BMW i8 (2014-2020) review | Auto Express

The BMW i8 is unlike any other car in its class, offering a blend of style, performance and economy that’s hard to find anywhere else. It’s not as much fun to drive as the cheaper, class-leading Porsche 911, but for many the more dramatic styling and eco-conscious image will prove tempting.

Performance isn’t lacking by any stretch and while it can’t quite match the i8’s supercar-like looks, there’s more than enough power to have fun with. Keen drivers may find the driving experience a little distant, however – and if you need a practical everyday sports car, there are more spacious rivals available.

The BMW i8 is a unique proposition in the luxury sports car market. A rival to the ubiquitous Porsche 911, the i8 brings a dose of eco-consciousness to the segment thanks to its petrol-electric plug-in hybrid powertrain. Its exotic styling, meanwhile, belies both its price and reasonable running costs.

The BMW i8 partners the i3 hatchback as part of BMW’s ‘i’ eco range, and features advanced carbon-fibre construction for light weight and strength, while power is fed to all four wheels by a combination of a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine and an electric motor. It’s still a relatively rare sight too, especially when you consider BMW has offered the i8 for sale since 2014. Low production volumes mean the model is nowhere as common as its Porsche 911 rival.

The powertrain concept doesn’t sound that exciting at first, especially if you like your supercars with high-capacity multi-cylinder engines. The i8’s three-cylinder unit produces 228bhp – which doesn’t sound much by sportscar standards – but there’s an additional 141bhp electric from an electric motor driving the front wheels to help generate the necessary muscle.