2021 BMW Z4

Pros: Nice ride/handling balance; good interior room for a sports car

Cons: No manual transmission; trunk bigger than previous Z4, but still small

CG Says: The 2021 BMW Z4 gains standard Android Auto functionality and satellite radio. The BMW Z4 is a premium two-seat sports car convertible with a conventional soft top. The current Z4 is a new design introduced for 2019 to replace the previous-generation Z4 that was last sold during 2016. The base engine is a 255-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and there is also 382-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter in-line 6-cylinder engine. Both engines are paired with an 8-speed automatic with paddle shifters—a manual transmission is not offered. Available features include forward collision warning, city braking function, daytime pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control with stop and go function, blind-spot alert, and rear cross-traffic alert. Note that the Z4 shares its basic powertrain and underbody structure with the revived-for-2020 Toyota Supra (unlike the Z4, the Supra comes solely as a two-seat coupe). Diehard sports-car enthusiasts will be sorely disappointed that the new BMW Z4 doesn’t offer a manual transmission, and that it might not offer the at-the-limits agility of some rivals, since BMW focused on grand-touring panache as much as hard-edged performance. If its driving personality fits what you’re looking for in a sporting car, the Z4 is a delightful droptop that is relatively affordable when compared to its class competition and other high-end BMW offerings.