BMW i8 – The Underrated Hybrid Sports Car
Why did BMW's sports car get so little attention? The design and the drivetrain are innovative and break with every convention. BMW's hybrid sports car should have a lot more fans - and we're happy to show you why!
As a premium car rental company, we decided early on to bet on electric drive alongside Porsche and the classic sports cars. Even though the options were still limited back in 2019, we took a hard look at Tesla, the BMW i8 and the Taycan, which hadn't even been released yet. In this review we didn't compare the then brand-new i8 with other "eco cars" - we wanted to make the case for the model.
Along the way we also looked into whether, and why, the BMW i8 was an exciting alternative to our beloved Porsche models.
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Our experience with the i8: BMW's hybrid monster
Honestly, we hadn't paid much attention to the i8 either before we started leaning more toward electric drive. Price-wise, it plays in the same league as sports cars like the Porsche 911 GTS, but a first look at the spec sheet is a little underwhelming.
You also rarely see the car on the road - is that partly down to BMW's rather low-key marketing? While the Audi R8 fights for attention with all its noise, the i8 hums quietly past. But the more time we spent with the hybrid athlete, and the more often you booked it, the bigger fans we became.
BMW i8 specs, engine and driving feel
First things first: The BMW i8 is not a pure electric car. It combines a 3-cylinder gas engine with 228 hp at the rear axle and an electric motor with 141 hp at the front - 369 hp combined. Pure electric range is around 25 miles. Why do we point this out? Many of our American renters, when we suggested the i8, initially tell us they have no desire to constantly recharge. As soon as we mention the car also has a gas engine that recharges the batteries in Sport mode, opinions change pretty quickly.
The i8 goes from 0 to 60 mph in about 4.4 seconds and tops out at 155 mph. On our last trip up to Sylt - a North Sea island at Germany's northern tip - it proved that, despite the small engine, it's absolutely up for long distances. Even on the Autobahn it easily keeps up with the big V6 diesel wagons - and passes them, too. At the same time, you can relax, switch to the quiet electric motor and cruise in the right lane if you unexpectedly have to take an important call. That's not an option in other sports cars that may have just blown past you at 185 mph.
The BMW i8 feels light and nimble. Even if you're not an experienced driver, you'll get the hang of it quickly - driving it is almost as easy as a BMW 1-Series. You will have to compromise on luggage, though: The trunk is barely usable. On the plus side, the rear seats offer more room than a Porsche 911, so you can easily bring along luggage for two people and a week's vacation in Italy.
Interestingly, we ordered the BMW i8 together with a BMW M2 Competition, so picking them up at the dealership we experienced two completely opposite vehicle concepts. This is where the BMW i8 shone right away. The day had been a bit stressful and downtown Munich on a Friday was pretty jammed. You immediately noticed how relaxed it was to go with the flow on pure electric power. In a conventionally powered car you might not even notice it, but in situations like that the engine noise seems to get on your nerves at least subconsciously.
The design - always a matter of taste, here especially so
The i8's design polarizes like almost no other. The rear in particular, with its aerodynamic air channels, sparks discussion. We think the i8 looks especially aggressive in dark colors. Our car in Donington Grey with black wheels even made it as a show car at the Lions Run (Germany's answer to the Gumball rally).
One highlight is the butterfly doors, which look spectacular and reveal the carbon fiber monocoque. Thanks to the strict lightweight requirements during development, the BMW i8 is more of a true sports car here than the other high-powered but heavy machines. At the same time they're super practical, because the interior stays protected from rain when you open the doors. They can be a bit of a pain in tight parking garages, though.
The price: not cheap, but justified
With an MSRP of around $150,000, the i8 definitely wasn't one of the cheapest cars out there. But look closer and it offers a lot for the money. Two technically elaborate, ultra-modern power units and sustainable materials in the interior are an argument - even if we really do miss the straight-six so typical of BMW, or even a turbocharged V8 or V10.
The car also puts a strong focus on sustainability in the materials used inside. Add to that the moderate fuel consumption, which at an average of 26 mpg after 3,000 test miles was entirely reasonable for us - you won't get that from other sports cars.
Why did BMW discontinue the i8? Our verdict
Unfortunately, we no longer own the i8 - we would love to still be offering it to you today. But the rental business is a fast-moving world and we want to make sure our customers always have the newest vehicles available.
For us the i8 was a unique experiment that obviously didn't pay off for BMW… a shame, because the hybrid grew on us during our time together. If you ever get the chance to try the i8 yourself, take it and let this Bavarian exotic win you over.
