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What is the M8’s driving style? Acceleration is similar to the Starship Enterprise going into hyperdrive. We measured 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds and the quarter mile in 11.2 seconds at 125 mph in our testing of an M8 Competition coupe. There’s a lot of power here. The brakes are equally powerful, stopping our car from 60 mph in 106 feet. They’re also convenient and smooth throughout town. This car is larger and heavier than most in its class, but the figures don’t reflect that.
The M8 has a surprising degree of agility in its handling, tracking through turns with a lot of grip and confidence. Although the steering lacks the engagement of other sports cars in its class, the M8 is responsive and drives where you point it. The M8’s easy power and smooth-shifting transmission feel simply lovely when you’re not attempting to rocket into orbit.
How spacious is the M8? BMW knows how to mix performance and comfort, as evidenced by the M8 Competition. Except for that beautiful beefy V8 when you lean on it, the cabin is substantial and nicely shielded from most sounds. The ride comfort is exceptional. Whether you’re on a bumpy road or a smooth highway, the suspension performs an excellent job of regulating motion and absorbing impacts. It’s even enjoyable to use on Sport mode for the majority of the time.
The front seats are well padded and bolstered in all the correct spots, and they can be adjusted quite a bit. Unlike some of the more extreme seats in this class, they provide ample of support while being comfortable. The rear seats aren’t as plush as those in the 911, but they’re significantly more livable. The climate controls take some getting used to, but they function perfectly.
What about the interior? The front seats are easy to get into and out of, particularly in tight parking spots due to the big doors. Access to the back seats is difficult, but that’s to be expected in a two-plus-two coupe. There’s plenty of room for front-seat passengers, as well as lots of adjustment range for the driver. The back seats aren’t particularly large or comfortable, but they’re still superior to those in this class.
Except for wide windscreen pillars that sometimes obstruct your view through left turns, visibility out front is mostly good. Due to the thick back pillars, the over-the-shoulder perspective is further hampered. When driving, blind-spot sensors are extremely useful, and a high-resolution screen and 360-degree camera greatly improve parking conditions. We like that you can use the touchscreen, rotary controller, or voice instructions to engage with the vehicle, but we wish there were fewer buttons and a better menu layout.
How is the technology? The M8’s technological prowess stems mostly from its abundance of driver aids and voice interface. The driver aids are standard at this level: adaptive cruise control, surround-view parking camera, and so on, and they all operate well. The voice assistant is cutting-edge, recognizing natural speech for all types of commands, including navigation, audio, and even climate control (it works on the ventilated seats). However, it is not as advanced or fast as the Mercedes system.
The optional Bowers & Wilkins audio system sounds fantastic and is well worth the money. The inbuilt navigation on the M8 is simple to use. There’s also wireless Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity. (Android Auto will be available later this year.) There are plenty of USB connections and power outlets to meet your charging demands.
How’s the storage situation? The M8 has a lot of storage compared to the ordinary exotic. Because it’s a larger coupe in this class, there’s more interior space to begin with. The broad opening and low liftover height of the trunk are appealing, but the interior space narrows significantly between the front and rear suspensions. Even so, there’s 14.8 cubic feet of space, and the chairs fold nearly flat to provide room for longer goods.
Storage space for small items is scarce. However, there is a tiny console in front of the cupholders, a large armrest bin and glovebox, and adequate door pockets. Because of the limited area, car seat options are limited, although the anchors are rather easy to reach.
How’s the gas mileage? The EPA estimates that the M8 Competition coupe will get 17 mpg in mixed driving (15 city/21 highway). This is appropriate behavior for the class. Owners of these automobiles, admittedly, are unlikely to be concerned about fuel efficiency.
We were surprised to score 23 mpg on our 115-mile test route, which included freeways, mountain routes, and city streets. During our two weeks with the M8, we averaged 17.2 miles per gallon. That closely meets the EPA estimate, and we’d like to point out that the onboard fuel computer matched our calculations pretty well.
Is the M8 an excellent buy? Every penny you spend on an M8 appears to be well spent. It has excellent build quality and provides greater value for the money. The M8 Competition, for example, is equivalent to the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT C and Porsche 911 GT3 Touring, but offers more usable interior space and luxury per dollar.
BMW’s warranty and ownership benefits are on par with, if not better than, those of the competition, with four-year/50,000-mile basic and powertrain warranties and four-year roadside assistance. BMW also provides three years/36,000 miles of free maintenance.
BMW has spent so much time manufacturing sport sedans that it’s easy to forget that it can still make some Ultimate Driving Machines. The M8 may not be an exotic from the start, but it demonstrates that BMW can compete on a global scale.
