2015 BMW i8 Review
The 2015 BMW i8 isn’t your average plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Its lithium-ion battery pack can recharge in as little as 1.5 hours, and the car can rocket from 0 to 60mph in 4.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 155mph. The interior uses recycled materials and naturally treated leather, and it’s easily one of the sexiest-looking production cars available. While the i8’s scissor-lift-style doors are cool, they also make it difficult to get in and out, and the tiny rear seats are more for storage than passengers. Still, for a car that looks this good and gets this fast, those are minor quibbles. The 2015 BMW i8 is a world-class hybrid sports car well worthy of our Editors’ Choice.
Pricing and Design
The 2015 BMW i8 ($150,095.00 at Truecar)(Opens in a new window) is offered in one trim level at a base price of $136,500. It comes with a turbocharged 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder, 228-horsepower gasoline engine paired with a 129-horespower electric motor, for a total of 357 horsepower. The gas engine drives the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission, while the electric motor powers the front wheels via a two-speed automatic. The car also has an onboard a 7.1kW lithium-ion battery pack.
Standard features include 20-inch wheels, cross-drilled and ventilated disc brakes, adjustable suspension, LED exterior lighting with BMW i “U-shaped” daytime running and brake lights, automatic high beam headlights, auto engine start-stop, an around-view camera view system, keyless entry and ignition, power front seats with memory, leather upholstery, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Technology highlights include a navigation system with real-time traffic info, Bluetooth phone connectivity, BMW’s iDrive interface, BMW Assist with remote smartphone app capability, BMW Online and Apps, and a Harman Kardon sound system with hard disk storage and USB and aux inputs.
2015 BMW i8
Three option packages are available. The $10,800 Pure Impulse World option on our test car includes alloy turbine-style wheels, black brake calipers, active headlights, a heads-up display, front and rear parking sensors, an upgraded audio system, “enhanced” Bluetooth with audio streaming, heated seats, ambient lighting, and various interior trim and materials upgrades, including a leather engine cover. With a destination charge of $995 tacked on, our test car come with a final sticker price of $150,095.
The i8’s styling is nothing less than stunning. The low-slung, long-wheelbase vehicle features short overhangs for an aggressive stance, while the taillight housings form part of an air channel to improve aerodynamics. The vehicle architecture is made up of a combination of lightweight aluminum and a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic “Life Module” passenger cabin. Once you slide in through the scissor-lift doors, the cabin layout is a surprisingly spacious fit for two adults in front, although the tiny back seats can really only accommodate small children.
Connectivity, Navigation, and Interface
The i8 also takes a hybrid approach to connectivity, like all BMWs. Certain features are available via the car’s onboard SIM card, such as a Web browser and connected search, while apps for streaming music and other services are delivered through the BMW Apps platform and a connected smartphone. These features all fall under the ConnectedDrive platform, but services such as BMW Online (along with the BMW Assist telematics systsem) require a subscription after an initial trial period. Both work well, although the embedded 3G modem was, of course, slower than our connected 4G smartphone.
The i8’s Navigation Professional system is not much different than the one used in most gasoline-powered BMWs. The system has detailed and sharply rendered maps with accurate real-time traffic coverage. But BMW lags behind German rivals Audi and Mercedes-Benz in that it doesn’t provide Google Earth and StreetView modes, which we’ve found can come in handy.
The LCD instrument panel conveys information clearly, without too much clutter, while the heads-up display helps keep the driver’s eyes focused ahead. BMW’s iDrive center console controller has its share of detractors, but it has been vastly refined over the years and has set something of a standard that’s been adopted by competitors. We found it works well in conjunction with the 8.8-inch in-dash screen. (For more, see our full review of the iDrive system.)
2015 BMW i8
Media and Phone Support
BMW decided to eschew AM radio, as well as a CD player, in the futuristic i8. Media sources include FM, HD Radio, satellite radio, a 20GB hard drive, Bluetooth audio, USB, and aux-in, and streaming music from Pandora, Spotify, and BMW’s generic Web Radio feature through the BMW Apps system. Audio through the 11-speaker/360-watt Harman Kardon Surround Sound Audio System sound excellent, especially when the i8 is in EV-only mode and engine noise is absent.
It seems odd that Bluetooth audio would be part of a pricey option package, but we had no trouble pairing an iPhone 5s, and the iDrive controller allowed easy access to the phone menu.
Performance and Conclusions
The i8 has four driving modes: Comfort, Eco Pro, Sport, and eDrive, the EV-only mode. Acceleration is peppy and smooth in all modes, and letting up on the pedal doesn’t have the jarring feeling of some PHEVs that use regenerative braking. BMW did such a superb job of blending the gasoline and electric powertrains in Comfort and Eco modes that you can sometimes forget you’re driving a hybrid.
Moving the shifter to the left engages the Sport mode and makes the i8 come alive as a sports car. Seat-pinning acceleration comes courtesy of the electric motor’s added torque that supplements the small turbocharged gas engine.
The car’s 50/50 weight distribution and centrally mounted battery pack make for exceptional handling, while the dual powertrains turn it into a road-gripping all-wheel drive performance car. The adjustable suspension allows for dialing in the car’s handling and ride dynamics to the driver’s liking. The base setting feels slightly firm around town, but easily absorbs bumps both large and small while keeping the car committed through turns.
PHEVs have been derided as neither fish nor fowl since they straddle the line between burning gasoline and being powered by a battery. The BMW i8 is something different altogether: a world-class, high-performance sports car that can eat up pavement (and petrol), but also tread lightly when needed. While the Tesla Model S may be a more practical and predictable choice, the BMW i8 is more of a standout in appearance, fueling flexibility, and overall performance. It’s our Editors’ Choice for hybrid sports cars.
2015 BMW i8
4.0
Editors’ Choice
(Opens in a new window)
See It
$150,095.00
at Truecar
(Opens in a new window)
MSRP $150,095.00
Pros
Cons
The Bottom Line
The 2015 BMW i8 is a world-class, high-performance hybrid sports car that can also tread lightly when needed.
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