2017 BMW i8

ANNIE WHITE

February 23, 2017 at 5:10 PM

C/D Overall Rating:

There are few cars that make a stronger first impression than the BMW i8. A plug-in hybrid with exterior styling that wouldn’t look out of place in a sci-fi epic, the i8 is one of a kind. Its mix of efficient technology, sporting credentials, and an astronomical price tag leave it with few natural competitors. The Tesla Model S sedan and the Acura NSX, with their electrified powertrains and sky-high base prices, are the closest matches. Statement-making alternatives include the conventionally powered McLaren 570S or top Porsche 911 variants.

What’s New for 2017?

The i8 remains largely unchanged since its launch in 2014. For 2017, BMW has added a new Protonic Red model, essentially a design riff on the existing i8. With red exterior paint, carbon-fiber interior trim, unique black seats with red contrast stitching, and a ceramic-look shifter, it makes an even bolder statement than existing models’ monochromatic color range. This is a special edition, so if you’re reading this, it’s probably too late to snag one.

Standard Feature Highlights

• Scissor doors
• Heated front seats
• 8.8-inch LCD infotainment system
• Carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell

Trims and Options We’d Choose

The i8 offers only one powertrain, so options are found in exterior color and interior fittings. Aside from the super-limited Protonic Red, all exterior paint colors fall on the gray scale. BMW refers to its interior trim options as “worlds.” Mega World is standard, Giga World is the mid-level option at $2000, and Tera World is the top of the line, adding $4500 to the already stratospheric price tag. (Perhaps there’s potential for a trim package tie-in with the popular series Westworld somewhere down the line.) Neither of the extra-cost trim levels adds meaningful content, so we’d stick with the base model. But our inner child won’t allow us to pass up the $6300 laser headlight package. The lights are shockingly bright, and it’s worth a few grand to have actual lasers lurking under the hood, isn’t it? Double-O Seven, eat your heart out.

• 357-hp (combined) turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder hybrid powertrain
• Carbon-fiber-and-aluminum structure
• Dual-LCD-screen infotainment and driver information system
• Leather seats, steering wheel, and shift knob

At a grand total of $147,995 our i8 represents a serious investment, but style is a demanding mistress.

In Depth: 2017 BMW i8

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C/D Engine and Transmission Rating:

BMW offers a single powertrain in the i8, and it’s a peach. However, with less power than many competitors, it’s not the fastest supercar on the block. We wish it were quicker, but the three-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain is smooth and exceptionally well executed, offering a glimpse of an automotive future we can dig.

The i8 mates a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder gas-powered engine with a 7.1-kWh battery pack and two electric motors. One electric motor is in the middle of the coupe near the mid-mounted three-cylinder, and the other motor resides up front, under the hood. The engine pairs to a six-speed automatic transmission, while the electric powertrain uses a two-speed automatic to transfer power to the front wheels. The trio of power sources combines for a total of 357 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, capable of driving all four wheels.

Those power figures aren’t remotely close to supercar territory, and the i8 doesn’t always feel as sporty as it looks. Even though it’s not as quick as its rivals, the i8 responds to throttle inputs with sustained, powerful acceleration that will satisfy most speed hunters. In our testing, the i8 needed 4.0 seconds to go from zero to 60 mph and finished the quarter-mile in 12.5 seconds at 113 mph. While impressive, those numbers are still far behind the results we’ve measured from statement-making competitors such as the (hybrid) Acura NSX, the McLaren 570S, and the Porsche 911 Turbo.

**Acceleration, C/D Test Results**

Of course, the i8’s mission is not limited to delivering sports-car performance. The plug-in hybrid powertrain is designed to provide performance in a planet-friendly package. BMW estimates that the battery will deliver up to 15 miles of pure electric driving (we measured 15.6 miles during our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test). Once the battery is depleted, the i8 will operate like any other hybrid, relying on electric power at stoplights and while creeping through traffic jams, then switching on the gas engine when more power is required. The EPA rates the i8 at 76 MPGe combined when using the battery and gasoline engine to power the car, and 28 mpg combined once the battery stores are depleted. The Tesla Model S is rated much higher by the EPA thanks to its purely electric powertrain, but gas-powered rivals such as the McLaren 570S and the Porsche 911 can’t match the i8’s combined EPA ratings.

The i8 has four driving modes: Comfort, the default setting; Eco Pro, which limits the power diverted to electrical functions such as climate control and heated seats; Sport, which adopts more aggressive transmission-shift patterns and directs extra power generated by the engine, as well as energy recouped during braking and deceleration, to the battery; and eDrive, in which the car operates solely on battery power.

