2020 BMW i8 review
BMW i8 highlights
Customer rating
(not yet rated)
RepairPal reliability rating
(data not available)
Pros
- Forward-thinking drivetrain delivers strong performance
- Exotic styling and limited production ensure exclusivity
- Excellent fuel economy for a sports car
Cons
- Powertrain can feel unrefined
- Hard to get in and out
- Lacks modern features
Battery range (EPA estimate)
18 miles
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
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The final year for BMW’s quirky plug-in hybrid exotic sports car
The 2020 BMW i8 marks the final year for this quirky two-seat sports car. The eye-catching and exotic carbon-fiber body means the i8 never lacks attention on the road. Despite the exotic exterior, there’s no V12, V10 or even V8 powering the i8, but a supercharged three-cylinder engine, supplemented by an electric motor. Not only is the i8 a hybrid, but it’s also a plug-in with an EPA-estimated electric-only range of up to 18 miles.
Fuel economy figures are based on EPA estimates for when vehicle sold as new. Fuel economy may vary for reasons like driving conditions and vehicle history. Unless specified, figures are for vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission. See fueleconomy.gov.
If you think being a plug-in hybrid means the i8 is slow, think again. It can sprint from a standstill to 60 mph in just over 4 seconds when the drive mode is switched to Sport, and its lightweight carbon fiber body helps make it a nimble handler.
The downside is that around town, the hybrid system abruptly transitions from electric to gas, creating an uncomfortable driving experience. The i8’s technology hasn’t advanced much since its 2014 introduction, with no modern driver assist systems available, and smartphone integration that includes Apple CarPlay® but skips Android Auto™ altogether.
All BMW i8 years
What is new for the 2020 BMW i8?
- The Coupe, Giga World, and Roadster trims have been discontinued for 2020.
- i8 trims have been upgraded with Cruise Control, Head Up Display, Blind Spot Monitor, Leatherette & Cloth, and Rear Spoiler as standard equipment this year.
- The Base trim now comes with ABS Brakes, Air Conditioning, Automated Cruise Control, Front Seat Heaters, Lane Departure Warning, Leather Seats, Memory Seat(s), Overhead Airbags, Parking Sensors, Power Locks, Power Mirrors, Power Seat(s), Power Windows, Rear Defroster, Rear View Camera, Side Airbags, Smart Key, Traction Control, 20 Inch Plus Wheels, Alloy Wheels, 4WD/AWD, Automatic Transmission, Turbo Charged Engine, AM/FM Stereo, Auxiliary Audio Input, Bluetooth Technology, Harman Kardon Sound, Navigation System, Satellite Radio Ready, and Soft Top as standard equipment.
2020 BMW i8 trims
Base:
- 369-hp, 420-lb-ft of torque 1.5L
- Cruise Control
- Head Up Display
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Automated Cruise Control
- Front Seat Heaters
- Lane Departure Warning
- Leather Seats
- Leatherette & Cloth
- View our BMW i8 inventory
5 reasons to buy the 2020 BMW i8
What We Like
Exotic looks: Even nearly a decade after its introduction, the BMW i8 remains a head-turner. The carbon fiber body has been carefully sculpted into unique shapes, and from the sharply styled nose to the integrated winglets that spring from the slope of the roof at the rear of the car, there’s enough eye candy to keep owners happy for years.
Hybrid drivetrain: Part of the mission of the i8 when it was introduced was to prove that hybrid technology could do more than just sip fuel. We’d say mission accomplished. The i8 is plenty powerful as its performance specs can attest. But it’s equally adept at maximizing its EV-only range and sipping fuel the rest of the time.
Interior comfort: It’d be easy to assume the i8 was cramped inside when looking at its small size and low-slung styling. Quite the opposite—the i8 has plenty of space for two people. Not only that, but the visibility to the front is excellent too, and the driving position is similarly spot-on for the business of enjoying the i8’s capabilities.
What Needs Improvement
Drivetrain refinement: As good as the i8 is when asked to be a performance car, its hybrid drivetrain can feel unrefined in the day-to-day grind. The transition from electric to gasoline power can feel abrupt, and definitely below where a luxury brand should be. While it’d be easy to dismiss it as a product of being an early hybrid, note that other less ambitious plug-in hybrids available at the time were much more refined.
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Ratings & reliability
Customer ratings
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2020 BMW i8 FAQ
The 2020 BMW i8 offers 68 MPG City and 70 MPG Highway + battery range of 18 miles. It is important to remember factors such as driving style, weather conditions, and the use of features such as Eco mode can impact fuel efficiency.
Here is what's new for the 2020 BMW i8:
- Head Up Display
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Leatherette & Cloth
- Rear Spoiler
We hope you found this information helpful. This content is intended to inform and is not meant to indicate that a particular vehicle is currently available or recommended for you.
Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
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