BMW Z4 sDrive30i M Sport 2019 Review

BMW has proud tradition of building sporting coupes and convertibles. It's done so literally for decades. But you’d have had to been hiding under a rock to have missed the fact that the latest generation of BMW Z4 has Toyota to thank (in a large part) for its existence.

Not that the Japanese company contributed significantly (at all?) to the technical development or execution of BMW's latest two-seater convertible.

Instead, by pairing the reborn Supra with all-new BMW Z4, Toyota gifted the Bavarian brand the volume and therefore budget to build an all-new car for what is an ever-shrinking segment.

The good news is the latest BMW Z4 sDrive30i is in every way a Munich native, and in every way a BMW.

And it's also a reminder that there remains a place for a sporting but not track-focused convertible in every prestige or upwardly-mobile brand.

Returning to the soft-top roots of the Z3, the third-generation BMW Z4 was launched internationally in late 2018 and locally in May 2019.

Unlike the Supra, the rear-drive two-seater arrives in convertible form only and launches with the choice of both four- and six-cylinder turbocharged petrol engines across three model variants – 2.0-litre sDrive20i (145kW/320Nm) and sDrive 30i (190kW/400Nm), and 3.0-litre M40i (250kW) – all matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard.

A six-speed manual is a no-cost option only for the entry-level Z4 sDrive 20i (from $84,900 plus on-road costs) and the M40i tops the range at $124,900 plus ORCs .

The mid-range BMW Z4 sDrive30i auto we've tested here is claimed to hit 100km/h in 5.4 seconds (compared to 6.6sec in the low-output turbo-four version and 4.6sec for the turbo six).

With a manufacturer's recommended list price of $104,900, it comes standard Down Under with an M Sport package, adaptive M suspension, adaptive LED headlights, comfort access and push-button start, as well as high-level navigation system, parking assistance and seat heating.

It’s a decent spec sheet and in contrast to many prestige vehicles we test, our Alpine White BMW Z4 sDrive30i arrived with just two options. The uprated harmon/kardon surround sound system adds $800 and an interior ambient light package which one could easily do without is priced at $550.

Although far from cheap (still six figures!), the fact that the BMW Z4 sDrive30i needs so little in the way of optional items to present as an attractive and complete sporting convertible says much for how BMW Australia now chooses to specify its cars.

There remains, however, a few hiccups. BMW owners will need to pay a subscription fee for Apple CarPlay after one year and the BMW Connected Drive services which the company likes to talk about are also subject to a subscription fee after three years.

Somehow, I don't expect the latter will impact people's buying decisions. There's more emotion than logic in the purchase of a convertible.

The first thing you should know is that if you're looking for an alternative to Porsche’s 718 Boxster or are focused on track-ready dynamics, the Z4 may disappoint.

At its core, the Z4 is a sporting drive, but it is not a corner carving sports car built to take on the Porsche. At the risk of comparing it to a much cheaper vehicle, consider the Z4 as more a faster, slightly sharper, bigger and better equipped (and badged) German MX-5, than built to compete with something from Zuffenhausen.

It’s very much a modern Beemer in styling cues (Aussie Calvin Luk penned it) and I think it's a handsome beast. Much more cohesive, obviously much more modern and generally better visually balanced and executed than its closest current competitor, the Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class.

Although Jaguar’s F-TYPE Roadster is also a rival, that its closest competitor from the three-pointed star is so long in the tooth says much about this segment. It's hard to get a return on your development dollars in a sector that is so trend-driven and so small globally.

Hence my remarks above with thanks to Toyota. It's largely because of the Supra that the new Z4 exists beyond a drawing board.

In its form is tested, the BMW Z4 is well equipped and the cabin well executed with plenty of usuable tech, but it's not over detailed nor overtly cosseting.

The Vernasca leather surfaces aren’t Lexus or Maserati plush and are better for it. Overall, it's still a relatively simple execution but one that I think works.

The cloth electrically-operated soft-top is well sealed and worked well to keep some fairly bleak Melbourne winter weather at bay. When finally a little bit of sun poked through, the cabin was calm and comfortable top-down up to highway speeds.

There is no tricky neck-level heating or active wind-blocking technology, but you sit below the blast and well protected. Like its iconic Japanese convertible counterpart, several generations of learning have clearly gone into the ergonomics and aerodynamics.

From the very first impressions, the Z4 is very much the modern BMW in feel and character. The thick-rimmed steering wheel will be familiar to any BMW drivers but it delivers one of the better steering experiences of the electric era. Good feel, decent consistency and none of the sloppiness you expect from some soft-tops.

Perversely, it’s the slightly more prosaic dynamics and execution of the BMW Z4 sDrive30i that may deliver it wider appeal. For a start, you don't have to be driving the Z4 in racetrack qualifying mode to get the best from it, nor to enjoy it.

Choose Comfort in BMW’s drive mode system around town and ride is firm but not harsh. Hitting big bumps confirms the whole platform is solid and free from the shimmy you get from even some modern soft-tops. Perhaps not exactly the carved-from-solid feel of a Boxster but bloody close.

Fuel economy and overall refinement in city ‘cruise mode’ is also excellent. And there’s enough space in the boot for a couple of overnight bags. Although golfers may struggle, there’s more room than the Jag or SLC.

Initial impressions of the Z4 encouraged me to clear the calendar and sample it on one of my favourite roads. A storied Targa High Country stage and some of the best curves this side of Bass Strait, the Eildon-Jamieson Rd has a bit of everything including wildlife and (at this time of year) lots of moss, leaf litter etc.

A quick blast demonstrated the balance of the Z4 in less than perfect road and weather conditions but also showed its ride and mechanical grip are both a little ‘brittle’ if you do try and over-drive it.

Dial the intensity back to 8/10ths, however, and it’s a willing and able companion.

With the roof down there’s a subtle but definable change in the feel. No visible wobbles in the steering wheel or mirror but it definitely feels different.

But that same top-down experience delivers a positive as it lets the turbo four ‘talk’ to you a little. It’s a bright sounding engine and the auto transmission is a good match, even if changes are a bit clunky and occasionally a fraction slow via the paddles when the powertrain is amped up into Sports Plus mode.

I keep coming back to the fact, this is more roadster than sports car – and that’s not a bad thing. The BMW showroom and Australian roads are a better place for the arrival of this latest generation of BMW Z4.

Brands like BMW should have a fun, well resolved two-seat soft-top in their line-up.

The BMW Z4 sDrive30i is not particularly fast, nor is it particularly furious. And that is the appeal of this compact and capable roadster.

How much does the 2019 BMW Z4 sDrive30i M Sport cost?
Price: $104,900 (as tested: 106,250 plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 190kW/400Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 149g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested