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- 2015 BMW Z4
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The 2015 BMW Z4 sits in the top half of our luxury sports car rankings. It has spacious seating for two, balanced handling, and below-average ownership costs. However, its ride isn’t as engaging as some competitors.
The 2015 BMW Z4's #6 ranking is based on its score within the 2015 Luxury Sports Cars category. Currently the BMW Z4 has a score of 7.9 out of 10, which is based on our evaluation of 49 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
The 2015 Z4 is a good used luxury sports car. This two-seater is good for road-tripping, with a good amount of passenger and cargo space for the class, a comfortable ride, and a number of potent available engines. Though, anyone craving top-notch athleticism should look elsewhere.
We’ve analyzed 49 BMW Z4 reviews, as well as fuel economy estimates, reliability ratings, crash test results, and more, to give you all the information you need to make a smart car-buying decision.
U.S. News & World Report has been reviewing cars, trucks, and SUVs since 2007, and our Best Cars team has more than 75 years of combined automotive industry experience. To remain impartial, we do not accept extravagant gifts from automakers, and an outside source handles our advertising.
Our site has over 60 listings for the 2015 BMW Z4, with prices ranging from about $26,900 to $40,900. The average list price is $33,900, which is below average for the class. The price you pay varies depending on the vehicle's condition, mileage, features, and location.
The 2015 Z4's projected five-year costs for fuel, insurance, maintenance, and repairs are roughly $33,360, or $6,670 per year. These are below-average estimates for the class.
The Z4 was discontinued after the 2016 model year, but a redesigned model is making its debut for 2019. To learn more, read Redesigned 2019 BMW Z4: All You Need to Know.
If you prefer a new luxury sports car, but your budget is limited to the average price of a used Z4, you’re out of luck. You won’t find a new model in the used 2015 Z4’s price range.
See the Best New Car Lease Deals »
BMW produced the Z4 from 2009 to 2016. You’ll want to narrow your search to Z4s from 2012 and after. These have a turbo-four base engine that gets better fuel economy and produces more torque than the twin-turbo six-cylinder engine it replaces. Beyond this, changes have been minor. For 2013, BMW reshuffled the Z4’s trims and features, and the 2015 Z4 saw the discontinuation of the manual transmission with the six-cylinder engine. The 2016 Z4 gained standard sport seats for the last year of the generation.
Compare the 2014, 2015, and 2016 Z4 »
The 2015 BMW Z4 has a slightly above-average reliability rating of 3.5 out of five from J.D. Power.
Read more about Z4 reliability »
At the time of writing, there are no open safety recalls for the 2015 BMW Z4.
See more information on BMW Z4 safety recalls »
The Z4 comes in three trims: sDrive28i, sDrive35i, and sDrive35is. In terms of features, there are few differences between the trim levels. The powertrains are what distinguish these models. The base sDrive28i has a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine and is available with a six-speed manual transmission. The sDrive35i and sDrive35is models have stronger engines, but they only come with an automatic transmission.
See 2015 BMW Z4 trims and specs »
The BMW Certified CPO program is available on vehicles no older than five years with between 300 and 60,000 miles on the odometer. The program covers buyers for one year with unlimited mileage after the four-year/50,000-mile new-vehicle limited warranty has expired. This warranty can be renewed for a fee, but there is a maximum of five years of coverage. Each BMW must pass a road test and a 196-point inspection before earning CPO status. Additional benefits like towing and 24-hour roadside assistance may be available. This CPO coverage can be transferred to subsequent owners, but some restrictions may apply, so read the BMW warranty page carefully.
BMW has one of the less-attractive CPO programs among luxury car manufacturers, according to our research. You’ll get better warranties from Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Jaguar.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did not perform crash safety tests on the 2015 BMW Z4.
You won't find too many active safety features in the Z4. It comes standard with adaptive headlights and dynamic cruise control. Front and rear parking sensors and automatic high beams are available.
The 2015 Porsche Boxster costs several thousand dollars more than the Z4, but it's worth the difference. It has excellent steering feedback, and its cornering ability is exceptional. It also has a group of potent engines and gets one of the highest predicted reliability ratings in the class. Its top-notch cabin also features a standard 7-inch touch-screen infotainment system. The Z4's one advantage over the Boxtser is its trunk. The Boxster has two small trunks that don’t allow for much stuff. The Z4’s trunk is relatively large for the class. All-in-all, the Boxster is the better vehicle, however.
The 2015 Mercedes-Benz SLK's higher reliability rating and additional standard and available features give it a slight edge over the Z4. Unlike the BMW, it comes standard with an infotainment system and driver drowsiness monitoring, and some models even come with blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, parallel park assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The SLK has similar performance to the Z4. Its handling is composed but not athletic, and it maintains a comfortable ride over smooth and rough roads, making it suitable for daily driving. The Z4 offers more shoulder room and a livelier base engine, but you should be able to find an SLK model with one of its stronger available engines. There are upscale materials in both models, but the SLK is the more well-rounded option.
The all-wheel-drive 2015 Audi TT comes in two flavors: four-seat hardtop and two-seat roadster. Every TT model comes with amenities that don’t come standard in the Z4, like leather upholstery, heated front seats, and satellite radio. Additionally, the TT costs less than the Z4 upfront and in the long run, based on projected ownership costs. That said, its weaker base engine pushes it lower in our rankings than the BMW. The Z4 is a better choice, but the TT isn’t too far behind.
The base sDrive28i has a peppy 240-horsepower, twin-turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a standard six-speed manual transmission. An eight-speed automatic transmission is available. Those looking to get the most handling enjoyment out of the Z4 should opt for a model with the base engine and the manual transmission.
If you’re looking for more power, you have two options. There's a 300-horsepower twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine that comes in the sDrive35i, and there’s a 335-horsepower twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine in the sDrive35is. A seven-speed automated manual transmission comes standard in both models. No matter which engine you select, the Z4 has no qualms getting up to speed.
The Z4's ride straddles the fence between comfort and agility, which makes it a good option if you're looking for a comfortable cruiser. Those looking to regularly carve corners will most likely prefer a more performance-oriented luxury sports car.
The base sDrive28i with a manual transmission delivers 22 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. Base models with an automatic transmission get 1 less mpg on the highway. The sDrive35i and sDrive35is models get 17/23 mpg city/highway.
Read more about Z4 performance »
The two-seat Z4 has good interior space for a vehicle of its size. The cabin features a modern, upscale design and quality materials. Leatherette upholstery and eight-way power-adjustable seats are standard. Some models feature leather upholstery, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and 10-way power-adjustable sport seats.
Standard features include HD Radio, Bluetooth, auxiliary and USB ports, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Available features include satellite radio, a premium audio system, smartphone app integration, voice command, and navigation. Make sure your devices can connect to the Bluetooth system, as technology standards have changed over the years.
There's 8 cubic feet of cargo space in the Z4. That's a pretty good amount of room for a luxury sports car. Putting the top down also doesn't take too much trunk space away, which isn't the norm for hardtop convertibles. The trunk is also fitted with a pass-through, which comes in handy if you're trying to squeeze in longer cargo.
The 2015 Z4 is roughly 13.9 feet long. Its curb weight is about 3,300 to 3,550 pounds.
BMW built the 2015 Z4 in Germany.
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