2026 BMW Z4

sDrive30i volume trim uses BMW's B48 2.0L turbo I4 rated at 255 hp; M40i steps up to the 3.0L B58 turbo I6 at 382 hp.

sDrive30i produces 295 lb-ft from 1,550–4,400 rpm; M40i's I6 makes 369 lb-ft.

BMW-claimed 5.2 s for sDrive30i, corroborated by instrumented tests; M40i drops to 3.9 s with the 8-speed automatic.

B48 delivers a broad torque plateau with minimal turbo lag and a smooth top end; the M40i's B58 straight-six is widely praised as one of the segment's most refined engines.

The ZF 8HP 8-speed automatic is class-leading — crisp, well-timed shifts and responsive manual mode via paddles; M40i also offers an optional 6-speed manual (Handschalter package) for enthusiasts.

The Z4 is rear-wheel drive only across every trim — no xDrive AWD option is offered on this platform.

Two distinct gas powertrains (2.0L turbo I4 and 3.0L turbo I6) cover mainstream and performance buyers, but there is no hybrid, PHEV, or EV variant in the Z4 lineup.

EPA combined for the volume 2.0L sDrive30i (255 hp) is 28 mpg; the 3.0L I6 M40i drops to 25 mpg combined.

EPA city rating for the volume sDrive30i trim.

EPA highway rating for the volume sDrive30i trim.

Computed from BMW's 52 L (~13.7 US gal) tank capacity and 28 mpg EPA combined for the sDrive30i.

EPA estimate at 15k mi/yr, 55/45 city/hwy split, premium unleaded. M40i is higher due to lower MPG.

Both Z4 trims require premium unleaded (91+ octane) per BMW; the twin-scroll turbo B48 and B58 engines are tuned for it. No E85, no home-charge option — a costly, single-fuel setup that lands in the lower band.

The G29-generation Z4 has not been crash-tested by NHTSA — a common outcome for low-volume two-seat convertibles. Estimate held to a mid-range value that reflects a modern BMW body structure without any tested result to lean on.

The Z4 has not been tested by IIHS for crashworthiness in the G29 generation, so no TSP/TSP+ award and no individual Good ratings exist. Untested with no known safety concerns and a modern BMW structure warrants the low end of the mostly-Good band rather than the untested-with-known-concerns floor.

Active Driving Assistant is standard on sDrive30i and M40i: forward collision warning with automatic city braking and pedestrian detection, blind-spot detection, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and speed limit info. Adaptive cruise control and active lane keeping are bundled in the optional Driving Assistance Package rather than standard, keeping the score out of the top band.

The Z4's AEB with pedestrian detection uses the same generation of BMW system deployed across the current lineup, which in IIHS-tested BMWs earns Acceptable-to-Good vehicle-to-vehicle results but has not itself been evaluated in the Z4. Score reflects a competent modern system without a Z4-specific IIHS result confirming night-pedestrian performance.

Blind Spot Detection and Rear Cross Traffic Alert come standard on every Z4 trim as part of Active Driving Assistant, with visual, audible, and steering-corrective warnings that reviewers have praised on other BMWs. Alert-plus-intervention across the board keeps the score in the top band.

Lane departure warning is standard, but Active Lane Keeping Assistant with steering intervention is only available as part of the optional Driving Assistance Package. When equipped, reviewers describe BMW's lane centering as competent but occasionally hesitant on lane-marking gaps versus best-in-class systems.

Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go is optional (Driving Assistance Package), not standard on the volume sDrive30i. BMW's ACC is refined with smooth transitions and good stop-and-go behavior when equipped, but the option-only status prevents a top-band score.

The Z4 does not offer BMW's Highway Assistant hands-free system in any configuration — that feature is limited to select 5 Series, 7 Series, and iX/i7 variants with the required camera hardware. Drivers must keep hands on the wheel with the Z4's steering-assist systems.

