2020 BMW i8

As one of two key pillars that launched BMW’s i sustainability brand, the all-wheel-drive i8 blends futuristic eye-catching looks with hybrid efficiency and sports car performance. The convertible model claims the title of the only full plug-in hybrid drop-top on the market.

The i8 pairs a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder gas engine with an electric motor for a claimed total combined output of 369 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. Although its zero-to-60 time of 4.2 seconds (4.4 for the Roadster) is respectable and will thrill most, competitors such as the Acura NSX, which is also hybrid and comparatively priced, offer even better performance.

For 2019, BMW upgraded the lithium-ion battery pack from 7.1 kWh to 11.6 kWh, which gives the i8 about 18 miles of purely electric range. A full charge on a Level 2 charger (240-volt home or 208-volt commercial) takes 3.1 hours. While the EPA rates both the 2020 Coupe and Roadster at 69 MPGe, efficiency is only part of the i8’s appeal. Like the i3, the i8 represents the brand’s commitment to evolving technologies and the ability to package them in an exciting, if polarizing, modern wrapper.