Charging System

The i8’s 7.1-kWh battery pack can be recharged in 2.5 hours when connected to a 240-volt outlet. That time rises to 4.5 hours if only a 120-volt household outlet is available. During road trips or when venturing to places untouched by the electric-car movement, the engine can recharge the battery. In Sport mode, the engine directs power to the battery and can accomplish a full recharge surprisingly quickly. In Eco Pro and Comfort modes, the battery is charged only by regenerative braking, and recharging the battery takes much longer.

Unlike the Tesla Model S, which has a unique charging system and requires an adapter to plug into public charging networks, the i8 uses the same standard plug that’s found in Nissan Leafs and Chevrolet Volts, and it can be plugged in at any standard EV charging station.

In Depth: 2017 BMW i8

C/D Performance and Driving Impressions Rating:

Based on its looks, you might expect the i8 to drive like a supercar. Sadly, the efficiency-minded powertrain isn’t up to that challenge. It even undershoots the performance specs achieved by more attainable sports cars, existing instead in a limbo between the dynamically lacking hybrids and envy-inspiring performance vehicles. That doesn’t mean there’s no fun to be had in an i8: acceleration is persistent and satisfying, grip is far beyond what most drivers will exploit, and response to steering inputs is quick and accurate.

Acceleration

Requiring 4.0 seconds to accelerate from zero to 60 mph, the i8 dwells comfortably in sports-car territory. Acceleration is most impressive in Sport mode, when the i8 uses the full power of the gasoline engine and electric motors to match up to the seat-of-the-pants feeling of other pedigreed sports cars.

In eDrive mode, the electric-only power provides instant torque but can’t match the speedy zero-to-60 mph run we recorded with all three power sources and launch control engaged. Even in eDrive, the i8 will fire up the gas engine for brief periods if the accelerator is applied fully.

Acceleration, C/D Test Results

Ride, Handling, and Steering

The i8 suffers from the same feather-light steering that we’ve criticized in much of BMW’s current lineup. While the steering is accurate and elicits quick responses, we’d prefer more feedback, especially in a vehicle with sporting intentions. The Porsche 911 is our gold standard of steering effort and feel, and the i8’s steering doesn’t even live in the same ZIP Code.

Occupants are barely sitting a foot off the ground in the i8, but it’s a surprisingly civil ride. Bumps in the road are felt, but never harshly. The chassis, constructed of carbon fiber and aluminum, keeps stray body motions in check and serves the double purpose of looking impressive when the dramatic scissor doors are opened to expose the carbon-fiber weave. With 0.95 g of grip, the i8 lags behind the Acura NSX, the McLaren 570S, and the Porsche 911 Carrera, all of which manage 1.00 g of stick or more.

**Maximum Cornering Capability, C/D Test Results**

Braking

Because hybrid vehicles use a combination of regenerative and hydraulic braking to stop, many suffer from inconsistencies in braking feel. Typically, the first inch or so of brake travel engages the regenerative system, which then gives way to traditional hydraulic braking. The transition from one to the other can leave brake pedals feeling too soft or unpredictable. The BMW i8 suffers from some of the mercurial tendencies of its cohort, and the brakes can feel twitchy at low speeds. At highway speeds or when braking to a complete stop, however, the pedal is predictable, and the transition from regeneration to traditional braking is smooth.

Compared to its competitors, such as the ultra-light McLaren 570S, the i8 needs a lot of runway to stop from 70 mph. However, 163 feet in that test is exceptional compared to other hybrids, many of which have low-rolling-resistance tires. BMW takes no such chances by fitting large yet surprisingly narrow high-performance Bridgestone Potenza S001 summer tires to all i8s.

**Maximum Braking Capability, C/D Test Results**

In Depth: 2017 BMW i8

C/D Exterior Rating:

Every adverb and adjective that could be used to describe the i8’s exterior design is an exercise in understatement. While its proportions are typical for a mid-engined exotic, its design details are unlike anything else on the road today. In our estimation, it is one of the most stunning and original designs on the road.

The head- and taillights are more stylized versions of the lamps that light the way for the rest of the BMW lineup, but the available laser-powered phosphorous headlights are unique in the United States and illuminate the road ahead like a pair of floodlights.

