2012 BMW Z4

The 2012 BMW Z4 is one of the most popular luxury sports cars in the United States. It has a sleek and compact design that fits two people. BMW made many advances with this vehicle and added in a lot of new things to make it fun to drive.

It is a convertible,which means drivers can enjoy having the top up or down while on the road.

Specifications

Engine

The sDrive 28i trim has a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder DOHC cylinder. It uses unleaded fuel and has a 240 horsepower engine. It is rear wheel drive with manual transmission. The sDrive35is trim is also turbocharged,but has a 3.0L 6 DOHC engine. The fuel tank capacity carries 14.5 gallons of gas. The engine produces 335 horsepower at 5,900 RPM.

Performance

This BMW gets around 23 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway. It can go from 0-60 in 5.7 seconds,which makes it one of the quickest cars BMW has. Although the car is powerful,it's able to handle different types of roads very well. It's agile and offers a smooth ride for both the passenger and driver. The engine in this model actually helps improve gas mileage as well.

Exterior

The body style is convertible with a hard top. There are power windows and rear defrost features as well. All tires are performance quality with aluminum wheels. There is also a tire pressure monitoring system. Colors available include:atacama yellow,space grey metallic,mineral white metallic,crimson red,black sapphire metallic and many others.

Interior

The inside of the Z4 has a setup for Bluetooth to offer drivers hands-free calling. There is also an auxiliary audio input jack for individuals who don't use Bluetooth. The HD radio has clear sound that can play from the radio or the USB/iPod connection. There are also exterior mirror controls located inside of the cabin.

The controls inside of the car are all designed to be easy and simple to use. It's also fairly small on the inside since there is only room for two people. There are option packages available for buyers who want a nicer look with the materials that are used throughout the inside of the Z4.

Safety &Reliability

This car that has not gone through crash testing by the federal government,but it does have a lot of safety features to keep passengers safe. The crash sensor will unlock doors and turn on the hazard lights when there is a collision detected.

Airbags located throughout the cabin that will inflate when a collision sensor detects an accident. There is a four year/50,000 mile warranty that comes included with free scheduled maintenance. The warranty also includes roadside assistance while it is still valid.

Pros

• Great performance.
• Hardtop that can retract.
• Small design perfect for sporty drivers.

Cons

• Inside of cabin is small.
• Expensive,especially with added options.
• Can only fit two people and doesn't have a big trunk.
• Although it is sporty and fun,this generally isn't a car that appeals to families because of the limited space.

Competition

There's nothing like driving with the top down,which is why the likes of the Audi TTS (MSRP $50,350;22 city / 34 hwy),along with the 6 cylinder machines of the Infiniti G (MSRP $47,200;17 city / 25 hwy),and the Porsche Boxster (MSRP $49,500),has joined BMW in offering convertibles.

Overall Rating
75 out of 100

What others say:

"Like any small roadster,the 2012 BMW Z4 puts a premium on interior space. It's big enough for two adults to travel in comfort,but they'd better pack lightly:there's not much space for anything else."Car Connection

"Handling is agile and stable,and even the base tires are grippy. The powerful brakes are easy to modulate and feature excellent pedal feel. Testers are divided on the value of the sport suspension. Some cite sharper response,others see little benefit versus other Z4s."Consumer Guide

"The biggest news for the 2012 BMW Z4 is under the hood. The normally aspirated in-line-6 is gone. Its replacement,a 2.0-liter turbocharged four,is the new entry-level face of BMW,providing the performance foundation for the new 5 Series,the upcoming 3 Series and this,BMW's performance roadster."KBB

"Powerful six-cylinder and efficient four-cylinder engines;quick-folding hardtop;comfortable ride;big trunk (with the top raised);excellent visibility for a roadster"¦Not as invigorating and involving as Porsche rival;four-cylinder is clattery at idle;very pricey."Edmunds