BMW Z4 roadster (2009-2016) - Practicality & boot space

The BMW Z4 is pretty impractical compared to many of its rivals, with the roof taking 21 seconds to fold away and another 20 seconds to put back up, which is nearly twice the time it takes in the Audi TT Roadster.

Putting the roof down also eats into boot space considerably – something to bear in mind if you’re taking a lot of luggage for a sunny weekend in the country.

BMW Z4 interior space and storage

The two-seat interior is large enough to comfortably fit two adults – even those of the tall persuasion – with plenty of shoulder room and lots of adjustment in the seats. There are also lots of handy luggage nets dotted around the interior. Elbow room is decent, and there’s plenty of adjustment for the driver’s seat, so getting comfortable at the wheel should be easy.

Boot space

Practicality is never going to be the prime criteria for anyone thinking about buying a Z4. Having said that, it’s not all doom and gloom, as you get 310 litres of boot space, which is very similar to what you’ll find in a Ford Fiesta or other superminis. However, if the sun comes out and you decide to drop the top, the metal roof cuts capacity considerably to 130 litres.

By way of comparison, the Porsche 718 Boxster offers a total of 280 litres split between its front and back compartments. The Mazda MX-5, though, has a much smaller boot, providing 150 litres with the top up or down. It's certainly not a car to do your weekly shop in. The Mercedes SLC, meanwhile, offers a relatively generous 310 litres (225 litres with the roof down).

You can get a ski hatch fitted to the Z4 as an optional extra if you need to carry longer items, but they'll then intrude on the cabin and cause irritation on longer journeys.