BMW Z4 sDrive20i 2013 Review

Price Guide: (including statutory and delivery charges):$79,900
Options fitted: (not included in above price): M Sport Package $4900
Crash rating: Five-star (Euro NCAP)
Fuel: 95 RON PULP
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 6.8
CO2 emissions (g/km): 159
Also consider: Audi TT convertible (from $72,800); Mercedes-Benz SLK 200 BlueEFFICIENCY (from $83,950); Nissan 370Z convertible (from $79,890); Porsche Boxster (from $106,490)

Since the Z3 morphed into the Z4 in 2003, BMW has had a deliberately traditional and often polarising two-seat sports car on its hands.

A mixture of Germanic precision and uncompromised performance-oriented handling has defined the long-nosed, short-tailed Z4, separating it in more ways than one from its main competitors – Porsche's Boxster and the Mercedes-Benz SLK.

Where the Porsche and the Benz have generally avoided the negativity of some observers, the BMW tends to bring mixed reactions: You either like its looks or you don't, and you either excuse or don't the on-road qualities that tend to deteriorate more than most with the fitment of sports suspension and larger-than-standard tyres.

But whichever Z4 you choose -- sDrive 20i and sDrive28i 2.0-litre four-cylinder versions, or the sDrive35i 3.0-litre inline six -- there's little doubt a suitably sporty experience will be delivered.

The base sDrive20i (as tested) produces 135kW/270Nm, which enables it to reach 100km/h from zero in a swift-enough 6.9 seconds, and is tagged, before on-road costs, at $79,900. Certainly there are none of the performance compromises experienced in the first-generation four-cylinder Z3.

And with increasing background chatter about a next-generation Z4 looming (perhaps as early as 2015), BMW has just given the three-model range a bit of a spruce-up in order to maintain public interest.

Perhaps the biggest beneficiary is the base version, which now comes as standard with BMW's Professional Navigation, as well as the “conventional” but effective and efficient eight-speed auto transmission, internet functionality, voice control, a music interface for smart phones and subtle changes to exterior and interior styling.

With all this, the bottom line is that a well-equipped base Z4 could, unlike normal expectations for just about any prestige/luxury Euro, be driven un-optioned, straight off the showroom floor without bringing feelings of being short-changed.

That said, the M Sport Package that came with our sDrive20i test car for an added $4900 was an undisputed enhancement with its classier wheels, sport seats, aero body package and M Sport suspension with fatter rear tyres.

But for all the appeal of a raspy start-up engine note and a clear willingness to punch hard all the way to the 7000rpm red line, the turbo four cannot hope to match the musical smoothness of a BMW six. To get that, it's necessary to spend more – a lot more – try $119,545 Z4 sDrive35i.

The sDrive20i Z4's eight-speed auto is crisp, smooth and intuitively tuned to the car's driving characteristics. It actually produces faster acceleration times than the no-cost six-speed manual option, wringing the best out of the engine while giving the driver the option of using the manual-shift feature available through the stick-shift or the steering wheel paddles. The suggestion is it's not far short of a dual-clutch transmission in terms of efficiency, but is far smother, particularly on take-off.

And the M Sport suspension doesn't degrade ride quality as much as you might think. There were times on test when the Z4 telegraphed its displeasure on a particularity nasty road irregularity, but generally the firm ride was a reasonable price to pay for the sharp turn-in, and the ability to track remorselessly on tight, sharp corners and sit steady on higher-speed bends.

Any tendency for the Z4 to react to mid-corner road surface changes was well masked too, better than we remember of up-spec’ed previous-generation Z4s that were notable for their reluctance to track straight on poorly surfaced roads. Beware the front under-bumper area though, which is prone to damage on steep driveway exits.

Like we said earlier, the 135kW four-cylinder turbo is no slacker, even if it might not feel that way initially unless the driver selects the Driving Experience Control system's Sport+ mode (three are available – Comfort, Sport and Sport+). This sharpens engine and transmission responses, as well as those of the Servotronic steering and suspension, to make a distinct difference in the way the Z4 operates.

The cockpit remains a quite roomy place for a sports car, and the power-adjustable Sport seats that come with the M Sport pack move every which way -- including adjustable side bolsters and extending cushions -- to provide a nice, snug experience.

The power roof manipulates itself into place in just 20 seconds, with the side benefit of providing quite exceptional roof-up boot space of more than 300 litres. With a bit of disassembly and a lot of care -- including use of the central ski port --the Z4 will actually carry a full-size mountain bike, which is something its competitors struggle to do.

In non-optioned form -- which, as we said, brings no real sacrifices -- the sDrive20i Z4 sits pretty well against all competitors apart from Audi's $7000-cheaper base front-drive TT convertible.

For the money, it brings German sportscar motoring without compromise, from fast potential point-to-point times right down to high levels of creature comforts.

Sure, the styling is polarising, but BMW undoubtedly made sure the Z4 was that way right from the beginning.

BMW Z4 28i model is shown for illustrative purposes only

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