Compare the2025 BMW M4VS 2025 Lotus Emira

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

Safety

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The M4’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 M4 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 M4 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies 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 M4 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.

The M4 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Emira doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The M4’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Emira.

The M4 offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Emira only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The M4 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Emira’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the M4 has standard Cross Traffic Warning, helping the driver avoid collisions. Lotus charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Emira.

Both the M4 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 and rear parking sensors.

The BMW M4 weighs 522 to 1077 pounds more than the Lotus Emira. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

The M4 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 M4 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 M4’s corrosion warranty is 4 years longer than the Emira’s (12 vs. 8 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M4 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 M4’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the M4 has a standard 900-amp battery. The Emira’s 760-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The M4 has more powerful engines than the Emira:

	Horsepower	Torque
M4 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	473 HP	406 lbs.-ft.
M4 Competition 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	503 HP	479 lbs.-ft.
M4 Competition xDrive 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	523 HP	479 lbs.-ft.
M4 CS 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	543 HP	479 lbs.-ft.
Emira 3.5 supercharged V6	400 HP	310 lbs.-ft.
Emira 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	400 HP	354 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the BMW M4 3.0 is faster than the Lotus Emira supercharged V6 (manual transmissions tested):

	M4	Emira
Zero to 60 MPH	3.8 sec	4.3 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	5.9 sec	6.9 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	8.3 sec	10.3 sec
Quarter Mile	12 sec	12.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	121 MPH	111 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the M4’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 M4’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.

The M4 has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Emira (15.6 vs. 13.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission and Drivetrain

An eight-speed automatic is available on the BMW M4, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Emira.

All wheel drive, available in the M4, provides the best traction for acceleration in wet, dry, and icy conditions. In corners, all wheel drive allows both outside wheels to provide power, balancing the car. This allows for better handling. The Lotus Emira is not available with all wheel drive.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the M4’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Emira:

	M4	M4 CCB	Emira
Front Rotors	15 inches	15.7 inches	14.6 inches
Rear Rotors	14.6 inches	15 inches	13.8 inches

The M4 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Emira doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The M4 stops shorter than the Emira:

	M4	Emira
100 to 0 MPH	291 feet	293 feet	Car and Driver
70 to 0 MPH	146 feet	149 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the M4 has larger front tires than the Emira (275/40R18 vs. 245/35R20).

Suspension and Handling

The M4 has a standard 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 M4 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the M4’s wheelbase is 11.1 inches longer than on the Emira (112.5 inches vs. 101.4 inches).

The M4’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51% to 49%) than the Emira’s (39.8% to 60.2%). This gives the M4 more stable handling and braking.

The M4 Coupe handles at 1.03 G’s, while the Emira pulls only 1.00 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The M4’s standard power retractable hardtop allows a seamless transition from an open car, to a completely sealed coupe. The Emira doesn’t offer a retractable hardtop.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the M4 Coupe is quieter than the Emira:

	M4	Emira
At idle	45 dB	51 dB
Full-Throttle	83 dB	84 dB
70 MPH Cruising	69 dB	75 dB

Passenger Space

The M4 has standard seating for 4 passengers; the Emira can only carry 2.

The M4 Coupe has 42 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Emira (91 vs. 49).

The M4 Coupe has 2.5 inches more front headroom and 2.9 inches more front shoulder room than the Emira.

Cargo Capacity

The M4 Coupe has a much larger trunk than the Emira (15.5 vs. 5.3 cubic feet).

With its coupe body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the M4 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 M4. The Emira doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the M4’s trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The M4 also offers an optional power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Emira doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the M4 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 M4 (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 M4 offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction 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 M4 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 lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Emira can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The M4’s standard Comfort Access allow you to unlock the doors from either outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Start standard on the Emira only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

The M4’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.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the M4 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Emira doesn’t offer cornering lights. The M4 also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the M4 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Emira doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the M4’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 M4’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 M4 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 M4 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The Emira doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The M4’s optional Parking Assistant Plus 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.

Model Availability

The BMW M4 comes in coupe and convertible bodystyles; the Lotus Emira isn’t available as a convertible.

Recommendations

The BMW 4 Series outsold the Lotus Emira by almost 11 to one during 2024.

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