LOS ANGELES —There’s something special about visiting California for the first time as a car guy. Maybe it’s the iconic Pacific Coast Highway, the winding canyon roads, or the feeling that the vehicle and the landscape can exist in perfect harmony. For my first trip to California, I was handed the keys to the 2025 BMW Z4 M40i, and let me tell you, it’s the car that truly encapsulates the California experience. This wasn’t just a drive, it was a journey through some of the most breathtaking roads, and the Z4 made me feel like I was living out the quintessential California dream.

I started my week with a drive along the Pacific Coast Highway, from Los Angeles to Santa Monica, and it’s here that the Z4’s magic began to unfold. The wide, open roads were lined with ocean views, and the sun was fighting its way through the fog. It was a drive made for a roadster, and the car didn’t disappoint. Driving the Z4 M40i through California wasn’t just a road trip, it was an almost cinematic experience, tapping into a deep well of nostalgia. Growing up in the late 90s, I spent countless hours watching movies and TV shows that painted California as this sun-drenched paradise, full of endless highways and coastal beauty.

It was a place I longed to live, and cruising along the Pacific Coast Highway and winding through canyon roads in the Z4 felt like stepping into those childhood dreams. The fog lifting over the ocean, the golden sunlight cutting through, it all felt so familiar, like I had seen it before on screen. In many ways, it was a feeling of déjà vu, but with the Z4 bringing it all to life in a way that those shows never could. For a moment, California was exactly what I had imagined it would be, and the Z4 was the perfect companion to make it all feel real.

Where the Z4 truly came alive though was on the canyon roads, like for example: Angeles Crest Highway. This iconic stretch is a driver’s playground, with endless curves, elevation changes, incredible views, and the Z4 handled every single turn with ease and confidence. The wide torque band of the 3.0-liter B58 turbo inline-six made it effortless to keep the car in its sweet spot, especially paired with the new 6-speed manual transmission. I found myself shifting effortlessly through gears, the car always ready to deliver power when I needed it.

Now, the manual transmission in the Z4 is a joy, there’s no doubt about that. It’s engaging, and even though it may feel a tad rubbery at times in typical BMW fashion, it still really connects you to the driving experience, especially in the canyons. But funny enough, after spending some time in downtown LA, I started thinking that the ZF 8-speed automatic might have been the better companion for city driving.

Don’t get me wrong, the manual is the enthusiast’s choice, but if the Z4 were my one and only car, something to have fun with on the weekends but also handle the grind of everyday traffic, the automatic would be hard to pass up. It’s responsive, quick, and would have made the stop-and-go traffic of LA just that much easier. For a “two-car solution,” however, the manual is the clear winner. It elevates the Z4 from a great car to an exceptional one, making every drive feel special.

One of the most surprising aspects of the Z4 M40i was its practicality. Yes, it’s a roadster, but don’t think for a second that it can’t handle a weekend or a full weeklong getaway. The trunk was big enough for two checked bags and backpacks, something I didn’t expect when I first glanced at its sleek design. Speaking of design, the Z4 is gorgeous. The San Remo Green Metallic paint, paired with the tan leather interior, is a showstopper. The sharp lines and aggressive stance are balanced by the car’s elegance, making it one of the most visually appealing vehicles in BMW’s lineup today.

The interior tech is a treat as well. It’s everything you’d expect from a modern BMW, intuitive, easy to use, and with just the right balance of buttons and touchscreen functionality. The driver assistance features and onboard tech all worked seamlessly, allowing me to focus on the road while still enjoying all the creature comforts that make long drives enjoyable.

By the end of the week, it was clear, the 2025 BMW Z4 M40i is one of the best vehicles BMW currently makes. It perfectly combines the thrill of driving with enough practicality to make it more than just a weekend toy. The B58 engine is brilliant, whether you opt for the manual or the ZF 8-speed automatic, and the car’s ability to handle both spirited canyon carving and relaxed highway cruising makes it an ideal roadster. Add in the stunning looks and surprisingly practical trunk space, and the Z4 becomes a no-brainer for anyone looking for a roadster that doesn’t compromise.

For me, this trip was about more than just driving a great car, it was about discovering the feeling that California is supposed to give you. And with this Z4, I felt every bit of it.

Take Two: The Z4 charmed us at home, too

It’s rare that a car unanimously captures our hearts at home just as well as it does in the idyllic mecca that is SoCal. Trudging through traffic with the top down, blasting along at sunset with the wind in your hair, and even splashing through puddles on rainy-day Costco runs, the Z4 kept us all under its spell.

It’s amazing what going the extra mile for driver engagement does here. As with the automatic Z4, the silky inline-six sings with the piercing whistle of a turbocharger, made all the more prominent because there’s no metal roof—and the extra sound insulation—to get in the way. The Z4 is also definitely not ugly; it’s maybe a bit bug-eyed from certain angles, but there’s definitely a bit of Z8 in the front grille, the fender vent slices through the side profile as sharply as the turn signal crease on the original car, and the rear end is finished off by wide hips and a cleanly integrated ducktail.

When you spec the third pedal, BMW also throws in staggered wheels and thicker anti-roll bars, but those are merely footnotes. The six-speed manual transforms the Z4 from a satisfying three-season daily driver to the best car BMW makes right now, bar none. Granted BMW manuals have a reputation for feeling rubbery, but that’s far from what we’re dealing with here. The stick Z4 impresses with a well-weighted shifter, short and fluid throws, and well-defined gates—all things the Collective Whole has complained about with stick Bimmers over the years. Or maybe it’s because everything is still new.

This flavour of the Z4 didn’t need to exist, but it’s literally the car we all ask for. It’s fast, good-looking, surprisingly practical—and now, genuinely engaging. Once in a while, we catch ourselves wondering if BMW lost sight of its signature philosophy. The 2025 BMW Z4 is a wink-and-a-nose-flick that they still got it. —Nick Tragianis.