BMW Z4 20i

 

The BMW Z4 range has been dominated by six-cylinder models, but thanks to the influence of CO2 regulations, there’s now a couple of new four-pot turbo options.

This sDrive20i is now the entry-level ZA and it dips below the £30K mark thanks to a £945 price drop over the 23i it replaces. The kit count is stronger, however, with leather seats and Bluetooth among the newly standard equipment. BMW’s biggest boast, though, surrounds the new 20i’s cleanliness. Its 2-litre engine is 50()cc smaller than the 23i’s straight-six, and while at 181 bhp it’s 20bhp lighter, it’s 151b ft healthier and 42g/km (and four tax bands) cleaner. Fuel economy is up from 33.2 to4l.5mpg, too.

Predictably, it doesn’t sound as good as its predecessor, but the 20i still makes an interesting, if slightly synthetic noise. There’s some aural reward for hanging on to the revs, but with peak power delivered at a diesellike 4800rpm (and maximum torque at a mere 1250rpm), the engine works better if you shuffle through the gears.

It’s brisk enough, but not wholly engaging, and it’s a similar story dynamically-the steering and manual gearshift are nicely weighted (an eight-speed auto’s an option) but they aren’t attached to the most playful of chassis. Think of this as an efficient SLK alternative rather than a Boxster battler.

If you crave more power, an extra £4165 buys you the sDrive28i, which actually has the same engine but tweaked to 242bhp and 2581b ft (in fact basically the same unit that’s in the 528i on the left) but with identical CO2 and mpg figures.