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2009 BMW Z4 |
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Price Range $45,750 to $51,650 |
suitable for:
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17 to 19 |
24 to 29 |
2 Seats |
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Safety
Are you wondering how I’m going to give this review a mom’s perspective (glorious, childless, top-down outings not enough, eh)? Well, the Z4 has a set of Latch connectors as well as a passenger airbag sensor that turns off the airbag if someone who weighs less than 80 pounds sits in the passenger seat. You heard it here, people.
The Z4’s seats are bolstered, but I was able to install a booster seat without any problems. Full disclosure: Our booster seats are contoured, which works better than standard booster seats in sporty cars with bolstered seats. Yes, I took the kids — one at a time — for a spin in the Z4, and my youngest daughter loved it. She especially loved wearing her sparkly sunglasses while riding in it. Both of my kids were able to open and close the passenger door without any problems, but smaller kids wouldn’t be able to handle the long, heavy doors as well. My children were able to buckle up by themselves, too.
There’s plenty of safety features to help ease any anxiety about kids riding in the front seat of a convertible, including front and rear anti-roll stabilizer bars and a rollover protection system. However, I’d think twice before putting an infant or toddler in this car. I just can’t get past my own mental hurdle about kids riding in the front seat. I know people do it, and for some it’s a necessity, but I’m a little paranoid about the whole thing. If you have a family car with a backseat, that’s where the kids should be riding.
The Z4 has antilock brakes, stability control — with a brake-drying function for wet weather, traction control and front- and side-impact airbags as well as a driver’s knee airbag.
The Z4 hasn’t been crash-tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, just so you know.
FAMILY LIFESTAGE
In Diapers: The Z4 has Latch connectors, but I just don’t feel good about recommending this car for little ones. They need to be in the backseat of a car with at least two rows.
In School: A booster seat will fit in the passenger seat, but I’d only do that in a pinch.
Teens: There’s no way I’d let a teen drive this, but they can ride in it.
shopping around: At cars.com
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