The BMW M8 Gran Coupe is the quickest, most powerful version of the brand's coupe-style sedan, the 8 Series Gran Coupe. The M8 variant sports the same basic four-door raked-roof hatchback design but ups the ante with aero-optimized bodywork, a performance-oriented adaptive suspension, extra-sticky summer tires and a 617-horsepower twin-turbocharged V8.
Last year, BMW upgraded all M8 Gran Coupes to the even higher-performance Competition spec. For 2023, changes include a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, optional M Carbon bucket seats, five new exterior colors, and M Shadowline accents within the housings of the Icon adaptive LED headlights.
Despite being a fairly large sedan, the M8 Gran Coupe can hang with many high-end sports cars in a straight line. It's also surprisingly nimble in the turns and has powerful, confident brakes. But what the M8 Gran Coupe does best is blend all that performance with a healthy dose of luxury and comfort. In the right setting, the adaptive suspension does a fine job of soaking up bumps in the road and the cabin is remarkably quiet for a car with 20-inch wheels and thin-sidewalled performance tires.
The M8 Gran Coupe competes with other entrants in the four-door fastback category, including the Porsche Panamera, Mercedes-Benz AMG GT and Audi RS 7. How does it compare to its rivals? Find out by reading our Expert Rating below.
Edmunds Expert Rating
Our VerdictThe Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.
Sometimes the sequel outperforms the original, and in the case of the M8 Gran Coupe, we think it's even better than the two-door that preceded it. BMW took its rebooted 8 Series, stretched it and added two more doors, providing real passenger space and decent utility for people with families. Armed with a 617-horsepower twin-turbo V8, the M8 Gran Coupe moves as good as it looks. And it looks really, really good.
Rated for you by America's best test team.How does the M8 Gran Coupe drive? It's hard to talk about how the M8 drives without resorting to hyperbole. We recorded a freakishly fast run to 60 mph: 3.1 seconds. For context, this large five-passenger, four-door sedan is just as quick as an Audi R8 and Acura NSX. If all the M8 did was go fast, that would be enough for some people. But it manages to leverage that power to deliver smooth, instantly accessible acceleration for whenever you need it on your daily drive.
If you're someone who loves a curvy road, the M8 may surprise you with how adept it is tackling those as well. It will keep up with all but the quickest and lightest sports cars through those curves and be way more comfortable and quiet doing it. Powerful brakes and sticky tires help the cause, and the M8 registered 104 feet stopping from 60 mph, another incredible figure. Dump that "weekend car" — you won't need it here.
How comfortable is the M8 Gran Coupe? As such a bruiser on the track, we half-expected the M8 Gran Coupe to be unlivable on the street, but that's not the case. It's far from the plushest ride in the segment, but it's not terrible at taking the edges off bumps in the road. The front seats deliver the comfort you'd expect from a luxury sedan with a host of adjustments for you to dial in the perfect amount of support. We wish the rear seatbacks had just a little bit more rake, though, and found the padding by the tailbone a bit uncomfortable.
The M8 is also one of the quieter cars in the class (with the exception of that V8 bark at startup). Wind and tire noise is kept well at bay, and the cabin is free of squeaks and vibrations. The climate controls, like those in many BMWs, aren't the most intuitive to use, but they do a decent job of maintaining a target cabin temp. We had a hard time telling if the seat ventilation was working.
Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating belowHow’s the interior? The surprising standout in this area is the space inside the Gran Coupe. Sure, there's some headroom conceded to the sleek roofline, but legroom is shockingly abundant, and the driver's seat and steering column have more adjustment range than most of us knew what do with. The lower roofline is a bit more of a hassle when it comes to getting in and out of the car, particularly the back, and it slightly impedes rear visibility. But if you spring for the Driver Assistance package, the 360-degree camera system and parking sensors eliminate any need to guess.
BMW's iDrive system isn't the most intuitive to learn, but once you've become acquainted with it, it works well and doesn't distract you from the road. The presence of a dial controller and touchscreen provides good redundant control, unlike Audi and Porsche, which have gone full touchscreen.
How’s the tech? The M8 shows strong on the tech front, primarily with an excellent suite of advanced driver aids and a more state-of-the-art virtual voice assistant emulating Mercedes-Benz's popular MBUX system. Both areas still fall a bit short of what Mercedes offers, but they provide convenience when it comes to easing the burden of rush-hour traffic or turning on your seat ventilation without lifting a finger.
The optional Bowers & Wilkins audio system delivers solid sound and feels worth the price, especially since some competitor systems cost twice as much. The M8 also comes with onboard navigation that's easy to use and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. There are more than enough USBs and power ports for all passenger devices.
How’s the storage? With 11 cubic feet of space, the Gran Coupe's trunk is small, but it offers great flexibility. The rear seats split and fold nearly flat in a 40/20/40 configuration, and a hands-free trunk function makes loading groceries easier if your hands are full. The M8's trunk also has a lower liftover height than the trunks of the Mercedes-AMG GT and Porsche Panamera.
In-cabin storage is a bit lacking, as in most other luxury performance cars, but the available areas, including the center armrest and glovebox, are more usefully sized. If car seats are a part of your life, rest assured that the Gran Coupe has you covered. Aside from an abundance of backseat space, the car seat anchors are very easy to get to, located under elegant magnetic leather flaps. Surprisingly one of the best anchor executions we've seen.
How’s the fuel economy? The M8 Gran Coupe is estimated to get 17 mpg combined (15 city/21 highway). It's thirstier than the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 53 (21 mpg combined). While most owners of these vehicles aren't likely to be overly concerned with fuel efficiency, no one loves constant visits to the gas station.
We recorded an exceptional fill of 21.8 mpg on our 115-mile drive loop that is highway-heavy but includes mountain roads and city streets as well. Traffic was particularly light due to the pandemic, but it's still a good indication the M8 can outperform its economy estimates if driven with some restraint. Of note, the onboard fuel computer was spot-on with our calculations.
Is the M8 Gran Coupe a good value? As members of the 99%, we too would have a hard time believing a $130,000 car could be considered a "good value," but hear us out. Within this class, the M8 Gran Coupe actually comes in around $10K less than its closest competitor without any compromise in horsepower or build quality. Cabin design will always have an element of subjectivity, but we think the BMW's is as solid as any, even if it's not designed to elicit as much luxury as you might expect.
BMW's warranty and ownership perks are better than most too. The basic and powertrain warranties align with other German makes at four years/50,000 miles, with a generous 12-year rust-through warranty and roadside assistance for four years. BMW is also the only one in this class that offers complimentary maintenance for three years/36,000 miles.
Four-door coupes usually end up being cramped compromises of their sedan counterparts. But because the M8 Gran Coupe is essentially a stretched version of the two-door, it becomes a more usable but still ridiculously fast and fun car. It has geniune space for the family and manages to look sleek and sexy. And the best part is it's just as fast as the M8 coupe. This is the car to get if an M8 is in your future.
The 2023 BMW M8 Gran Coupe is a high-performance coupe-style sedan powered by a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine (617 horsepower, 553 lb-ft) paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard.