2021 BMW M8 Gran Coupe Review

　　

2021 BMW M8 Gran Coupe Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　You can think of the 2021 M8 Gran Coupe as a more practical version of the regular two-door M8 coupe or as a somewhat more stylish version of the BMW M5 sedan. Compared to the M8 coupe, the M8 Gran Coupe gains two extra doors and is longer, wider and a bit taller, meaning it offers more interior and cargo space. Pair that practicality with a potent twin-turbocharged V8, standard all-wheel drive and sport-tuned suspension and you have one of the fastest four-doors on the planet.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 BMW M8 Gran Coupe 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$267/mo  for M8 Gran Coupe Base

　　M8 Gran Coupe Base

　　4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $130,000 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　But the M8 Gran Coupe is far from alone in this class. Notable rivals include the Audi RS 7, Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S sedan and Porsche Panamera Turbo S. They're all roughly the same size and offer similar performance and features. Even in this group of luminaries, the M8 Gran Coupe easily holds its own. Check out our Expert Rating below for our full in-depth take.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.3

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

9.0/10

　　How does the M8 Gran Coupe drive? It's hard to talk about how the M8 drives without resorting to hyperbole. We recorded a freakishly fast run to 60 mph: 3.1 seconds. For context, this large five-passenger, four-door sedan is just as quick as an Audi R8 and Acura NSX. If all the M8 did was go fast, that would be enough for some people. But it manages to leverage that power to deliver smooth, instantly accessible acceleration for whenever you need it on your daily drive.

　　If you're someone who loves a curvy road, the M8 may surprise you with how adept it is tackling those as well. It will keep up with all but the quickest and lightest sports cars through those curves and be way more comfortable and quiet doing it. Powerful brakes and sticky tires help the cause, and the M8 registered 104 feet stopping from 60 mph, another incredible figure. Dump that "weekend car" — you won't need it here.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the M8 Gran Coupe? As such a bruiser on the track, we half-expected the M8 Gran Coupe to be unlivable on the street, but that's not the case. It's far from the plushest ride in the segment, but it's not terrible at taking the edges off bumps in the road. The front seats deliver the comfort you'd expect from a luxury sedan with a host of adjustments for you to dial in the perfect amount of support. We wish the rear seatbacks had just a little bit more rake, though, and found the padding by the tailbone a bit uncomfortable.

　　The M8 is also one of the quieter cars in the class (with the exception of that V8 bark at startup). Wind and tire noise is kept well at bay, and the cabin is free of squeaks and vibrations. The climate controls, like those in many BMWs, aren't the most intuitive to use, but they do a decent job of maintaining a target cabin temp. We had a hard time telling if the seat ventilation was working.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The surprising standout in this area is the space inside the Gran Coupe. Sure, there's some headroom conceded to the sleek roofline, but legroom is shockingly abundant, and the driver's seat and steering column have more adjustment range than most of us knew what do with. The lower roofline is a bit more of a hassle when it comes to getting in and out of the car, particularly the back, and it slightly impedes rear visibility. But if you spring for the Driver Assistance package, the 360-degree camera system and parking sensors eliminate any need to guess.

　　BMW's iDrive system isn't the most intuitive to learn, but once you've become acquainted, it works well and doesn't distract you from the road. The use of a dial controller and touchscreen provides good redundant control, unlike Audi and Porsche, which have gone full touchscreen.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The M8 shows strong on the tech front, primarily with an excellent suite of advanced driver aids and a more state-of-the-art virtual voice assistant emulating Mercedes-Benz's popular MBUX system. Both areas still fall a bit short of what Mercedes offers, but they provide convenience when it comes to easing the burden of rush-hour traffic or turning on your seat ventilation without lifting a finger.

　　The optional Bowers & Wilkins audio system delivers solid sound and feels worth the price, especially since some competitor systems cost twice as much. The M8 also comes with onboard navigation that's easy to use and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. There are more than enough USBs and power ports for all passenger devices.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? With 11 cubic feet of space, the Gran Coupe's trunk is small, but it offers great flexibility. The rear seats split and fold nearly flat in a 40/20/40 configuration, and a hands-free trunk function makes loading groceries easier if your hands are full. The M8's trunk also has a lower liftover height than the Mercedes-AMG GT and Porsche Panamera.