Full-LED headlights with cornering function are standard, and Adaptive LED headlights with variable light distribution are optional. Reviewers rate BMW's LED units competent but not class-leading, and the Z4 has no IIHS headlight rating to confirm Good status across trims.

Top-down visibility is excellent — an inherent convertible advantage. With the soft top raised, thick B/C-pillar structure and a small rear window compromise over-the-shoulder and rearward sightlines. Rearview camera and front/rear PDC are standard; a 360-degree camera is optional but does not eliminate the top-up blind zones.

The Z4 is a strict two-seat roadster across sDrive30i and M40i trims — no rear bench available.

Adequate front headroom for a soft-top roadster; the low seating position offsets the shallow roofline.

Long front legroom for a compact roadster — competitive with the Boxster and better than the Miata.

Trunk volume is unchanged whether the soft top is stowed or raised — a practical touch, but capacity is small vs. proper convertibles.

Sparse in-cabin storage typical of a compact roadster: small door pockets, shallow center-console cubby, no clever solutions like a frunk or hidden bins. Wireless charging pad and cupholders are the extent of it.

Standard sport seats with power adjustment and driver memory earn praise for long-drive support; optional M Sport seats add adjustable bolsters. Firm but not punishing over multi-hour stints.

Firm sports-car damping that stays composed on smooth pavement; adaptive M suspension (standard on M40i, optional on sDrive30i) tames sharp impacts but never approaches a luxury-coupe ride. Below the Boxster's PASM for outright plushness.

Soft-top construction lets in more wind and road noise at highway speed than the fixed-roof Supra platform-mate; better sealed than a Miata but noticeably louder than metal-roof convertibles like the CLE.

Heated seats standard; heated steering wheel and BMW's neck warmer (Air Collar) available — a genuinely useful open-top feature. Dual-zone auto climate standard. No ventilated seats available, a real gap on a hot-weather convertible.

Base sDrive30i lists at $56,100 plus $1,350 destination for 2026, per BMW USA order guides and Car and Driver's 2026 pricing recap. This is the final production year (G29 sunset in March 2026), so pricing sits at the top of the segment band.

sDrive30i is the higher-volume trim; a representative build with the Premium Package (Head-Up Display, heated seats, driver assist) and common paint/interior options lands near $62,000. M40i buyers typically cross into the low-$70s once options are added.

Edmunds True Cost to Own for the current-gen Z4 sDrive30i estimates ~$8,271 maintenance + ~$3,007 repairs across five years; excluding the highly variable repair line the maintenance-heavy figure sits around $8,500. Typical of a luxury German convertible with premium parts and dealer service pricing.

iSeeCars pegs 5-yr Z4 depreciation at ~43.5% (56.5% retained); CarEdge is more optimistic at ~40% depreciation (60% retained). Split at ~57% — reasonable given the Z4's final-year status and enthusiast demand for the manual M40i.

BMW's New Vehicle Limited Warranty covers 4 yr / 50,000 mi — the standard German-luxury figure. Above the 3-yr mainstream norm but well behind Hyundai/Kia/Genesis 5-yr coverage.

BMW does not offer a separate longer powertrain warranty; coverage matches the 4 yr / 50,000 mi Basic term. Well below the 5–10 yr powertrain terms typical of the segment normalization band.

BMW Ultimate Care provides 3 yr / 36,000 mi complimentary scheduled maintenance (oil, filters, brake fluid, inspections) plus 4 yr unlimited-mileage Roadside Assistance. That's a multi-year included-maintenance package with meaningful perks — solid but not class-leading (Genesis/Jaguar offer longer or richer bundles).

$62,000 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (57% retained, or about $35,340) leaves about $26,660 in depreciation. Add the projected $8,500 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $35,160 in total.

J.D. Power rates the 2026 Z4 'Great' at 85/100 for Quality & Reliability. Consumer Reports has not published a Z4-specific predicted reliability score, but BMW brand predicted reliability is above average. Placed slightly below segment leaders (Miata, Boxster) that have longer clean track records.

