2021 BMW 8 Series | Review & Road Test

For the latest BMW 8 Series pricing and information:
https://www.kbb.com/bmw/8-series/

BMW revived the 8-series last year and we’re gonna do a video about it. This one I’m driving is the 840i. So let’s go!


Part of the 8-series relaunch included a less expensive 6-cylinder to the lineup as well as a 4-door Gran Coupe to the two-door coupe and convertible versions.

So, I’m going to talk about the engine stuff first.


That new inline-6 or the V8 are both turbocharged. The inline-6 in the 840i (335 hp/368 lb.-ft torque) gets twin-turbo, so does the V8 in the 850 (523 hp/553 lb-ft torque). Those numbers in the latter get it from 0 to hair-on-fire in under four seconds. Need something even faster? The M8 (600 hp/553 lb-ft torque) high-performance version should be more your brand of loco.



I wouldn’t use the same word for this 6-cylinder. In normal mode, the power feels adequate. If I really want to feel ultra-performance then I have to punch it up to Sport mode. Then you get quicker throttle response and the chassis firms up. But I’ve got to be honest, the sticker price on this particular car I’m driving is $100,000. For that kind of cash, I want a little more guts.


The 8-series whether the 2-door grand touring coupe or this four-door beauty isn’t a shrinking violet. This is one hefty dude coming in at its most svelte at 4,500 pounds.

Adding BMW’s xDrive four-wheel-drive system, which comes standard on V8 850 models, makes that body feel a bit less weighty with its added traction putting power down at all four corners.

I’ve got xDrive in this model, and it does feel surprisingly maneuverable and nimble for all this size.

The killer chassis it rides on, the suspension and damping settings, and a finessed and quick-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission makes the 8-series a ton of fun to flog around turns.



There’s a lot of great stuff to like about the 8-series innards and a couple of things I’d change. The first thing I want to mention is this amazing crystal shifter that looks like it’s off Maleficent staff. Holy crap. But, if it catches the light just right it throws rainbow prisms into your eyes which is just weird.

Something not so magical, BMW’s infotainment system.

BMW isn’t known for an uncomplicated and mega intuitive interface. The screen is 10.25-inches of digital huge and the graphics looks sharp. There’s plenty of customizable Tom Foolery over here with the gauge cluster and you get stuff like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.


The buttery leather seats, while yes, they look killer with this red color, and they’re adjustable and heated, after about two hours of sitting in them the supportive part starts feeling really hard and numbing my legs. Maybe that’s just my 5-5-inch stature, but definitely check this out for yourself.


Standard safety features include lane-departure warning, frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, and active blind-spot detection.

When it comes to those safety features, BMW’s systems can feel pretty intrusive, more reprimands than warnings. The lane departure correction feels like that horrible driving instructor who’s grabby with your steering wheel. I turned them down to the lowest sensitivity, then just shut them off.


The 8 Series coupe, convertible, and this Gran Coupe are all 4-passenger vehicles. Rear seats are more cramped in the coupe than in our 4-door version. But even here in the four-door headroom isn’t generous.

But if you’ve got stuff to haul around you can put the second-row seats down creating more cargo space.


Mucho gusto, this BMW is huge and does ride as such—The Gran Coupe’s wheelbase (Gran Coupe 119-inch wheelbase; Coupe 111-inch wheelbase) is clearly longer than the 2-door version.

This latest 8-series iteration checks in far more contemporary looking than its predecessor.

Smooth curves, sculpted sides, standard 20-inch wheels, and BMW’s trademark twin-kidney grille that is blessedly well-proportioned round out what I think is one very handsome car.

While this grand touring luxury mobile comes packed with standard equipment, there are good extras.

The Driving Assistance Professional Package gets you those overzealous semi-autonomous driving features like adaptive cruise control and an evasion aid. And a Comfort Seating Package adds ventilation to the front seats.

The 8 Series convertible offers a neck-warming feature that I think should be in all cars, full stop.


The 840i Gran Coupe starts around $86,000. The 8 Series 840i Coupe, about $89,000.

Adding xDrive raises those prices by $2,900. The 850i starting prices are over six large. (850i Coupe ~ $113,000; 850i Gran Coupe ~ $110,000) Same with that insane M8 Coupe (~ $147,000). That’s a lot of coins. Make sure the purchase is worth them all.


So, the BMW 8-Series is back. Now you know that I think about it, but what’s important if you’re in the market for one is what you think about it.