2021 BMW 8-Series

Pros: Robust power; refined cabin; good handling for a large car

Cons: Poor fuel economy in V8s; steep prices; limited back-seat room

CG Says: The 2021 BMW 8-Series gains standard lane-departure warning and satellite radio. The M8 coupe and convertible are no longer available. For 2019, the 8-Series nameplate returned to BMW’s model lineup after an absence of 20 years. The 8-Series coupe and convertible took the place of the departed 6-Series coupe and convertible in BMW’s model lineup. Plus, there is an 8-Series Gran Coupe that is a 4-door sedan with a coupe-like roofline (see separate report). The rear-wheel-drive 840i and all-wheel-drive 840i xDrive are powered by a 335-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six. The all-wheel-drive M850i xDrive packs a 523-horsepower twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8. All engines are paired with an 8-speed automatic. Both coupe and convertible seat four, although the back seat is of the “plus two” variety with little legroom. Available safety features include autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, deployable roll bars (convertible), and surround-view camera. Other available features include a neck warmer (convertible), wireless cell-phone charging, Wi-Fi hotspot, 4-wheel steering, and park assist. The 8-Series is a large, comfortable touring machine that is also blindingly fast, with fine handling for its size. Prices are steep, but the 8-Series is a dual personality car that can waft along the boulevard or hustle down a curvy stretch of road with equal aplomb.