BMW has climbed to top-tier luxury in recent studies: #1 luxury / #2 overall in the 2025 Consumer Reports Car Brand Report Card and #2 luxury / #5 overall for 2026. J.D. Power 2025 VDS: 189 PP100, best among German luxury (Mercedes 243, Audi 273) but still trailing Lexus/Toyota, so short of a top-tier 85+ score.

The G29 generation has meaningful recall exposure: NHTSA 26V056 (Jan 2026) covers 2021-2024 Z4 for engine starter wear with potential thermal event/fire, and NHTSA 25V636 covers 2022-2023 Z4 digital-key ECU software. Well-documented G29 owner issues include coolant expansion tank cracking and EPS rack failures. Serious but not catastrophic — dragged below segment average.

The B58 3.0L turbo I6 (M40i) is regarded as one of BMW's most durable modern engines — closed-deck block, forged crank, dual injection, routinely 200k+ mi with maintenance. The B48 2.0L (sDrive30i) is a solid step up from the N20/N26. Paired with the proven ZF 8HP automatic. Minor deductions for known coolant expansion tank and gasket wear items.

Reviewers praise the Z4's cabin — soft leather, real metal trim, optional Vernasca/Nappa leather, standard SensaTec — plus the curved iDrive 9 display. Materials read as class-appropriate for the ~$55-70k luxury roadster segment, close to the 4 Series Convertible but a step below the Boxster's bespoke feel.

The Z4 is assembled at Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria — the same plant that builds the Toyota Supra and other low-volume premium models known for tight, consistent assembly. Reviews highlight precise panel fitment. BMW's 2025 J.D. Power IQS (196 PP100) is slightly below industry average but improving, with 2026 at 178 PP100.

BMW has ~350-370 US dealerships — dense nationwide coverage, especially in metros. Service-satisfaction picture is mixed: BMW earned five segment awards in the J.D. Power 2025 APEAL Study (score 881) but ranked last among luxury brands in the ACSI 2025 study with a 75, down 5% YoY. Net: solid coverage, only average service experience.

Parts are readily available through BMW's OEM channel and a large enthusiast aftermarket, but costs are firmly on the expensive side of the luxury sports car segment. RepairPal pegs Z4 average annual maintenance at ~$895 and reliability at 3.0/5.0 (14th of 17 luxury compacts), with individual repairs like shocks/struts running $1,900+. Common items — coolant tanks, gaskets, EPS — add up.

The 2026 Z4 carries the G29-era 10.25" central control display — meaningfully smaller than the 14.9" Curved Display on newer BMWs (3/4 Series, M4). No larger screen option offered; this is the final production year for this generation with no display refresh.

For 2026 BMW upgraded the Z4 to Operating System 8.5 with sharper graphics and faster response, and — unlike newer BMWs — the Z4 retains BOTH the physical iDrive rotary controller AND physical climate controls, a real usability win. Demerits: 10.25" screen feels dated vs segment peers, and open-top driving worsens screen glare.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto are standard on both sDrive30i and M40i for 2026, no subscription. Pairing is fast and stable in reviewer testing.

BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant ("Hey BMW") handles natural-language commands for climate, nav, and vehicle functions. BMW Maps with cloud-based routing and Real Time Traffic Information is standard and genuinely competitive with phone projection.

Standard Hi-Fi 205W is adequate; optional Harman Kardon Surround Sound (12 speakers, 464W) is the meaningful step up and included in the Premium Package. Small two-seat cabin projects well but open-top acoustics fundamentally cap peak fidelity vs coupes.

BMW Live Cockpit Professional with 12.3" fully digital instrument cluster is standard on both sDrive30i and M40i. Crisp, offers multiple driving-mode layouts and integrated map view — one of the last true digital gauge holdovers on the G29 platform.

BMW Remote Software Upgrade delivers periodic OTA updates covering iDrive, maps, and select vehicle functions via My BMW app. Scope is narrower than Tesla/Rivian whole-vehicle updates but broader than maps-only rivals.

My BMW app covers remote start/climate, lock/unlock, vehicle location, and BMW Digital Key Plus (Ultra Wideband) for compatible iPhones and select Android devices. Core ConnectedDrive functions free for the first several years.

Wireless phone charging tray is standard for 2026 (previously optional). Front console has one USB-A and one USB-C port; no rear seats so no additional row of outlets. Adequate but the USB-A holdover and single USB-C feel dated.

Comfort Access keyless entry with push-button start is standard on M40i and available via Convenience Package on sDrive30i. BMW Digital Key Plus (UWB, unlocks without waking the phone) is available. Remote start via My BMW app included.

Rear-view camera and Park Distance Control (front and rear sensors) are standard; optional Parking Assistant adds automated parallel/perpendicular parking. Surround View 360° is available but on the older G29 platform image quality is a step behind the newer BMW models.

Full-color HUD projecting speed, nav, and driver-assist status is optional via the Premium Package on both trims. Broadly attainable rather than volume-trim standard.

Two-seat roadster with no rear seats, no LATCH anchors, and no meaningful way to secure a rear-facing or forward-facing child seat. A front-passenger installation is possible only where the vehicle allows airbag deactivation, but daily kid-hauling is effectively impossible.

BMW's Active Driving Assistant (forward collision warning with city AEB, lane departure warning, blind-spot detection) is standard and pop-up rollover bars are fitted, but neither IIHS nor NHTSA has published a current-generation rating for the Z4 and, more decisively, the car has no rear occupants at all, so the 'family safety package' framing largely does not apply.

Only two seats and a 9.9 cu-ft trunk — the vehicle cannot carry a family of four for a road trip at all. Even two-up plus a child is not viable, and there are no rear amenities to evaluate.

Refined 2.0L B48 (sDrive30i) with ZF 8-speed, comfortable sport seats, and available adaptive dampers make it pleasant in traffic, and the fabric top raises in ~10 s at up to 31 mph. Low seating height, wide sills for ingress/egress, limited rear three-quarter visibility with top up, and RWD-only (no xDrive) are real daily-use compromises versus the 4 Series Convertible.

sDrive30i's ~25/33/28 mpg is respectable for a rear-drive luxury roadster, but premium fuel is required, BMW run-flats and out-of-warranty service raise per-mile costs, and the M40i drops to 19-23 city mpg. Better than a Boxster on running cost, worse than any mainstream sedan or hybrid.

Compact footprint (170.7 in long, 73.4 in wide) — over a foot shorter than the 4 Series Convertible — plus a ~36.1 ft turning circle, standard front/rear PDC and a rearview camera make it very easy to place in tight urban parking. Low seating and wide-swinging doors are the only real caveats.

Not rated for towing in the US, no cargo bed, no published payload, and only a 9.9 cu-ft trunk. Essentially zero work capability.

Luxury interior with Vernasca leather and a fabric soft top that is far more vulnerable to hard use than a fixed roof. The B48/B58 powertrains are durable in normal service, but there is no fleet or work variant and no wipe-clean cargo area.

No factory trailer hitch, no roof rack option (soft top), no bed tie-downs, no 12V/120V outlet in the cargo area, and no upfit ecosystem. Nothing about the vehicle is work-oriented.

Comfortable sport seats, standard Active Driving Assistant (adaptive cruise available), and a well-insulated fabric top make it a competent two-up highway tourer with roughly a 385-mile combined range from the ~13.7-gal tank at 28 mpg. Small tank, two-seat capacity, and wind noise limit endurance versus a proper GT or the 4 Series Convertible.

RWD only (no xDrive offered), very low ground clearance (~4.5 in), run-flat performance tires, and no factory roof rack or hitch make it strictly a paved-road car. Even light snow or unpaved forest roads are a stretch.

A single ~9.9 cu-ft trunk is the only cargo space — no rear seats to fold, no pass-through, no roof rails, no hitch. It does beat the mid-engine Boxster's split frunk/trunk for carrying a couple of soft weekend bags, but bulky gear like golf clubs or a large suitcase is a real squeeze.