The large doors that open up and out are light, but their operation is still awkward. Occupants are forced to duck beneath the doors to enter, and the short-armed among us may have trouble reaching up to pull the door shut. The showy doors and the tall door sill conspire to make the i8 one of the least user-friendly cars we’ve ever attempted to enter.

Exterior Dimensions

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Exterior Measurement Comparisons

Exterior Features

BMW split the difference when designing the i8’s fuel ports, with the electric charging port located on the front driver’s-side fender and the fuel door on the rear-passenger’s-side panel. Both ports lock with the main doors at the touch of a key-fob button.

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Active Key-Fob Commands

The i8’s key fob is unexpectedly light and feels cheap for something that controls such an expensive car—the same fob controls the $39,745 330i.

Lock / unlockTrunkRemote startPanic alarmHold to roll down windowsHold to roll up windowsRemote parking2017 BMW i8XXXX

Passive Key-Fob Commands

Driver door lock / unlockPassenger door lock / unlockRear doors lock / unlockTrunkPush to startProximity approach lighting2017 BMW i8XXX

In Depth: 2017 BMW i8

C/D Safety and Driver Assistance Rating:

Two agencies evaluate vehicles for crashworthiness in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rates tested vehicles from one to five stars in front crash, side crash, and rollover tests. NHTSA also assigns cars an overall rating out of five stars. The non-profit, independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) uses a different set of tests to evaluate front and side crashworthiness, roof strength, headlight reach, and ease of child seat installation. IIHS grades cars on a scale from Good to Poor in each test, and awards the cars that perform best across all of its tests with Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ honors, the latter of which requires that the vehicle’s automated forward-collision-braking system performs well in IIHS’s tests.

Like many other supercars and low-production-volume vehicles, the i8 has yet to be tested by NHTSA or the IIHS. We awarded it 3.5 stars for its standard full suite of front-seat airbags, a laudable offering from BMW. The i8’s forward-collision-warning system and collision-avoidance braking should be of additional assistance to drivers.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Test Results

2017 BMW i8: Not Rated

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Test Results

2017 BMW i8

Small OverlapModerate OverlapSide ImpactRoof StrengthHead Restraints and SeatsTop Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+?Not testedNot testedNot testedNot testedNot testedNot tested

Airbags, Child Seats, and Spare Tire Location

Installation of a child seat is a difficult task and requires considerable physical dexterity. Best to think of the i8 as a child-free zone.

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Vehicle Tested: 2016 BMW i8

Active Safety Features

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Backup Camera

Gridlines integrated in backup camera view?Do gridlines move with steering wheel?Does volume of audio system reduce when reverse is selected?2017 BMW i8YesYesNo

In Depth: 2017 BMW i8

C/D Warranty Rating:

BMW’s standard set of warranties is typical for a luxury automaker. Also typical is the i8’s eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty on hybrid powertrain components (the Acura NSX has a similar warranty). The three years or 36,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance, however, set the i8 (and other BMWs) apart from the competition.

Warranty Comparison

VehicleLimited WarrantyPowertrain WarrantyHybrid Component WarrantyCorrosion ProtectionRoadside AssistanceScheduled Maintenance2017 BMW i84 years / 50,000 miles4 years / 50,000 miles8 years / 100,000 miles12 years (unlimited miles)4 years (unlimited miles)3 years / 36,000 miles2017 Tesla Model S4 years / 50,000 miles8 years (unlimited miles)8 years (unlimited miles)N/AN/AN/A2017 Acura NSX4 years / 50,000 miles6 years / 70,000 miles8 years / 100,000 miles5 years (unlimited miles)4 years / 50,000 milesN/A2017 McLaren 570S3 years (unlimited miles)3 years (unlimited miles)N/A5 years (unlimited miles)3 years (unlimited miles)N/A2017 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S4 years / 50,000 miles4 years / 50,000 milesN/A12 years (unlimited miles)4 years / 50,000 milesN/A

In Depth: 2017 BMW i8

C/D Fuel Economy Rating:

Viewed strictly as a supercar, the i8’s fuel economy is noteworthy. As with all plug-in hybrids, the i8’s fuel-economy performance depends on whether it’s operating in eDrive mode or relying on its gasoline engine. Starting with a fully charged battery, the EPA rates the i8 at 76 MPGe combined, which would make it among the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market. With a battery that can only power the car for about 15 miles, most drivers will rely heavily on the gasoline engine.

With the turbocharged three-cylinder engine bearing the brunt of the work, the i8 is rated at 28 mpg combined. That’s far from impressive among hybrids, but with a small engine hauling around a heavy battery pack—particularly one with this much available thrust—it’s not surprising. And those ratings are still better than the combined ratings of the Acura NSX, the McLaren 570S, and every flavor of the Porsche 911. The Tesla Model S and its all-electric powertrain rate much higher, at 92 MPGe combined for the least-efficient model.

Fuel Economy Ratings Compared

We’ve devised our own fuel-economy test in an attempt to replicate how most people drive on the highway. Our procedure entails a 200-mile out-and-back loop on Michigan’s I-94. We maintain a GPS-verified 75 mph and use the cruise control as much as possible, mimicking the way many drivers behave during long trips.

During our highway fuel-economy loop, the i8 scored 38 MPGe over the course of the drive, including 15.6 miles of pure EV driving after starting with a fully charged battery. We conducted the test in Comfort mode, and the i8’s 38-MPGe result places it comfortably at the front of the pack compared with rivals we’ve tested. Even though the Acura NSX, the McLaren 570S, and the Porsche 911 all either matched or bested their respective EPA ratings, none came within 10 mpg of the i8.

**Highway Fuel Economy, C/D Test Results**

The i8 sips fuel, but with a paltry 11.1 gallons of capacity, it will not traverse lengthy highway stretches in between stops. We estimate 420 miles of driving range, a respectable distance, but shorter than the stints that can be managed by the McLaren 570S and the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S.

**Highway Range, C/D Test Results**

In Depth: 2017 BMW i8

C/D Interior Rating:

Based on its starship exterior, you would expect the i8’s interior to be equally out of this world, and you would be disappointed. For a vehicle that costs more than most houses, the i8’s interior is surprisingly low rent and uninspired.

Standard interior features include heated, power-adjustable seats and touches of leather. Cooled seats, a power-adjustable steering wheel, and passenger-seat lumbar support are not available even as options. Above all, a vehicle in this class should not feature as much plastic as the i8 somehow does.

Interior Space Comparisons

Despite the i8’s primary focus on design versus practicality, front-seat occupants won’t feel cramped. There’s a variance of less than two inches between the i8 and the competition for both headroom and legroom, and tall drivers will sit comfortably in the i8’s thin but supportive seats.

Front Seats

Rear-seat passengers, should there be any, will not be comfortable. The i8 offers a piddling 32.4 inches of headroom and 28.2 inches of legroom. That the numbers closely match the rear measurements of a Porsche 911 does not matter; the i8 can only be realistically thought of as a two-seater. Anyone large enough to eschew a booster seat will refuse the accommodations, and a child seat doesn’t fit behind a front-seat passenger.

Back Seats

Interior Features

The i8 offers few optional features. Equipment is either standard or not offered at all. Steering-column adjustments must be made by hand instead of with a convenient power control.

FeatureStandard/OptionalTilting steering columnStandardTelescoping steering columnStandardPower-adjustable steering columnNot AvailableHeated steering wheelNot AvailablePower-adjustable pedalsNot AvailableMemory driver's seatStandardMassaging driver's seatNot AvailableMassaging front-passenger seatNot AvailablePower driver's seatStandardPower front-passenger seatStandardHeated front seatsStandardHeated rear seatsNot AvailableCooled front seatsNot AvailableCooled rear seatsNot AvailableHead-up displayStandardRear-seat entertainment systemNot Available

Seat Adjustments

2017 BMW i8Fore/
AftReclineShoulder articulationLumbar supportHeightThigh supportSide bolsterHeadrest tiltDriver's seatXXXXFront-passen-
ger seatXXX

Cupholder Location

In a typically German move, BMW neglected to include a full complement of cupholders in the i8: There’s only one cupholder for the front seats. Two more cupholders, mounted in the rear seat behind the center console, are difficult to access, but are at least large enough to accommodate new-world-sized sodas.

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Vehicle Tested: 2016 BMW i8

Climate Control

Two-zone automatic climate control is standard, with the driver and front passenger representing the two zones. Rear-seat passengers, should any be banished there, will appreciate their air vent.

Manual climate controlAutomatic climate controlSecond-row climate controlSecond-row HVAC vent2017 BMW i8NoTwo-zoneNoYes

Seating Height

The i8’s most serious deficit is the gymnastic finesse required to enter and exit the vehicle. Forget dignity—graceful ingress and egress is simply not possible. The high door sill and low vehicle floor mean that driver and passenger are forced to drop into the vehicle from above like high jumpers. Occupants wearing skirts or kilts are best served by a side-saddle entry, sitting in the seat sideways with feet on the ground and then swinging both legs into the car simultaneously. The i8 will make an entrance, and you might make a YouTube-worthy one, too.

