Compare the2025 BMW Z4VS 2025 Lotus Emira

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Z4’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Emira doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The BMW Z4 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Emira doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Z4 has standard Post-Crash Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Emira doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Z4 (except Manual) offers an optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Emira doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Z4 and the Emira have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

Warranty

The Z4 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car. The Emira’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Z4 comes with free roadside assistance for 4 years unlimited miles. BMW will send help if you run out of gas, need a jump-start, lock your keys in or need any assistance on the road. Lotus doesn’t give free roadside assistance for the Emira.

The Z4’s corrosion warranty is 4 years longer than the Emira’s (12 vs. 8 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the Z4 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Lotus doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Emira.

There are over 9 times as many BMW dealers as there are Lotus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Z4’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Z4 has a standard 800-amp battery. The Emira’s 760-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The Z4 M40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 354) than the Emira’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Z4 M40i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder is faster than the Lotus Emira supercharged V6 (manual transmissions tested):

	Z4	Emira
Zero to 60 MPH	4.1 sec	4.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	112.6 MPH	109.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Z4 gets better mileage than the Emira:

			MPG
Z4
	Manual	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	19 city/26 hwy
	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/33 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy
Emira
	Manual	3.5 supercharged V6	16 city/24 hwy
	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/30 hwy
		3.5 supercharged V6	18 city/26 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Z4’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Emira doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Z4’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Emira doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the BMW Z4, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Emira.

Brakes and Stopping

The Z4 stops shorter than the Emira:

	Z4	Emira
70 to 0 MPH	146 feet	149 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	99 feet	100 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Z4 M40i Manual’s front tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Emira (255/35R19 vs. 245/35R20).

Suspension and Handling

The Z4 offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Emira’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Z4 has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Emira doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Z4’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.1% to 48.9%) than the Emira’s (39.8% to 60.2%). This gives the Z4 more stable handling and braking.

The Z4 M40i handles at 1.02 G’s, while the Emira pulls only 1.00 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The Z4 is 3 inches shorter than the Emira, making the Z4 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Z4 has 3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Emira (52 vs. 49).

The Z4 has 1.1 inches more front headroom and 2.1 inches more front shoulder room than the Emira.

Cargo Capacity

With its convertible body style, valet key and remote trunk release lockout, the Z4 offers cargo security. The Emira’s hatchback body style and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Z4. The Emira doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Z4 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Emira. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Z4 (except Manual) offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Emira doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Z4 offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Emira doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left open on the Z4 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Emira can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Z4’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Emira’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Z4 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Emira doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Z4 offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Emira doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Z4 also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

On extremely cold winter days, the Z4’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Emira doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Z4’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Emira doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

The BMW Z4 has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Lotus charges extra for Homelink® on the Emira.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW Z4 offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The Emira doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Z4’s optional Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Emira doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW Z4, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW Z4 outsold the Lotus Emira by 14% during 2024.

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