2020 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe Review

　　

2020 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　Joining BMW's stirring 8 Series coupe and convertible, the 2020 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe adds some convenience to the excitement. Despite its name, the Gran Coupe is indeed a sedan, though with a sloping roofline that has hints of a coupe silhouette. It grows significantly from its two-door sibling, gaining 9 inches in overall length. It's also wider and taller than the two-door, with a less aggressive rake to the front and rear windscreens to improve both headroom and visibility and create a larger and more usable trunk opening.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe 840i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl 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

　　$188/mo  for 8 Series Gran Coupe 840i

　　8 Series Gran Coupe 840i

　　840i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $84,900 MSRP840i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $87,800 MSRPM850i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $108,900 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　Rear passengers in particular should be pleased with these changes. The rear-seat room in the 8 Series coupe lies somewhere between "cramped" and "nonexistent," but the Gran Coupe adds 3.4 inches of rear headroom and 7.1 inches of legroom. Rear passengers also get their own air vents, climate controls and USB-C charge ports.

　　Among other select sport luxury sedans, the 8 Series Gran Coupe is a standout for its balance of performance, comfort and price. It's an impressive rival to the Porsche Panamera and handily dispatches the four-door Mercedes-AMG GT and the Audi S7. If you're looking for an intoxicating blend of excitement, refinement and technology, the 8 Series Gran Coupe should be at the top of your list.

　　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

　　8.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the 8 Series Gran Coupe drive? We tested the 840i xDrive, which has all-wheel drive. BMW's turbocharged six-cylinder provides more power than you'll need on a daily basis, and it delivers it in an impressively smooth manner. At the zzdcar test track, our car hit 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. That's a quick time though typical for a base-engine luxury sedan of this size. Braking performance is strong, but the pedal's lack of finesse can make it hard to consistently stop smoothly.

　　Around turns, the 8 GC is stable yet deceivingly quick. There's heaps of traction and you don't have to tiptoe around it either. Just mash it and go. Steering effort is light, and the 840i is easy to maneuver around town. The steering doesn't provide much feedback, but it's accurate and complements the very accessible handling capabilities of this car. This is a well-sorted luxury sedan.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the 8 Series Gran Coupe? The 840i strikes a nice balance of comfort and sport. The adaptive suspension's Comfort setting filters out a lot of the ride harshness we experienced in the high-performance M8. The front seats provide a nice amount of support and adjustability. In back, the 8 Series is pretty comfortable, though we'd like the seatbacks to be less upright.

　　The 840 cabin is well insulated against wind and tire noise. You'll hear the six-cylinder when you rev it out; unfortunately, it doesn't sound as sweet as the M850i's V8. The climate controls aren't very intuitive to use, and the air conditioning lacks the cooling power we'd want for really hot days. Optional seat ventilation is also pretty weak.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? There's plenty of passenger space inside the 8 Series Gran Coupe. Sure, it concedes some headroom because of the sleek roofline. But legroom is abundant, and the driver's seat and steering column have more adjustment range than most of us will know what to do with.

　　The lower roofline is a bit of a hassle when it comes to getting in and out of the car, particularly the back. It also 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 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 8 Series makes a strong showing on the tech front, primarily with an excellent suite of advanced driver aids and capable voice command system. These features fall a bit short of what Mercedes offers, but they prove convenient when it comes to easing the burden of rush-hour traffic or turning on your seat ventilation without lifting a finger.

　　The standard Harman Kardon audio system delivers solid sound. We don't see any real benefit to upgrading to the pricier Bowers & Wilkins systems. The 840i also comes with onboard navigation that's easy to use. Wireless Apple CarPlay smartphone integration is also included, and Android Auto is finally rolling out as a late addition on the 8 Series. Our test car had four USB ports and two 12-volt power ports.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? With trunk space of 15.5 cubic feet, the Gran Coupe slots between the AMG GT and Porsche Panamera. Helping matters out are the 40/20/40-split rear seats that fold nearly flat via the trunk-mounted releases. The low liftover height (it's lower than the AMG GT's and Panamera's) and hands-free trunk function make loading groceries easier if your hands are full.

　　In-cabin storage is a bit lacking, 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. It has an abundance of backseat space and easy-to-access car seat anchors.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The 840 Gran Coupe with all-wheel drive has an EPA-estimated 23 mpg combined (20 city/27 highway). That's slightly more fuel-efficient than the Panamera 4 (22 mpg combined) or Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 53 (21 mpg combined).

　　We averaged 22.5 mpg over 600 miles of mixed driving, which is an indication that the EPA figures are realistic. Traffic was particularly light due to the 2020 pandemic, but it's still a good indication the 840 is one of the more efficient models in its class.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the 8 Series Gran Coupe a good value? You might have a hard time believing a $100,000 car could be considered a "good value," but hear us out. Within this class, the 840i xDrive Gran Coupe actually comes in around $12,000 less than its closest competitor without any compromise in performance 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.

　　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

9.0/10

　　Sure, the 840i is down almost 300 hp compared to the M8, but it is still rewarding and fun to drive. It also devours curvy roads with surprising ease. The beauty of all this is you don't really give up much by adding two extra doors. This coupe-style sedan has style to draw the right kind of attention plus genuine space for family or friends.

　　

Which 8 Series Gran Coupe does zzdcar recommend?

Stick with the 840i. It has strong performance and nearly all of the features of the more expensive M850i. As for optional extras, make sure to get the Driving Assistance package since it has the latest safety and convenience features you're going to want on a high-end luxury sedan.

　　

2020 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe models

The 2020 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe is a five-passenger sedan that is available in three trim levels: 840i (rear-wheel drive), 840i xDrive (all-wheel drive) and M850i xDrive. The high performance BMW M8 Gran Coupe is covered in a separate review.

　　The 840i Gran Coupe comes well appointed. Standard feature highlights include:

　　Turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine (335 horsepower, 368 lb-ft of torque) Eight-speed automatic transmission 19-inch wheels Adaptive suspension dampers (enhance ride comfort and handling) Panoramic sunroof Four-zone automatic climate control Power rear sunshade Leather upholstery Heated front seats, armrest and steering wheelIt also comes with these technology and safety features:

　　Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield) Digital gauge cluster display Apple CarPlay smartphone integration Wireless device charging pad Navigation system Satellite radio Wi-Fi hotspot Frontal collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Automatic high beams Adaptive headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves)The 840i xDrive Gran Coupe is similarly equipped, but adds:

　　All-wheel drive Four-wheel steering (enhances the vehicle's maneuverability)The M850i xDrive Gran Coupe turns up the performance quotient with:

　　Turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 (523 hp, 553 lb-ft) 20-inch wheels Upgraded brakes Sport-tuned suspension A higher top speed Ventilated front seatsNotable options include:

　　Premium leather upholstery Carbon-fiber roof (M850i only) Glass-trimmed switchgear Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound system Driving Assistance Professional package 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) External camera recorder Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind or in front of the vehicle when parking) Automated parking system Blind-spot monitor (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the vehicle and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

　　

2020 8 Series Gran Coupe Highlights

Type: M850i xDriveSedanSedan

　　Trim: 840i840i xDriveM850i xDrive840i

　　

Base MSRP	$84,900
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$188/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	15.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles