2023 BMW Z4

The volume sDrive30i uses the B46/B48 2.0L turbo four at 255 hp; the M40i's B58 turbo six makes 382 hp for 2023.

Strong low-end torque for a 2.0L four, available from about 1,550 rpm.

BMW quotes 5.2 s for the sDrive30i; instrumented results compiled for the 2023 sDrive30i run quicker (4.9 s), so the manufacturer claim is conservative.

The turbo four is responsive with little lag and a broad torque plateau, though reviewers call its sound unremarkable; the optional B58 six is widely praised as one of the smoothest, strongest sixes available.

ZF 8-speed automatic (the only gearbox for 2023 — the M40i manual didn't arrive until 2025) shifts quickly and smoothly with good paddle response, though enthusiasts lament the lack of a manual.

Rear-wheel drive only in the US for 2023 (sDrive30i and M40i); no AWD is offered on any Z4, though the M40i gets an electronically controlled M Sport rear differential.

Two gas engines (2.0L turbo four, 3.0L turbo six), both with the same 8-speed automatic; no hybrid, PHEV or EV variant. Two meaningfully different outputs edge it toward the top of the low band.

EPA combined for the volume 2.0L sDrive30i; the 3.0L M40i rates 26 mpg.

EPA city rating for the volume sDrive30i.

EPA highway rating for the volume sDrive30i.

EPA does not publish a range figure for gas cars; computed from the 52 L (13.7 US gal) tank and 28 mpg EPA combined.

EPA annual fuel cost at 15k mi/yr and current premium-fuel prices, as published by fueleconomy.gov at time of scoring.

Both trims are rated on premium gasoline, with no flex-fuel or plug-in option — a costly single-fuel requirement.

NHTSA has never crash-tested the G29-generation Z4, which is typical for low-volume two-seat roadsters. A mid-range estimate reflects a modern BMW structure with no tested result behind it.

IIHS has not tested the 2023 Z4, so it has no TSP/TSP+ award and no individual crash results. With no known structural concerns, it sits at the low end of the mostly-Good band rather than the untested-with-concerns floor.

On the 2023 US-market Z4, standard driver assistance is limited to forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, driver-attention monitoring and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning and adaptive cruise are all optional, so key features are locked behind packages.

Frontal Collision Warning with brake intervention and pedestrian detection is standard, using the same generation of BMW system as IIHS-tested BMWs. However, IIHS has never evaluated the Z4, and the system lacks a published night-pedestrian result.

Both blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are option-package items on the 2023 Z4, not standard. When equipped, BMW's Active Blind Spot Detection adds a steering-corrective intervention.

Lane-departure warning is optional on the US 2023 Z4, as part of the driver-assistance packages, and there is no lane-centering function comparable to rivals' highway systems. When equipped, the lane return works but is basic.

Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go is available only as an option. When fitted it is a refined full-speed-range system, but it is not standard on the volume sDrive30i and has no integrated highway assist.

No hands-free driving system is offered on the 2023 Z4 in any configuration. BMW's Highway Assistant was limited to other models with Driving Assistance Professional hardware.

LED headlights and automatic high beams are standard, and adaptive headlights are optional. IIHS has not rated the Z4's headlights, so Good performance across the range is unconfirmed.

With the top down, visibility is excellent. With the soft top up, the thick rear quarters and small rear window limit over-the-shoulder and reversing sightlines. A reversing camera is standard, but front/rear parking sensors and the Reversing Assist Camera are optional on 2023 models.

The 2023 Z4 (G29, first LCI year) is a strict two-seat roadster on both sDrive30i and M40i — no rear bench.

Generous headroom for a soft-top roadster thanks to the low-mounted seats; tall drivers fit with the top raised.

Long front legroom for a compact roadster — better than the MX-5 Miata and on par with the Boxster.

The fabric top folds into its own compartment, so trunk space stays the same whether the top is up or down. Big for a two-seater (the Miata has 4.6 cu ft), small next to four-seat convertibles.

