2021 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe Review

　　

2021 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　Are large luxury sedans too stodgy for you? Are midsize luxury sedans lacking a certain presence or exclusivity? If so, you're in luck because there's a wonderful Goldilocks zone right between the two with some great choices. The best in that middle ground is the 2021 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe. Don't let the name fool you — it is indeed a sedan.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 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) - $85,000 MSRP840i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $87,900 MSRPM850i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $108,900 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　The 8 Series Gran Coupe is one of those rare vehicles that expertly blends performance, luxury and technology in a stunning package that is greater than the sum of its parts. There are a handful of alternatives in this select class (Porsche Panamera, Mercedes-AMG GT and Audi S7) that may hold an edge in performance, but none are as balanced as the BMW. Check out our Expert Rating below to learn more.

　　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 Series Gran Coupe 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. The 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. The 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 the 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 840i Gran Coupe with all-wheel drive has an EPA-estimated 23 mpg combined (20 city/27 highway). That's more fuel-efficient than the Panamera 4 (20 mpg combined) or Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 53 (22 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 840i 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 packs almost 300 horsepower less than 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?

The 840i xDrive gets our recommendation. It has more power than most drivers will ever desire and the sure-footedness of all-wheel drive without being significantly pricier. The M850i is best for the rare driver who wants more performance, but at that point it makes more sense to go all-in with the truly impressive M8 Gran Coupe.

　　

2021 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe models

The 2021 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe is a four-door sedan with seating for five. It is offered 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.

　　A turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine (335 horsepower, 368 lb-ft of torque) powers the 840i models while the M850i xDrive steps up to a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 (523 hp, 553 lb-ft). Both variants use an eight-speed sport automatic transmission.

　　The 840i Gran Coupe is generously appointed with standard feature highlights that include:

　　18-inch wheels Power-folding and heated mirrors Power trunklid Adaptive suspension dampers Soft-close doors Leather upholstery 14-way power-adjustable front sport seats Heated front seats, armrest and steering wheel Four-zone automatic climate control Power rear sunshade Panoramic sunroofTechnology and safety features include:

　　Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield) Digital instrument panel Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Remote monitoring and control via a smartphone app Wireless charging pad Navigation system 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system Satellite radio Wi-Fi hotspot Advanced safety features include: BMW Assist eCall with automatic collision notification and SOS button Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Automatic high-beam headlights Adaptive headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves) The 840i xDrive Gran Coupe includes all of the above plus:

　　All-wheel drive Four-wheel steeringThe more powerful M850i xDrive Gran Coupe adds several performance-enhancing features that include:

　　20-inch wheels Run-flat performance tires Upgraded brakes Improved rear differential Sport-tuned suspension Sport-design steering wheel 16-way power front seats with adjustable side bolsters 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) Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Front cross-traffic alert (warns if a vehicle is about to cross your path at intersections) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Evasive steering assist (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance) External camera recorder Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention) Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the vehicle and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

　　

2021 8 Series Gran Coupe Highlights

Type: M850i xDriveSedanSedan

　　Trim: 840i840i xDriveM850i xDrive840i

　　

Base MSRP	$85,000
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 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