2024 BMW 8 Series M850i xDrive

　　

2024 BMW 8 Series 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.

　　, rating written byMark TakahashiReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　The BMW 8 Series coupe first debuted in 1990 and ran until 1999. Some 20 years later, it was revived with a second generation, replacing the sleek 6 Series as BMW's largest coupe, supported by the smaller 4 Series and 2 Series. As with its predecessor and the 6 Series, this 8 Series isn't an all-out sports car. Rather, it's a touring coupe or convertible with an abundance of performance. That means it's easy to live with, yet it's exciting enough for enthusiastic drivers.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 BMW 8 Series M850i xDrive 2dr Coupe 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

　　$234/mo  for 8 Series M850i xDrive

　　8 Series M850i xDrive

　　M850i xDrive 2dr Coupe AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) - $106,300 MSRPM850i xDrive 2dr Convertible AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $116,000 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Comfort and performance

As a touring coupe or convertible, the BMW 8 Series is an excellent road trip vehicle for two sophisticated travelers. The ride quality is smooth yet provides the driver with a feeling of connectedness to the car and road. The well-shaped seats and quiet cabin further reduce long-distance fatigue. At the same time, the 8 Series is an entertaining companion on a curvy mountain road thanks to the adaptive suspension that can be firmed up to further sharpen handling. Power is more than adequate with the base 840i, but those with an appetite for performance would do well to look into the V8-powered M850i or the top-performing M8, which is reviewed separately.

　　

Competitors to consider

The 2024 BMW 8 Series can go toe-to-toe with the best sport touring cars out there, as pointed out in our Expert Rating below. That includes the iconic Porsche 911 that is always evolving and offers an extraordinarily deep roster of models. New this year is the Mercedes-Benz CLE, which replaces the C-Class and E-Class coupes and convertibles. While the CLE is not as sporty as the 8 Series or the Porsche, favoring luxury and refinement over performance, future Mercedes-AMG models should be competitive. Further off to the luxury side is the shapely Lexus LC 500.

　　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.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the 8 Series drive? The 840i with the base six-cylinder engine has more than adequate power, and the eight-speed automatic transmission delivers smooth, lightning-fast shifts. At our test track, our 840i convertible test car accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in a quick 4.8 seconds. Dynamic back-road driving from this big grand tourer is impressive too, with relatively flat cornering and impressive braking performance.

　　There are a few drawbacks to the base 8 Series convertible, including heavy but vague steering, poor throttle calibration at slow speeds, and a lack of braking feel. Those are small gripes when you consider the car's overall aptitude.

　　

Comfort

9.0/10

　　How comfortable is the 8 Series? The 840i's ride quality is excellent. The adaptive suspension soaks up almost all road imperfections. It's still smooth sailing even in Sport mode. Combine that with one of the quietest cabins in its class, and you've got a car that begs to be taken on a long road trip. The front seats are very comfortable for hours on end. The rear seats are a bit less comfortable, but they're adequate for small children, which is expected in this class.

　　The buttons for the climate control are a bit confusing at first, but the air conditioning and heated seats work well. The seat ventilation feature, on the other hand, doesn't provide much cooling effect.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below