Very little cabin storage, as in most compact roadsters: small door pockets, a shallow console bin and cupholders, and no storage behind the seats worth mentioning. Wireless charging was a $500 option for 2023, not standard.

For 2023 the M Sport Package became standard, so the sDrive30i gets M Sport seats with strong bolstering and power adjustment. Reviewers say they stay comfortable on long highway drives.

From 2023 the sDrive30i comes standard with the lowered M Sport suspension, so the ride is a little firmer than the pre-LCI base setup. It is firm but controlled, and comfortable enough for long cruising. Adaptive M suspension stays an option on the 30i (standard on the M40i).

Wind and road noise at highway speed are higher than in fixed-roof cars and metal-roof convertibles. The insulated fabric top still makes it quieter than a Miata soft top.

Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard. On the 2023 sDrive30i, heated seats and a heated steering wheel come only with the $3,000 Premium Package rather than as standard. BMW's neck-level heating suits open-top driving, but ventilated seats aren't offered — a real gap on a warm-weather convertible.

For the 2023 LCI refresh, BMW priced the sDrive30i at $52,800 and the M40i at $65,300, both plus $995 destination.

The sDrive30i is the volume trim. A typical dealer-stock build adds the Premium Package (head-up display, Harman Kardon, driver-assist upgrades) and metallic paint on top of the $53,795 base, which lands near $58,500.

Industry estimates for the G29 Z4 vary widely. Edmunds' True Cost to Own runs high (about $8.3k for the 2025 and more for the 2021), while CarEdge projects about $4.7k. A figure near $8,500 is typical of German luxury dealer-service pricing, and BMW Ultimate Care offsets the first 3 years.

iSeeCars projects 43.5% five-year depreciation for the Z4 and CarEdge projects 40%. That is better than the 38% average depreciation for convertibles, and CarEdge names the 2023 as the best-value Z4 model year.

BMW's New Vehicle Limited Warranty runs 4 years or 50,000 miles. That is the German-luxury norm: better than the 3-year mainstream standard but behind 5-year programs.

BMW has no separate, longer powertrain warranty. Powertrain coverage ends with the 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, the bottom of the 5–10 year band.

BMW Ultimate Care covers 3 yr / 36,000 mi of scheduled maintenance and comes with 4 yr unlimited-mile Roadside Assistance plus a BMW Connected trial. That is genuine multi-year included maintenance, though Genesis and Jaguar-style programs run longer.

$58,500 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (57% retained, or about $33,345) leaves about $25,155 in depreciation. Add the projected $8,500 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $33,655 in total.

No J.D. Power Quality & Reliability figure surfaced for the 2023 Z4 specifically; adjacent G29 years bracket it (2024: 79/100 'Average', 2025: 85/100 'Great'), and Consumer Reports has too few Z4 survey responses for a model-specific prediction. The 2023 LCI was a light refresh on an unchanged B48/B58 + ZF 8HP drivetrain, so the generation's average-to-good picture carries — placed just below the Miata and 4 Series Convertible.

Around the 2023 model year BMW ranked average in J.D. Power's 2023 VDS but sat near the top of Consumer Reports' 2023 brand reliability ranking, behind only Toyota and Lexus — the strongest standing of the German luxury brands, yet short of the consistent top-5 needed for 80+.

MY2023 carries two NHTSA campaigns: a transmission-control-unit weld-seam defect (23V821, very small population across BMW/Supra) that can cause loss of drive, and a digital-key window-closing software compliance fix (23V099). Notably, the starter-fire campaigns that hit the 2019–2022 Z4 (25V636, 26V056) exclude 2023. Generation-wide TSB items (coolant expansion tank, EPS) still apply.

The volume sDrive30i uses the B48 2.0L turbo four, a well-regarded improvement on the N20; the M40i's B58 3.0L I6 is among BMW's most durable modern engines. Both pair with the proven ZF 8HP automatic. Minor deductions for known cooling-system wear items and the 2023-specific TCU recall.