　　In-cabin storage is a bit lacking, as in most other luxury performance cars, but the available areas including the center armrest and glovebox are more usefully sized. If car seats are a part of your life, rest assured that the Gran Coupe has you covered. Aside from an abundance of backseat space, the car seat anchors are very easy to get to, located under elegant magnetic leather flaps. Surprisingly one of the best anchor executions we've seen.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The M8 Gran Coupe is estimated to return 17 mpg (15 city/21 highway), matching the AMG GT 63 sedan. Both, however, are thirstier than Porsche Panamera Turbo (21 mpg combined). While most owners of these vehicles aren't likely to be overly concerned with fuel efficiency, no one loves constant visits to the gas station.

　　We recorded an exceptional fill of 21.8 mpg on our 115-mile drive loop that is highway-heavy but includes mountain roads and city streets as well. Traffic was particularly light due to the pandemic, but it's still a good indication the M8 can outperform its economy estimates if driven with some restraint. Of note, the onboard fuel computer was spot-on with our calculations.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the M8 Gran Coupe a good value? As members of the 99%, we too would have a hard time believing a $130,000 car could be considered a "good value," but hear us out. Within this class, the M8 Gran Coupe actually comes in around $10K less than its closest competitor, without any compromise in horsepower or build quality. Cabin design will always have an element of subjectivity, but we think the BMW's is as solid as any, even if it's not designed to elicit as much luxury as you might expect.

　　BMW's warranty and ownership perks are better than most too. The basic and powertrain warranties align with other German makes at four years/50,000 miles, with a generous 12-year rust-through warranty and roadside assistance for four years. BMW is also the only one in this class that offers complimentary maintenance for three years/36,000 miles.

　　

Wildcard

9.5/10

　　Four-door coupes usually end up being cramped compromises of their sedan counterparts. But because the M8 Gran Coupe is essentially a stretched version of the two-door, it becomes a more usable but still ridiculously fast and fun car. It has geniune space for the family and manages to look sleek and sexy. And the best part is it's just as fast as the M8 coupe. This is the car to get if an M8 is in your future.

　　

Which M8 Gran Coupe does zzdcar recommend?

This is an easy one. Starting this year, the car is only available in a single trim level: M8 Gran Coupe. We also suggest opting for the Driving Assistance package and Driving Assistance Professional package since they include a number of useful driver aids including adaptive cruise control, parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring.

　　

2021 BMW M8 Gran Coupe models

The 2021 BMW M8 Gran Coupe is a coupe-style high-performance sedan. Power comes by way of a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 (600 horsepower, 553 lb-ft) paired to an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. Opting for the Competition Package bumps that up to 617 hp, though torque remains the same.

　　Notable M8 Gran Coupe standard features include:

　　20-inch wheels with performance tires Heated front seats and steering wheel Four-zone automatic climate control LED headlights Apple CarPlay (with wireless integration) and Android Auto smartphone integration 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system Digital instrument cluster 10.25-inch central touchscreen Frontal collision mitigation system (applies the brakes automatically to stop the vehicle to avoid or minimize a collision)The 2021 M8 Gran Coupe is available with a handful of options, including:

　　Competition package M sport exhaust system Different wheels Revised suspension for improved handling Track drive mode that sets up the car for optimum track-based performance Driving Assistance package Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking) Blind-spot intervention (automatically steers the car back into its lane if you try to change lanes while a car is in the vehicle's blind spot) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Surround-view camera (gives you a top-down view of the M8 Gran Coupe and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Driving Assistance Professional package (requires Driving Assistance package) Evasive steering assist (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance) Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Night vision with pedestrian detection Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound system Carbon-ceramic brakes (can provide better resistance to brake fade during high-performance driving)

　　

2021 M8 Gran Coupe Highlights

　　

Base MSRP	$130,000
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	17 MPG
Cost to Drive	$267/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	15.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles