2020 BMW i8 Coupe

For a long time, hybrid cars simply weren't fashionable. The Toyota Prius, perhaps, achieved some appeal among eco-conscious (or is that ego-conscious?) warriors, but it never came close to finding its way onto the desktop backgrounds of car enthusiasts. Then, just over five years ago, BMW entered the supercar realm with the i8 - or did they? It looked wild enough to stand alongside a Lamborghini, but under the sensational curves was a meek 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo and an electric motor, hardly the stuff of teenage boys' dreams. While some of the i8's novelty value has since worn off (there are a multitude of high-performance hybrids and EVs on the market today), its blend of performance and efficiency remains remarkable. The total power output of 369 horsepower ensures a 4.2-second blast to 60 mph, while a combined 69 MPGe is possible. While nimble, the lack of true aural drama and less feel than more traditional supercars, limits the i8's ultimate driving appeal. Still, this landmark car for BMW and plug-in hybrids remains a brilliant feat of engineering.

It's not cheap, that's for sure. The BMW i8's price starts at $147,500 - and that's the cost of the BMW i8 before adding taxes, licensing, registration, and the brand's destination charge of $995. That's $15,800 less expensive than the i8 Roadster, but it's even more expensive than the superb Porsche 911 GT3 ($143,600). At the time of writing, BMW hadn't yet confirmed pricing for the i8 Ultimate Sophisto Edition.

Although not approaching the intoxicating driving experience of a high-revving Lamborghini or Porsche, the i8 acquits itself brilliantly in most scenarios. The all-wheel-drive configuration provides excellent grip, even on the narrow fuel-saving tires, and in the corners, it stays flat and composed. Sitting low down and considering that the i8 isn't massive, this allows for enjoyable darting around town and taking on faster sweeps with confidence. Is it a sports car in the vein of a Porsche 911? No, because the i8 actually feels a bit more GT-like and its ultimate limits are lower - reminders of the price one has to pay for all of that efficient hybrid tech.

It's also never as communicative or consistent as the best sports cars, even when switching into Sport mode - when punching the throttle early on in a corner, the i8 isn't the most predictable, sometimes provoked into gentle understeer, and sometimes eliciting more enjoyable oversteer.

On the comfort front, the i8 is better. It feels both stable and absorbent - longer trips are not going to be a chore in this car. It's quite refined, too, although road noise does intrude (even more so in EV mode). The brakes are strong and reliably bring the i8 to a controlled stop, but as with other aspects of the i8, feedback through the pedal isn't the best.

No longer the novelty it once was, the BMW i8 Coupe now finds itself in a market increasingly crammed with EVs and hybrids that mix alluring style with intoxicating performance. And yet, that didn't stop BMW from selling over 1,000 i8s in the USA last year, easily surpassing its 2018 and 2017 totals, and likely buoyed by the addition of the gorgeous i8 Roadster. As it did at launch, the i8 impresses with its mesmerizing styling, its incredible blend of power and efficiency, and a high-tech cabin from which to enjoy it all. It's only when measured against more conventional sports cars that the i8 begins to disappoint: it's not the fastest, sensations through the steering and via the nimble chassis aren't as natural, and BMW has tried - but can only do so much - to coax a meaty exhaust note out of a small three-cylinder engine. Viewed as a BMW technological experiment, the i8 is outstanding. But as a sports car trying to mix in with a Porsche 911, it's merely average. It's up to you to decide which perspective matters more.

We can't tell you exactly how to specify your 2020 BMW i8 Coupe as individual tastes will differ widely. However, the E-Copper exterior paint or the $1,800 Crystal White Pearl Metallic paint with the i Frozen Blue accents are both particularly striking (if you can find an ultra-limited Ultimate Sophisto Edition for sale, consider yourself lucky). Although the standard leather seats are perfect, the upgraded natural leather in Tera Dalbergia Brown with cloth accents do add a welcome touch of luxury. Otherwise, with minimal options, the stock i8 will suit us just fine.

Visually, no car in BMW's range comes closer to the Audi R8. Both are wide, low-slung sports cars that make a powerful statement. Of course, that's where their similarities end - the BMW is a showcase of what can be achieved with efficient hybrid technology in a performance car, while the R8 is dominated by its raucous, high-revving V10 engine that pumps out 562 hp. The Audi takes just 3.4 seconds to hit 60 mph, comfortably faster than the i8 by comparison, while consuming considerably more fuel than the BMW. It's the driving experience where the two differ most, with the R8's V10 a treat for the senses and its steering encouraging you to push harder than the BMW's more muted helm. If it's a true supercar experience you're after, the BMW can't come close to the exuberant Audi. But the i8 does have the advantage of rear seats for kids or extra storage, while its gas engine/electric driving range won't make you wince as much as the R8's thirsty V10. As lovely as the i8 is, we're not convinced that its hybrid setup is yet a match for a large-capacity, naturally aspirated V10 engine.

If you've already decided on a modern BMW coupe, you may be struggling to choose between the greener and more dramatic i8, or something more familiar and ferocious in the form of the M4. If price is factored into the equation at all, you'll probably be inclined to save $78,350 and order an M4 without a second thought - yes, that's the gulf in price between these two, despite the M4 being a tenth of a second quicker to 60. The M4 also has a significant dynamic edge with its six-speed manual gearbox and superior communication through the major controls. The high-revving six-cylinder engine also has more character than the i8's hybrid powertrain. Plus, the M4 has usable rear seats and a far bigger trunk. All of which will mean absolutely nothing to the buyer who can afford an i8 and has fallen in love with its sensational styling.