2021 BMW 8 Series Review

　　

2021 BMW 8 Series Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　Now in its third year since its 2019 reintroduction, the BMW 8 Series is one of the best grand-touring luxury cars on the market. The 8 Series is available as a coupe or convertible and with either a turbocharged six-cylinder engine or turbo V8. And it's rapid as well as comfortable and easy to drive for hours on end. For 2021, BMW has added a few standard features to the 8 Series, including, finally, Android Auto compatibility, as well as lane departure warning.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 BMW 8 Series 840i 2dr Coupe (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

　　$181/mo  for 8 Series 840i

　　8 Series 840i

　　840i 2dr Coupe (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $88,000 MSRP840i 2dr Convertible (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $97,400 MSRP840i xDrive 2dr Coupe AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $90,900 MSRP840i xDrive 2dr Convertible AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $100,300 MSRPM850i xDrive 2dr Coupe AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $111,900 MSRPM850i xDrive 2dr Convertible AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) - $121,400 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　You'll for sure want to cross-shop the 8 Series against Porsche's ever-capable 911, but you could also line it up against the Lexus LC 500, which comes as both a coupe and convertible for 2021. Overall, we're impressed with how this big BMW stacks up against its pedigreed rivals. Read our Expert Rating below for further in-depth analysis and our review of the 2021 8 Series.

　　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

8.5/10

　　How does the 8 Series drive? We have high expectations for this segment when it comes to performance, and the 8 Series meets or exceeds them. We tested the M850i coupe at our test track and it ripped from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. That's quicker than sportier cars such as the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT C.

　　The brakes are touchy at low speeds, so you'll occasionally make an inelegant stop. Otherwise, the 8 Series is extraordinarily easy to drive, from the everyday commute to its high limits. Standard all-wheel drive, controlled body roll, and accurate, responsive steering encourage you to drive harder.

　　

Comfort

9.0/10

　　How comfortable is the 8 Series? The 8 Series gets all the high marks expected from a fine luxury sport coupe. Adaptive dampers work wonders to absorb bumps and ruts for a better ride than rivals offer. The front seats are well shaped for hours of relaxed touring, though the aggressive side bolsters — while adjustable — can be confining. Wind and road noise is impressively silenced, yet you can still hear just enough of the burly V8 to be inspired.

　　What's most impressive is that the 8 Series is somehow this comfortable without diluting its superb overall performance. The customary sacrifices with respect to ride quality and noise are blissfully absent.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The cabin's look and feel are a huge asset. The primary controls are well placed and require little attention to operate, though with practice, some users might prefer the available gesture controls. Thanks to ample shoulder room, you won't bump your passenger as you swipe to change songs. But there's little room in the back. The seats are essentially two nicely upholstered luggage buckets.

　　The front seats are highly adjustable, so there's no issue finding an ideal position. Visibility is slightly compromised due to the thick pillars and lack of visual references, but the standard blind-spot monitoring and surround-view camera system help. Overall, none of these drawbacks are unusual for this class.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The standard audio system is powerful and clear enough that you don't need to bother with the optional (and pricey) Bowers & Wilkins upgrade. The infotainment system features a crisp, responsive screen and easy-to-navigate menus. Alternatively, you can use voice controls if you don't want to fiddle with the iDrive controller. The system is quite accurate, but because it is cloud-based, it can be slow to respond. All of the 8 Series' advanced driving aids work well but most are optional.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The 8 Series is surprisingly utilitarian. The trunk is massive for the class and can accept surprisingly large, bulky cargo. The liftover height for the trunk is low too. Up front, BMW's designers gave the 8 Series a fair number of spaces for holding personal items. Pockets, bins and cupholders are moderately sized, and the rubberized wireless charging pad ensures your phone will stay put.

　　Want to use your 8 Series as a family taxi? Little kids in booster seats will be OK, but good luck trying to fit a big child safety seat in the back given the lack of space.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates fuel economy for the M850i at 20 mpg combined, which is slightly better than average among competing V8 coupes. Those figures are attainable if you have restraint. Most of our test drivers didn't, and our test M850i ended up posting fill-ups in the low teens.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the 8 Series a good value? The 8 Series is remarkably well equipped in its base form, and that's especially true when you compare it to a similarly priced Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe and Porsche 911 Carrera 4S. In many ways, you get an optimal blend of the Mercedes' opulence and the Porsche's dynamic abilities. Even if you're generous with options, the 8 Series is a relative bargain.

　　BMW's basic and powertrain warranties are good for four years/50,000 miles, which is standard in the class among German rivals. Complimentary maintenance is offered for three years/36,000 miles, which is increasingly rare in the luxury class.

　　

Wildcard

8.3/10

　　The 8 Series has the presence and performance to bring a smile to your face whether you're gazing it from afar or wringing it out on a fun road or racetrack. We give it extra points for its ability to satisfy both luxury- and sporty-minded drivers at the touch of a button.

　　

Which 8 Series does zzdcar recommend?

Our choice would be the M850i xDrive, even though the standard 840i is more than competent. The M850i's twin-turbo V8 engine adds authoritative power we think is worth the extra money and better suited to the car's personality. To that, we'd add the Driver Assistance and Driver Assistance Professional packages for their additional driver assist features.

　　

2021 BMW 8 Series models

The 2021 BMW 8 Series is offered in three trims: 840i, 840i xDrive and M850i xDrive. All are available in either a coupe or convertible body style. (There's also a four-door 8 Series Gran Coupe, which is reviewed separately.)

　　The 840i models are powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine (335 horsepower, 368 lb-ft of torque). The standard 840i uses rear-wheel drive, while the 840i xDrive has all-wheel drive. The M850i xDrive, also with all-wheel drive, has a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 (523 hp, 553 lb-ft). An eight-speed automatic is standard across the board.

　　Highlighted standard features include:

　　840i

　　Comes well equipped with features such as:

　　18-inch wheels Adaptive suspension M Sport differential (can enhance traction during acceleration) Adaptive LED headlights Power trunk Soft-close doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut) Power-adjustable and heated front sport seats Heated steering wheel and armrestsStandard technology features and driver aids include:

　　Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield) 16-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound audio system 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation Wireless device charging pad Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility Digital gauge cluster Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)The 840i xDrive comes standard with all the above equipment but adds all-wheel steering (that's optional on the 840i) and convertibles come equipped with a folding fabric top.

　　M850i xDrive

　　Besides the more powerful V8 engine, additional features include:

　　20-inch wheels Upgraded brakes Sport-tuned transmission Adaptive sport suspension Active roll stabilization Increased top speed limiter Black exterior trim Ventilated front seats Sport steering wheelThere are three main option packages available for the 8 Series:

　　M Sport package (840 models)

　　High-performance brakes Sport steering wheel Upgraded sport seats Black exterior trim Aerodynamic body kitDriving Assistance package

　　Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse) Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the 8 Series and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking) Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)Driving Assistance Professional package

　　Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the BMW and the car in front) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)Other notable options include a carbon-fiber roof, a gear selector and select controls in faceted glass, and a Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system.

　　

2021 8 Series Highlights

Type: M850i xDriveCoupeConvertibleCoupe

　　Trim: 840i840i xDriveM850i xDrive840i

　　

Base MSRP	$88,000
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$181/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles