BMW i8 (2014 – 2020) Review

The supercar crowd were caught napping when the BMW i8 was launched in 2014. Here was a car with all the performance of a Porsche 911, the drama of a Ferrari 488, and the sophistication of a McLaren 650S, yet it used a 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor. However, this package offers great pace and poise in a car that still feels cutting edge now. Read on for our full BMW i8 review.

The BMW i8 marked a revolution, not just for hybrid cars but for sports cars and supercars in general. The technology was incredibly advanced, but the principle was really very simple.

A small 1.5-litre engine, borrowed from the MINI, powers the rear wheels, while an electric motor drives the front wheels.

In between are lithium-ion batteries, which means a low centre of gravity and perfect weight distribution.

The result? A phenomenally good sports car that sets new rules for how performance should be delivered and how a driver’s car can feel.

Forget the fact this is a plug-in hybrid, instead just appreciate the BMW i8 for what it is: one of the best used cars on the road today, regardless of how it’s powered.

Of course, the styling certainly adds to the appeal. The BMW i8 looks like a concept that’s just been driven off a motorshow stand. It wouldn’t feel out of place in a futuristic Hollywood blockbuster.

If you want a car that gets noticed – even on the streets of central London that are awash with McLarens and Aston Martins – the BMW i8 is it.

The low nose and menacing headlights flow into a fairly conventional coupe design, but it’s at the back where this BMW stands out.

The roof panels flow down to create a floating spoiler over the rear lights. It’s a car you could stand and admire for a very long time.

There are other flourishes, too, such as the dihedral ‘butterfly’ opening doors which add to the feeling that this is a very special car.

As you’d expect, carbon fibre plays a big part in the construction, from the doors to the roof and even the bodyshell, which means a kerbweight of just 1490kg – not much more than a Ford Focus TDCi.

This light weight means storming performance. Acceleration from 0-62mph takes just 4.4 seconds – Porsche 911 Carrera S territory – helped by a total of 362PS and, more crucially, a huge 570Nm of torque.

The open-top Roadster version takes a marginally longer 4.6 seconds for the same sprint.

Of course, the BMW i8 isn’t merely about performance. As it’s a plug-in hybrid, it’s also incredibly efficient.

According to the official figures, CO2 emissions total just 49g/km, which means you can drive into central London for free, while average economy is a claimed 135mpg – although, as on all plug-in hybrids, this figure is extremely optimistic.

More useful is the range. With a full tank and a fully charged battery, the BMW i8 can cover around 310 miles.

And don't think that because this is a hybrid it’s going to be anodyne or quiet. The BMW i8 is enthralling to drive, plus you can forget any ideas that it doesn’t sound the part either.

BMW somehow managed to make that little 1.5-litre engine sound like a flat six, with a gorgeous noise from both inside the cabin and out.

It may be expensive, but for the lucky few who get their hands on one, the BMW i8 is a tour de force.

Fancy a second opinion? Read heycar's BMW i8 review here.

The BMW i8’s use of carbon fibre really comes into its own here, as the rigid structure means there are no rattles on the move and while the ride is firm, it’s still forgiving enough to be comfortable.

In standard Comfort mode, the battery drives the BMW i8 at low speeds, with the engine only kicking in above 75mph or when you need more power, such as when overtaking.

If you’re gentle on the throttle, the electric motor will do all the work.

You can of course put the BMW i8 into Electric only mode, which means the electric motor will drive the car up to 75mph (where the petrol engine kicks in) providing there is enough charge in the battery.

However, put the BMW i8 into Sport mode, which involves simply knocking the gear lever across to the left, and the car really shines.

Sport mode stiffens the suspension, changes the electric power steering to be more reactive and sharpens the throttle response.

The result is an utterly compelling sports car that not only goes well, but sounds superb too, with that tiny three-cylinder engine somehow creating a unique, yet gorgeous, soundtrack.

In fact, it’s very difficult not to drive the BMW i8 in Sport mode all the time, such is the wonderful feel and noise.

With all that torque available from zero revs, it’s effortlessly quick from low speeds – for example when coming out of a slow corner – while the engine provides the power higher up.

What’s great is that as the driver, you don’t notice any of this going on; you just get to enjoy a sports car that feels unlike anything else out there.

Perfect 50/50 weight distribution means that it’s superbly balanced through corners, with impressive composure at both high and low speeds giving you endless confidence in its ability to tackle a series of bends.

As it’s four-wheel drive, traction is immense, even in the wet, while the electric power steering has decent feel and a good weight to it.

On paper, it will sprint from 0-62mph in just 4.4 seconds, but it’s the immediacy of the in-gear acceleration which most impresses. 

This is no frantic and stressed racer, but a refined and smooth sports car.

BMW’s ability to extract seemingly impossible levels of power from engines reached a peak with this car.

While the combined power of the combustion engine and electric motor is 362PS, what’s mightily impressive is that the tiny 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine contributes 231PS of that.

Don’t forget that this is an engine borrowed from the MINI Cooper, where it develops a far more modest 136PS.

Of course, the fact it’s fitted with BMW Twinpower Turbo technology helps a great deal. Despite the name, this actually only involves one turbo, with the Twinpower element referring to the combination with high precision injection.