Z4 sDrive30i (volume trim) is composed, well-balanced RWD roadster on the shared Toyota Supra platform with 50/50 weight distribution. Reviewers consistently praise strong grip and body control but note it leans more grand-tourer than knife-edge, sitting behind the Porsche 718 and just off the MX-5 for pure agility.

Electric steering is quick and accurate but the Z4's most-cited weakness across enthusiast press — light on feedback compared to Porsche 718's hydraulic-feel EPS or the MX-5's directness. Well-weighted but numb through the rim.

Volume sDrive30i has strong, linear pedal with confident stops (typical ~110-115 ft from 60 mph in instrumented testing). M Sport brakes optional; M40i's larger rotors are stronger still. Excellent fade resistance for street use.

B48 2.0L turbo I4 (255 hp) paired with ZF 8-speed automatic is exceptionally well-calibrated — crisp tip-in, seamless shifts, minimal turbo lag. Auto stop/start is smooth. M40i's B58 I6 is even better but the volume trim is already very refined.

B48 four-cylinder is smooth and quiet at cruise but lacks the aural character of the M40i's inline-six under load; some synthesized enhancement piped in Sport mode. Never coarse but not stirring.

BMW published curb-to-curb turning diameter of 35.8 ft for sDrive30i (36.1 ft for M40i on wider tires). Competitive for a rear-drive roadster.

Low, sports-car seating with wide power seat adjustment range and reach/rake steering column; iDrive controls are among the best in the segment. Sightlines with the top up are compromised (typical roadster) and ingress requires a drop-in.

Genuinely enjoyable open-top roadster — quick, composed, and characterful — but volume sDrive30i lacks the M40i's inline-six charisma and the sharper feedback of the 718 or MX-5. A car most owners take the long way home in; enthusiasts still prefer the Miata for engagement or the Boxster for polish.

sDrive30i base includes SensaTec upholstery, heated 12-way power sport seats, dual-zone climate, 10.25-inch iDrive with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, adaptive LED headlights, Active Driving Assistant, and a well-insulated power soft top — competitive for the price but not standout versus a Boxster (which charges heavily for options) or a Miata (which includes far less at a much lower price).

At ~$57k for a 255-hp four-cylinder roadster and ~$69k for the 382-hp M40i, the Z4 sits between the Miata (huge bargain) and the Boxster (more expensive but sharper), delivering BMW refinement and interior quality but not the value or driving purity leaders in class.

Lineup is limited to two core trims — sDrive30i and M40i — plus a strictly limited 2026 'Final Edition' M40i built Feb–Apr 2026. Well-differentiated but a narrow range, and no AWD or coupe body variants like the closely related Toyota Supra siblings offer elsewhere.

Z4 is a low-volume niche roadster with declining demand, and BMW has confirmed production ends March 2026 with no direct successor — market acceptance is soft, though this is partly the segment's overall decline rather than a Z4-specific rejection.

BMW remains one of the most aspirational premium brands globally, with especially strong equity in enthusiast/roadster spaces where German engineering carries real cachet — image is a clear net positive for the Z4.

BMW typically offers moderate lease support and financing incentives on the Z4, and end-of-production status is producing scattered dealer discounts on remaining sDrive30i stock — but the limited Final Edition M40i sells at or near MSRP, capping the buyer benefit.

The G29 generation launched for the 2019 model year and receives no major refresh for 2026 — production ends March 2026 with no announced successor, making this the oldest and least-fresh option on the Z4's shelf and a clear liability for buyers weighing future support and residuals.

Consistently well-reviewed for its luxurious interior, refined ride, and the availability of a six-speed manual on the M40i — 2026 M40i won Germany's Sport Auto Award in the convertibles/roadsters up to €100k class — but reviewers (Car and Driver, MotorTrend) uniformly rank it behind the Porsche 718 Boxster on driving purity, so it is well-regarded rather than the pick of the class.