BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe 2021 Review

Are large luxury sedans too stodgy for you? Are midsize luxury sedans lacking a certain presence or exclusivity? If so, you're in luck because there's a wonderful Goldilocks zone right between the two with some great choices. The best in that middle ground is the 2021 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe. Don't let the name fool you — it is indeed a sedan.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe is one of those rare vehicles that expertly blends performance, luxury and technology in a stunning package that is greater than the sum of its parts. There are a handful of alternatives in this select class (Porsche Panamera, Mercedes-AMG GT and Audi S7) that may hold an edge in performance, but none are as balanced as the BMW. Check out our Expert Rating below to learn more.

Which 8 Series Gran Coupe does MatoCar recommend?

The 2021 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe is a four-door sedan with seating for five. It is offered in three trim levels: 840i (rear-wheel drive), 840i xDrive (all-wheel drive) and M850i xDrive. The high-performance BMW M8 Gran Coupe is covered in a separate review.

A turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine (335 horsepower, 368 lb-ft of torque) powers the 840i models while the M850i xDrive steps up to a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 (523 hp, 553 lb-ft). Both variants use an eight-speed sport automatic transmission.

The 840i Gran Coupe is generously appointed with standard feature highlights that include:

• 18-inch wheels
• Power-folding and heated mirrors
• Power trunklid
• Adaptive suspension dampers
• Soft-close doors
• Leather upholstery
• 14-way power-adjustable front sport seats
• Heated front seats, armrest and steering wheel
• Four-zone automatic climate control
• Power rear sunshade
• Panoramic sunroof

Technology and safety features include:

• Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield)
• Digital instrument panel
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Remote monitoring and control via a smartphone app
• Wireless charging pad
• Navigation system
• 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system
• Satellite radio
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• Advanced safety features include:
• BMW Assist eCall with automatic collision notification and SOS button
• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
• Automatic high-beam headlights
• Adaptive headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves)

The 840i xDrive Gran Coupe includes all of the above plus:

• All-wheel drive
• Four-wheel steering

The more powerful M850i xDrive Gran Coupe adds several performance-enhancing features that include:

• 20-inch wheels
• Run-flat performance tires
• Upgraded brakes
• Improved rear differential
• Sport-tuned suspension
• Sport-design steering wheel
• 16-way power front seats with adjustable side bolsters
• Ventilated front seats

Notable options include:

• Premium leather upholstery
• Carbon-fiber roof (M850i only)
• Glass-trimmed switchgear
• Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound system
• Driving Assistance Professional package
• Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
• Front cross-traffic alert (warns if a vehicle is about to cross your path at intersections)
• Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
• Evasive steering assist (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance)
• External camera recorder
• Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)
• Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the vehicle and its surroundings for tight parking situations)