Reviewers consistently praise the G29 cabin's leather, metal-look trim and solid switchgear; the 2023 LCI kept the 10.25-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch cluster with iDrive 7. Class-appropriate for a ~$54-65k luxury roadster, a step below the Boxster's bespoke feel.

Built by Magna Steyr in Graz alongside the GR Supra, a low-volume contract plant with a reputation for tight assembly; reviewers note solid structure with the top up or down. BMW's brand-level initial-quality results around 2023 were near industry average, which tempers the score.

BMW's roughly 350-plus US dealers provide dense metro coverage nationwide; service satisfaction is mixed (strong APEAL showings but middling ACSI luxury rankings). Solid coverage, average service experience.

OEM parts are readily available and the enthusiast aftermarket (shared with the Supra) is large, but maintenance and repair costs are on the expensive end of the segment — cooling-system parts, struts and EPS repairs are costly.

BMW Live Cockpit Professional is standard on the 2023 Z4 and includes a 10.25-inch central touchscreen. No larger screen is offered.

iDrive 7 (Operating System 7) is quick and feature-rich, and it keeps the physical rotary controller/touchpad and hard climate buttons, which makes it easy to use while driving. The menus are deep, and the screen washes out in sun with the top down.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto are both standard for 2023, with no subscription.

Built-in navigation with live traffic and the 'Hey BMW' Intelligent Personal Assistant handle natural-language commands well. This is the older OS 7 version, a step behind the later OS 8/8.5 assistant.

The standard Hi-Fi system is fine. The optional Harman Kardon surround system (464 W, 12 speakers) is the real upgrade, though open-top acoustics limit how good any system can sound.

A fully digital, configurable driver display with an integrated map view is standard as part of Live Cockpit Professional on every 2023 Z4.

Cars running OS 7 receive BMW Remote Software Upgrade over the air through the built-in modem or the My BMW app. These updates cover infotainment, maps and some vehicle functions, not the whole vehicle.

The My BMW app covers lock/unlock, vehicle status, location and send-to-car navigation. Remote engine start requires the Premium Package. BMW Digital Key (NFC) works with compatible iPhones.

There are a couple of front USB ports (USB-C plus a legacy USB-A). Wireless charging is a $500 stand-alone option bundled with the WiFi hotspot rather than standard, so the volume car often has neither.

Push-button start is standard. Comfort Access keyless entry costs extra on the sDrive30i (Convenience Package, about $600, or within the Premium Package), and remote start comes with the Premium Package.

A rearview camera and front and rear Park Distance Control are standard. Parking Assistant (automated parking plus reversing assistant) comes with the Premium Package. There is no surround-view camera, which suits a car this small.

A full-color head-up display is available on both trims through the Premium Package, but it is not standard on the volume trim.

A two-seat roadster with no rear seat and no rear LATCH positions. Carrying children every day isn't practical.

Active Driving Assistant (frontal collision warning with city braking, lane departure and blind-spot warning) is standard, and rollover protection is fixed in place. But neither IIHS nor NHTSA has crash-tested the G29 Z4, and with no rear occupants a family safety framing barely applies.

Two seats and a 9.9 cu ft trunk — it cannot carry a family on a road trip.

The 255-hp turbo four and ZF 8-speed are smooth in traffic, the seats are comfortable, and the top opens or closes in about 10 seconds at up to 31 mph. Downsides for daily use: a low seat and wide sills to climb over, limited visibility with the top up, rear-drive only, and a slightly firmer ride now that the M Sport suspension is standard.

About 28 mpg combined is respectable for a luxury roadster, but it needs premium fuel, and run-flat tires plus BMW maintenance after the warranty raise running costs.

A small footprint (171 in long, 97 in wheelbase), a 36 ft turning circle, a standard rear camera and front/rear sensors make it easy to park in the city.

No US tow rating, no bed, and only a 9.9 cu ft trunk — essentially no work capability.

