Is the 2020 BMW Z4 a good car?

Yes — the 2020 BMW Z4 earns 4.71/5 from owners and 7.5/10 from our experts. The standout strength is Performance at 9/10.

Owners consistently praise the Z4’s performance, handling, comfortable seats, smooth transmission, and powerful engine, which fits a roadster built for an engaging drive. The trade-offs are outdated technology and some road noise from the soft top, so it makes the most sense if you want a sporty open-top car more than a cutting-edge cabin. In that context, the Z4 is best for you if driving enjoyment matters more than tech polish, and 32.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.

Is the 2020 BMW Z4 reliable?

Owners rate it 4.71/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction. Reviewers also describe the car as thrilling, dependable, and a vehicle owners seem happy to count on for the driving experience it delivers.

The expert evaluation also points to a well-sorted powertrain and a car that feels composed in daily use, which supports the idea that it should be a satisfying ownership proposition. If you’re buying used, the main long-term risk is less about outright mechanical drama and more about whether the car has been maintained carefully and kept in good condition.

What should I look for when buying a used 2020 BMW Z4?

At 72% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the car has had bodywork or shows signs of hard use. Pay close attention to the soft top, cabin noise, and how the car feels over rough pavement, since those are the kinds of issues that can matter most in a used roadster. It’s also smart to compare condition carefully across listings, because the market includes both cleaner examples and cars with prior damage.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base sDrive30i includes automatic LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming mirrors, automatic climate control, a 10.24-inch touchscreen, navigation, HD Radio, and Apple CarPlay, but Android Auto is missing. The M40i adds the inline-six and more standard equipment, including the Track Handling package, plus 19-inch alloys with non-run-flat tires.
• Powertrain: The sDrive30i uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, while the M40i brings a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 with 382 hp and 368 lb-ft. The 4-cylinder is quicker than you might expect, but the inline-6 is the one that delivers the stronger performance identity.
• Safety package: Standard equipment includes frontal collision warning with emergency braking and traffic-sign recognition. The Driving Assistance package adds blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure warning, while the Convenience package adds rear cross-traffic alert, an automatic parking system, satellite radio, adaptive cruise, and smartphone key pairing.
• Infotainment: The Z4 uses a 10.24-inch touchscreen with BMW iDrive. Apple CarPlay is offered, Android Auto is missing, and the system does not get over-the-air capability mentioned here.
• Fuel efficiency: The 4-cylinder can get to 60 mph in about 5.5 seconds, and the inline-6 can do it in about 4.5 seconds. The 4-cylinder also weighs about 100 pounds less than the inline-6, which can help handling.

Which 2020 BMW Z4 trim should I buy?

The 2020 BMW Z4 is offered in 2 trim levels: sDrive30i, M40i.

Here's the short version:

• Base trim: The sDrive30i gives you the core Z4 experience, but it lacks Android Auto and leaves some desirable comfort and convenience features on the options list.
• Premium/top trim: The M40i is the one to buy if you want the inline-6, stronger acceleration, and more of the performance hardware already built in. It’s the trim that best matches the Z4’s sporty personality.
• Off-road trim: Not applicable for this roadster.

The safety package note to keep in mind is that blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure warning are tied to the Driving Assistance package, not standard equipment.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2020 BMW Z4?

This is a moderate, selective-buyer market: there are enough listings to shop carefully, but the best examples still deserve quick attention.

• Deal availability: 32.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 93 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 72.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $35,310.54, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2020 BMW Z4 safe?

It earns a 6/10 safety score from our experts.

The redesigned BMW Z4 has yet to be tested by the government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Standard safety features include frontal collision warning with emergency braking and traffic-sign recognition. You can add blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure warning with the Driving Assistance package, or rear cross-traffic alert, an automatic parking system, satellite radio, adaptive cruise, and smartphone key pairing with the Convenience package.

The Z4 also has relatively poor rear visibility when the top is up, and the wind deflector can make rearward visibility more difficult with the top down.

Should I buy a 2020 BMW Z4 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2020 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2020 if:

• 32.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 72% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Owners rate it 4.71/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The inline 6-cylinder engine returns in the M40i trim, restoring the stronger performance identity that suits this roadster.

The bottom line: If you want the Z4 with the strongest personality, the 2020 model is the one to target because it brings back the inline-6 and keeps the car focused on driving enjoyment. If you’re more price-sensitive, the sDrive30i still gives you the core roadster experience, but you should be selective about condition and equipment.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 21, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.