New BMW Z4 vs new Audi TT Roadster

The old BMW Z4 wasn’t much fun to drive, but this new one promises to rectify that. Let’s see if it’s a better sports car than the recently refreshed Audi TT Roadster...

Audi TT seats

Space and practicality

Front space, rear space, seating flexibility, boot

There’s less head room in the Z4 with the roof up, but you’re unlikely to feel hemmed in even if you’re tall, and you’ll appreciate its extra leg room. It’s broader inside, too, so there’s more elbow room for you and your passenger and the central armrest is wider. 

BMW Z4 seats

The other benefit is a bigger cubby beneath the centre armrest than you get in the TT, but there’s a flaw: that’s where the Z4’s cupholders are located, so you have to drive with the cubby’s lid open if you’ve stopped for a takeaway coffee. Both have reasonable-sized gloveboxes but small door pockets. 

The Z4 offers a netted area – shallow but usefully wide – behind its seats to complement the boot, which is also bigger than the TT’s. Five carry-on cases can fit inside the Z4’s boot, although the TT still swallowed a respectable four. However, the Z4 will potentially manage longer (thin) loads, because for £100 you can order a useful through-loading hatch.

Audi TT boot

You get more head room (roof up) than in the Z4, but less leg and elbow room. There’s also less in the way of storage space and a smaller (but still decent) boot. An electric wind deflector (£450) keeps buffeting to a minimum.

Boot 280 litres  Suitcases 4


BMW Z4

BMW Z4 boot

The Z4 offers more overall passenger space, a bigger boot and also a useful storage area behind its rear seats. The optional wind deflector clips in but isn’t that effective, and the roof is slower to open and close than the TT’s.

Boot 281 litres  Suitcases 5


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