Leather/SensaTec trim and a fabric soft top don't stand up to hard use. The powertrain is durable, but there is no work or fleet version.

No hitch, no roof-rack provision, no cargo-area power outlet and no upfit options.

A capable two-person highway tourer: comfortable seats, about 28 mpg, and roughly 385 miles of range from a 13.7-gal tank. Adaptive cruise is optional. Wind noise and the two-seat, small-trunk layout limit long trips.

Rear-drive only, low ground clearance, performance run-flat tires and no rack or hitch make it a pavement-only car.

The 9.9 cu ft trunk holds the same amount with the top up or down and takes a couple of soft weekend bags. There are no folding seats, no pass-through, no rails and no hitch.

With 50:50 weight distribution and a multi-link rear on the platform shared with the Supra, the Z4 has strong grip and body control. The 2023 sDrive30i adds the now-standard lowered M Sport suspension, which sharpens it slightly. It feels more like a grand tourer than the 718 or the MX-5.

The electric steering is quick and precise but gives little feedback, which reviewers cite as the Z4's main dynamic weakness against the Boxster and Miata.

A firm, consistent pedal and short stops. The 2023 M Sport Package includes M Sport brakes, a further step up from the pre-LCI base brakes.

The B48 2.0L turbo (255 hp / 295 lb-ft from about 1,550 rpm) with the ZF 8-speed responds crisply, with little lag and smooth shifts. For 2023 the automatic is the only transmission (the manual arrived in 2025, on the M40i only).

The four-cylinder is smooth and quiet when cruising but sounds ordinary under load next to the M40i's inline-six.

A tight turning circle for a rear-drive roadster, helped by the short 97-inch wheelbase.

A low, classic sports-car driving position with a wide range of seat adjustment, the now-standard M steering wheel, and controls that fall easily to hand. Visibility with the top up is limited, and getting in and out means dropping low.

A quick, composed open-top BMW that is genuinely enjoyable to drive. The volume sDrive30i lacks the six-cylinder character of the M40i and the feedback of the 718 and Miata.

The 2023 LCI made the M Sport package standard in the US, along with heated seats, a wind deflector, the through-loading system, park distance control, an auto-dimming mirror and dual-zone climate. That sits on top of the 10.25-inch iDrive 7 with wireless CarPlay and the power soft top: generous next to a Porsche 718's option-heavy base, though the head-up display and Harman Kardon stay in packages.

About $53.8k buys a 255-hp roadster that does 0–60 in about 5 s, and about $66.3k buys the 382-hp M40i, which reviewers rate a bargain against the 718 Boxster S. That is fair luxury-roadster value, but well short of the Miata's bang-for-buck.

There are only two trims (sDrive30i and M40i), both rear-drive and automatic-only for 2023. The six-speed manual didn't arrive until 2025. Choice comes mainly through option packages rather than the lineup.

The Z4 is a low-volume niche roadster in a shrinking segment, selling a few thousand units a year in the US. The 2023 refresh kept it current, but its volume trails the Miata and it is a niche seller rather than a leader.

BMW is one of the most aspirational premium brands, with deep enthusiast equity in roadsters dating back to the Z3/Z8. Brand image is a clear plus for the Z4's satisfaction and resale.

The 2023 model year sold into a supply-constrained market. Edmunds lists no factory rebates beyond a $1,000 college-grad offer, and lease support was thin (about 56% residual with an unsubsidized money factor), so buyers had little room to negotiate.

2023 is the G29's LCI refresh year (introduced September 2022), with a new grille, standard M Sport styling and more equipment, on a generation launched for 2019. It is mid-cycle and freshly updated, with no imminent replacement visible to buyers at the time.

Reviewers praise the 2023 Z4's strong turbo engines, refined ride and upscale cabin (Motor1: 'Don't Miss Out'; The Drive: 'really glad it's still here'). It is consistently ranked behind the Porsche 718 on steering and purity, and the missing manual drew criticism, so it is well-reviewed rather than the class pick.