• Dashboard similar to 3 Series
• High-quality and a modern feel
• Lots of tech available, good driving position

How is the quality and layout?

Because of its age, it won’t come as much of a surprise to learn that the Z4’s interior is based around the previous generation of BMWs, being very similar in design and feel to cars such as the BMW 3 Series rather than more modern versions like the BMW X1. This, though, is a good thing. You feel hunkered down in the sports seats with a high window-line and a cockpit that seems to wrap around you. Everything falls easily to hand, and interior quality is top-notch.

One thing we’d niggle about is the fact that all of the buttons around the gearlever – the shortcut keys for the media system and the driving mode controls – are all sitting flush with the surface around them. While that’s pleasing aesthetically, until you learn them all by touch, you have to take your eyes off the road to locate them and give them a good prod.

Infotainment and tech

The infotainment system is the iDrive 7.0 system (we’re now on iDrive 8.0 elsewhere) with plenty of connectivity options, a large and crisp display and plenty of advanced technology available. It feels suitably premium with excellent quality and a refined feel to all the controls, making it an excellent long-distance cruiser as well as a car to take on a fun Sunday morning drive.

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There’s a choice of touchscreen, rotary iDrive controller or voice control to operate the media unit – we’ve found the rotary dial the easiest option, with shortcut keys around it to quickly get to different menus (these have been dropped from iDrive 8.0). You can also programme the bank of numbered buttons to do specific tasks such as navigate home, play your favourite radio station or call a particular contact.

Comfort

• Excellent seats in the Z4
• Comfortable but supportive
• Wind noise with roof up is low

Once you’re in, the Z4’s cabin cocoons you with a low-slung driving position and high windowline around you. The seats are impressively comfortable with leather standard on every model, a wide range of adjustment and good levels of support. For the greatest level of adjustability, we’d suggest specifying the Comfort Plus Package which adds electric adjustment for both seats, as well as adjustable lumbar support.

It’s also refined – without too much road and wind noise being created from the fabric roof, while even with it lowered you sit low enough to be out of the wind. It also helps that heated seats are standard, and a heated steering wheel is available for colder winter days when you still want the roof down.