While the small combustion engine powers the rear wheels, the front wheels are driven by a 131PS electric motor (later a 143PS motor) which also provides 250Nm of torque from a standstill.

As with other hybrid cars, the electric motor provides assistance to the petrol engine when needed, and can also power the BMW i8 itself, with a range of up to 31 miles and a maximum speed of 75mph.

That may sound a little complex, but from behind the wheel of the BMW i8, there's no need to worry about any of that. The car takes care of the power distribution, you just get to enjoy the superb handling and stunning performance.

While the benefits of electric power are long established, the BMW i8 takes things to a whole new level. Like any other hybrid, it’s quiet when you pull away, and incredibly refined at low speeds, with no wind or road noise from within the cabin.

The BMW i8 was packed with as much safety equipment as the company had available at the time of its launch in 2014.

As a result, it comes with six airbags, ESP, ABS brakes and even two Isofix child seat mounts in the Coupe's rear chairs.

It also has collision mitigation braking –  BMW’s version of automatic emergency braking. Plus there’s high beam assist and anti-dazzle headlights.

You also get cruise control with braking, and BMW’s Driving Assistant including Surround View.

The latter system comprises Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function, Park Distance Control with sensors at the front and rear, Speed Limit Info including No Passing Info display, and the Side View and Top View functions.

You can forget towing anything with the BMW i8.

Despite its small size, the BMW i8 coupe is actually a two-plus-two thanks to two small rear seats.

In reality, you are unlikely to ever use these other than as an extra place to put luggage.

That’s handy, as the boot is best described as minimal, with a 154-litre capacity – about enough for one small suitcase.

On the plus side, you can get a Louis Vuitton tailor-made carbon fibre luggage set for the BMW i8, which consists of two travel bags, a business case and a garment bag. And it only cost a mere £12,000 when new...

Thankfully, the rest of the interior isn’t as ostentatious as the Louis Vuitton luggage set. In fact, it’s surprisingly straightforward.

Often the temptation for manufacturers of top-end sports cars is to throw everything at them, making for an overly complex car to drive and a baffling, button-laden cabin.

Instead, the BMW i8 stays true to the German firm’s ethos of simple design.

Get behind the wheel and you’re greeted by a stylish interpretation of BMW’s steering wheel alongside a standard BMW gear selector and a start button.

For any BMW owner, it will be reassuringly familia, and that’s a key thing here. The BMW i8 may be very complex under the skin, but it’s incredibly easy to drive. Press start, put it in D and away you go.

There are differences. The BMW i8 is undeniably futuristic and that extends to elements such as the instrument display. Gone are the conventional analogue dials, replaced by a totally digital full colour display which changes depending on what mode you’re in.

In the Comfort and Eco Pro settings, there’s a power meter to show the electric motor usage, but stick it on Sport and the whole thing turns red, while the power meter changes to a rev counter.

The BMW i8 comes with AC charging, which means the battery can be charged from zero to 80 per cent within two hours via a home wallbox.

The quality of the BMW i8 is impeccable, with plenty of attention to detail and a top level of fit and finish, illustrated by the premium feel of the standard leather seats.

Everything works with real precision, while the driving position is exactly what you want in a sports car – a low-slung seat and plenty of adjustment in the steering column.

It’s no surprise to find a generous level of standard equipment, including the clever head-up display and the excellent Professional Navigation with an 8.8-inch display.

It’s is one of the best systems around, with easy-to-follow mapping and quick routing. It also shows you the area the BMW i8 can cover on electric power alone.

We’re always wary of applying the word ‘bargain’ to any used car, but the BMW i8 warrants it.

Look for a 10-year-old example that has been used and enjoyed with around 70,000 miles to its name, and you’ll pay from just £30,000.

That really seems incredible for such a stylish car with this level of performance, and one that still feels as fresh as the day it was unveiled.

A later five-year-old BMW i8 coupe will cost you £60,000 with less than 10,000 miles on the clock, while a six-year-old BMW i8 Roadster is around £50,000.

To achieve the 128mpg that was claimed for the BMW i8 when it was launched, you will need to make full use of its battery range of around 30 miles in the real world.

That should cover most drivers for their commute and means you could drive the BMW i8 without ever troubling the petrol engine.

For longer trips, the 1.5-litre petrol engine comes into play as a generator to charge the battery, and fuel economy slips to around the 50mpg mark. That’s quite a drop, but still massively impressive for a supercar.

With CO2 emissions of no more than 49g/km, a BMW i8 registered before 1 April 2018 will pay nothing in road tax each year.

BMW i8s put on the road after that date will command a payment of £180, plus the £390 surcharge for cars that cost more than £40,000 when new. This remains until they reach their sixth birthday.

Servicing a BMW i8 requires specialist attention, so you will most likely have to pay BMW dealer rates, although this will help protect the car’s value when you come to sell.

Insurance, you won’t be surprised to learn, sits in group 50 for all BMW i8 models. 

Only one trim level was offered with the BMW i8 and it was generously equipped with alloy wheels, metallic paint and automatic lights and wipers.

To that you can add leather seats, climate control, iDrive with sat-nav and Bluetooth connection.

When new, BMW i8 owners could specify larger 20-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and ignition and a Harmon-Kardon stereo.