Road Test: BMW Z4 18i sDrive 2dr

Gone are the days when BMW's model nomenclature meant anything. Here we have the new sDrive18i, the entry point to Z4 ownership, which isn't a 1.8.

It's a detuned version of the 2.0-litre you'll find higher up the range, here finished to a point where it can just about wheeze you to 62mph in 7.9secs. It's got 156bhp, which in a car weighing around 1,470kg isn't that much. True, it's lighter than the turbocharged 6cyl Z4 (a porky 1,580kg), and the turn-in feels slightly crisper, the car a fraction more nimble. But it's nowhere near enough recompense for that slightly gutless engine.

Plus, it's not as light or cheap as a Subaru BRZ - which costs a grand less - nor as rewarding to drive. It's not bad, the Z4, and with the snappy, knuckly 6spd manual, feels decent to punt around in. But you will get frustrated with the lack of power.

For a certain demographic, then, this car is perfect. The minor facelift keeps it looking lovely, and it'll sell on looks and badge alone. But spec anything you might want, and the price rockets up (our test car was £37k) making its case even harder. For the drivers among you, then - that's you reading this magazine - we'd advise the BRZ.