Stevens Creek BMW

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Walk Around

When BMW first released the Z4 in 2003, its styling drew criticism. It appeared to be sculpted for the sake of sculpting, and you either liked it or you didn't. BMW's chief designer, American Chris Bangel, gained notoriety, some say infamy, for the edgy direction he'd taken BMW, but BMW has softened that look in the ensuing years.

Despite the lukewarm reaction to the roadster, the coupe, introduced in 2006, drew universal praise for its sleek lines. Drive a Z4 roadster today and few will notice. Drive a Z4 coupe and you're certain to get the thumb's up from admiring onlookers.

With either body style, the hood is stylishly long, the deck is notably short and uplifted, and the sides look like a cake created by a pastry chef who got carried away with his icing spatula. It's convex playing off concave, according to BMW. The nose is quite attractive, unfortunately ruined by the license plate smack-dab in the middle of it all. The front air dam offers little ground clearance, not enough to clear a standard sidewalk curb, so be careful when head-in parking. The traditional BMW twin kidney grille and the exotic headlamps work well together. The fenders are smoothly bulged, and BMW's various wheel choices look terrific.

The coupe's roofline flows into the tail with muscular grace. The center of the roof is recessed to hint at a twin cockpit in proper sports car fashion. Coupled with the Z4's already low and wide stance, there's no mistaking it: This car is sexy.

The roadster's two rollbars are covered by gray plastic that has a seam and, unfortunately, looks cheap. The plastic disguises what must be sturdy function; the bars are fixed, not pop-ups like the Z3 used to have, and they are strengthened by being attached to a common bulkhead. The Z4 roadster has earned a five-star rollover rating from the federal government (NHTSA).

Interior

2007 BMW Z4

Getting into this small two-seater involves a ducking and stepping down into the low-slung seats. The dismount requires some upper and lower body strength to pull yourself free, so you might not want to take grandma for a ride in your Z4. While head and leg room are average for the class, taller drivers might not like folding themselves into this small car.

Once inside, however, you are surrounded by BMW solidity and style. The door closes with a thunk and the interior materials are sturdy and attractive. The simple dash layout places all controls at your fingertips. While our Z4 was outfitted with the no-cost wood trim, some may prefer the real brushed aluminum trim found in most Z4s. It seems sportier.

The seats are excellent. Contoured for sporty driving, they also offer long-trip comfort. We did some hard cornering, and appreciated the pad against the transmission tunnel for that body-contact spot. We wish there were a similar pad for the left knee against the door, but there's a good dead pedal for support.

The aluminum spoke steering wheel is nice, an appropriate size for spirited cornering, and has buttons for the sound system and cruise control. The optional on-board computer provides information through a digital readout, your choice between temperature, fuel mileage, average speed since the last setting, or miles to empty. The latter is the only one that means much.

Unfortunately, BMW has skimped on the interior small-items storage space. There's a decent-sized compartment between the seatbacks, but it's hard to safely access while driving because you need to either swivel in your seat or be double-jointed. BMW provides small door pockets and an ashtray-sized cubby in front of the shifter. For those who want more storage possibilities, four tight nets for maps and papers come with the Premium package.

The Z4 coupe's body styling is more than just attractive. Its hatchback design allows for 12.0 cubic feet of rear cargo volume, about the same as an average midsize sedan. So, yes, you can load the clubs in back and drive out to the golf course, looking for twisty roads along the way. There is one other drawback, though. The rear roof pillars create a large blind spot to the right rear. The blind spot is bigger in roadsters with the top up.

Coupes offer a relatively quiet cabin. The engines are subdued at normal driving speeds, and only the M's high-performance engine gets very loud under heavy acceleration. Wind noise is well checked, but road noise is noticeable.

In the roadster, wind-buffeting with the top down isn't a problem, even at high speeds. With the top up, the Z4 is quiet for a sports car. With it down, you are susceptible to the sounds of your surroundings.

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