thigh support), driver memory functions, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, auto-dimming mirrors, basic BMW Assist service, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, the iDrive electronics interface and a sound system that includes a CD player, HD radio, an auxiliary audio jack and an iPod/USB audio interface are also part of the convertible.
Trim |
sDrive28i |
sDrive35i |
sDrive35is |
---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$49,700 |
$57,500 |
$66,350 |
Key Features |
Adaptive Cruise Control |
Aluminum wheels & tire pressure monitoring system |
Tire Pressure Monitoring System |
Backup camera |
Alarm and backup camera |
A trip computer |
|
Auto-off headlights |
Auto-off headlights and fog lamps |
Driver Illuminated Vanity Mirror |
|
Keyless entry |
Keyless entry and start |
Pass-Through Rear Seat |
|
Power Door Locks |
Remote trunk release |
Bucket Seats |
|
HID headlights |
Heated mirrors |
Electronic Stability Control |
|
Wireless cell phone hookup |
Climate control |
Auxiliary audio input |
|
Adjustable Steering Wheel |
Dual-zone A/C |
Electrochromic rearview mirror |
|
Steering Wheel Controls |
Leather seats |
MP3 player |
Besides its more powerful six-cylinder engine and obligatory automatic transmission, the 35i gets 18-inch wheels and sun-reflective leather upholstery. If you aren't interested in the larger engine, these items are also available on the 28i. The 35is adds an even more powerful engine, unique styling cues, special 18-inch wheels, a sport suspension with adaptive dampers, an upgraded audio system, upgraded interior trim, and a sport steering wheel.
We Recommend
The 2016 BMW Z4 offers sleek styling, a high-class interior, a roomy cabin for two, zippy acceleration, and a smooth ride, and more than enough performance to make it desirable. The base trim sDrive28i would be the recommended one here since it turns out to be the best value for money offering in the lineup.
By blending roadster-grade sportiness with luxury-level comfort, the Z4 carves out a rather more touring-oriented niche for itself. It's quick but civilized. A trio of Z4 choices is on offer: sDrive28i, sDrive35i, and sDrive35is. The 2016 BMW Z4 sDrive28i features a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 240 hp and 260 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and you can get either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic at no extra cost.
Manual-equipped cars include an automatic stop-start function that turns off the engine when the car is stopped to improve fuel efficiency. The Z4 sDrive35i gets a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder that produces 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. It's paired exclusively with a seven-speed automated manual transmission known as DCT. The Z4 sDrive35is gets a more powerful version of the 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder good for 335 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. DCT is the only available transmission.
Model |
BMW Z4 |
Porsche Boxster |
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class |
---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$57,500 |
$52,100 |
$85,050 |
Engine |
Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded I-6 3.0 L/182 |
Premium Unleaded H-6 2.7 L/165 |
Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded V-6 3.0 L/183 |
Drivetrain |
RWD |
RWD |
RWD |
Transmission |
6-Speed Manual |
6-speed Manual |
7-Speed Automatic |
Power |
240hp@5000rpm |
265hp@6700rpm |
329hp@5250rpm |
Torque |
260lb-ft1450rpm |
206lb-ft@4400rpm |
354lb-ft@1600rpm |
0-60 mph (seconds) |
5.6 |
4.4 |
4.6 |
Quarter-mile (mph) |
14.3 |
13.9 |
13.0 |
Top Speed (mph) |
155 |
164 |
130 |
As you would expect, the performance on offer matches the engine selected. The base variant of the Z4 is quick and fun, achieving the sprint to 60 mph in as little as 5.6 seconds, per BMW, but it ultimately lacks the vigor of the six-cylinder Z4s. The Boxster and the Mercedes SL-Class have better figures in terms of speed performance. When it comes to top speed, Boxster is the fastest at 164 mph.
BMW offers both efficient and fast versions of the Z4 roadster, so you can choose your flavor of fuel economy. Those looking to save some cash at the pump will choose the Z4 sDrive28i, which features a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4. It is rated by the EPA at 22 mpg city, 34 highway, 26 combined with the manual transmission. Opting for the 8-speed auto saves 1 mpg from the highway rating, but leaves other figures untouched. In our experience, the Z4's real-world gas mileage easily matches, and actually sometimes exceeds, the EPA ratings.
Model |
BMW Z4 |
Porsche Boxster |
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class |
---|---|---|---|
MPG (City) (mpg) |
22 |
21 |
20 |
MPG (Highway) (mpg) |
34 |
29 |
27 |
MPG (Combined) (mpg) |
26 |
24 |
23 |
Fuel Capacity (gallon) |
14.5 |
16.9 |
19.8 |
The sportiest model, the Z4 sDrive35is, scores 17/24/20 mpg, according to the EPA. It comes only with a dual-clutch 7-speed gearbox. The sDrive35i rates the same 17/24/20 mpg, also with the dual-clutch transmission. The BMW Z4 is the most fuel-efficient convertible in comparison with an impressive 26 mpg combined, whereas the least efficient is the Mercedes with a combined mileage of 23 mpg.
Inside the 2016 BMW Z4, you'll find a classy interior done up in high-quality materials, though the standard "SensaTec" vinyl upholstery strikes a discordant note in such a luxury model. If it were us, we'd definitely opt for the sun-reflective "Kansas" leather. Customization possibilities abound, including two-tone color schemes and unique trim that give the cabin a noticeably more eye-catching look. There are some practical details here too, including a handy cargo shelf behind the seats.Â
Speaking of practicality, the Z4's passenger compartment has an edge on many other two-seat cars by virtue of above-average legroom that gives taller drivers and passengers a chance to stretch out. Another advantage includes the rear quarter windows that go a long way toward eliminating the blind spots commonly found in traditional soft-top convertibles.
Model |
BMW Z4 |
Porsche Boxster |
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class |
---|---|---|---|
Seating Capacity |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
39.1/53.3/42.2 |
38.6/51.7/42.6 |
39.1/55.5/42.9 |
Cargo Capacity (cu-ft) |
8 |
9.8 |
8.5 |
Out back, the Z4 offers a decent-sized cargo hold that provides 8 cubic feet of stowage with the roof raised. With it lowered, the two roof panels take up a good bit of that space, but there's still more room here than you'll find on most other retractable-hardtop convertibles. An available trunk pass-through between the seats also makes it possible to transport longer items. The BMW has the largest cargo capacity and at the same time offers plenty of room for two. Major interior features include-
Standard equipment for all Z4s includes Bluetooth, audio with iPod/USB support, HD radio, and more. The 2016 BMW Z4 Convertible is available with smartphone app integration, navigation, and an upgraded stereo. The dashboard controls are user-friendly, and the instrument cluster is easy to read. Some features are listed below for your reference:
With its classic roadster shape of a short tail and long hood, the Z4 might feel like a throwback at first. But it's aerodynamic and thoroughly modern, even though this basic design is getting up there a bit.
Converging arcs, soft swells, and sharper character lines provide the Z4 with a still-fresh style, even though it's been more than half a decade since its last reboot. Somehow both sporty and conservative to behold, the Z4 is a fine balance with a persona all its own.
Model |
BMW Z4 |
Porsche Boxster |
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class |
---|---|---|---|
Curb Weight (lbs) |
3263 |
2888 |
3836 |
Length (in.) |
166.9 |
172.2 |
181.6 |
Width (in.) |
70.5 |
70.9 |
73.9 |
Height (in.) |
50.8 |
50.5 |
51.8 |
Wheelbase (in.) |
98.3 |
97.4 |
101.8 |
The BMW is not the heaviest of the compared cars here, however, it is not the lightest either. The lightest is the Boxster at 2,888 lbs. When it comes to the length of the car, BMW falls short of both the convertibles, making it the shortest among its rivals. With a wheelbase similar to that of the Porsche Boxster, the BMW Z4 has almost all the other exterior figures similar to the Porsche Boxster. Some exterior features are:
Standard safety features include front and side-impact airbags, adaptive brake lights, and multi-setting stability and brake control systems. The Z4 will cut fuel flow, turn the hazard flashers on, and unlock both doors if it detects an accident. For those seeking an even higher level of safety tech, optional upgrades include automatic headlamps, park distance control, and BMW Assist service with Bluetooth. More advanced features, like a backup camera, blind-spot monitoring system, and lane departure warning systems aren't even optional in the Z4, which shows this basic design's age. Major safety features available with the convertible are-
Of course, there's also the 2016 Porsche Boxster, which is the driver's choice among German roadsters, and no one can forget the 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. You're not going to go wrong here with any of these picks, but for the good kind of hair fussing, the 2016 BMW Z4 certainly deserves a place on your test-drive list.