Although low for a car, the i8’s 16.4-inch seating height is still several inches higher than the ground-hugging competition. To accurately measure seating height—the distance from the road to the driver’s hip—we use an H-Point Machine (HPM), a precisely engineered device marketed by the Society of Automotive Engineers. This versatile tool, along with some lasers and simple trigonometry, also reveals the width and location of roof-pillar visibility obstructions.

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Seating-Height Comparisons

Blind Spots and Visibility

As with most of the exotic-looking cars in this class, the i8’s design-first approach results in thick C-pillars that impede rear visibility, and a blind-spot monitoring feature is—incredibly—not available. But the i8 isn’t alone among exotics here: its 129 degrees of rear visibility the second best we’ve measured among competitors, with the Porsche 911 scoring just one degree better. Forward visibility in the i8 isn’t as good—the Acura NSX, the McLaren 570S, and the Porsche 911 each offer a significantly better view of the road ahead.

Roof pillars protect occupants in a rollover crash, but they also create blind spots. We determine visibility by measuring the location and width of each pillar using an H-Point Machine and a laser beam (surrogates for a driver and eyeball, respectively).

In Depth: 2017 BMW i8

C/D Infotainment Rating:

The i8’s infotainment system will be familiar to owners of less exotic BMWs. The system is largely intuitive, but the reliance on ever-more specific menu screens that must be backed out of one by one is an annoyance. It’s also slow to respond to inputs and lacks connectivity points.

Infotainment Features

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Infotainment Response Time, C/D Test Results

By filming the infotainment screen while switching between various menus and then analyzing the high-speed video frame by frame, we are able to accurately measure the system’s response time. We rate infotainment response, or latency, on the following scale:

We’d appreciate more connectivity options. Power points are limited to a single USB port and one 12-volt outlet, and the infotainment system’s standard inclusion of a CD player rather than a second USB port is perplexing at best—or perhaps reveals the anticipated age of i8 buyers.

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Vehicle Tested: 2016 BMW i8

In Depth: 2017 BMW i8

C/D Cargo Space and Storage Rating:

While cargo space is not typically a strong point for style-conscious two-seaters, the i8 is particularly lacking in this area, with a negligible amount of room for luggage and minimal cubby space for the trinkets of modern life.

Cargo Volume Comparisons

The i8’s rear cargo area is long but shallow—unlike some mid-engined sports cars, there’s no storage up front—and we managed to fit a single carry-on inside. Choosing soft luggage instead of our inflexible test boxes could allow space for a second item in the rear, and using the back seat as storage instead of seating would make the i8 almost practical for two people on a road trip. Travel light.

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Vehicle Tested: 2016 BMW i8

Carry-On Luggage, C/D Test Results

Cubby Storage

With only two truly usable seats, it’s no surprise that the i8 offers meager interior storage space. We squeezed 78 ping-pong balls into the sleek, modern interior before reaching its capacity. Many larger vehicles fit that number in a single cubby (a Chevrolet Silverado crew cab stores 1077 altogether). The i8’s competition is storage challenged, too, but all offer more space than the BMW.

The i8’s most glaring storage deficit is that its lack of door-pocket storage, paired with the tiny center console, means there is no logical place to store a phone (let alone two, if there’s a passenger or a particularly well-connected driver on board) while driving. The vestigial back seat has a small amount of storage space in the guise of two small cupholders mounted on the center tunnel.

Why do we use ping-pong balls?

To determine the interior space available to stash travel essentials, we’ve devised a range of measuring protocols. We use six beverage containers ranging in size and shape to gauge cupholder accommodation. We stack, stuff, and arrange 9-by-14-by-22-inch cardboard boxes to quantify the number of airline-carry-on-size suitcases that will fit in a trunk or folded seat’s cargo space. To measure irregularly shaped gloveboxes, door pockets, and console bins, we fill each container with 1.5-inch-diameter ping-pong balls. It’s tempting to convert the number of spheres to a volume (cubic inches), but we resist that calculation because—as with the box of tissues, 12-ounce can of soda, or gallon of milk you might stash in these compartments—there are voids between the balls. Random packing (our procedure) nullifies approximately one-third of the available space. The negative space between the balls could theoretically be reduced to 25 percent of an irregular shape with precise stacking, but while we might be pedantic, we’re not crazy.

C/D Overall Rating:

What’s New for 2017?

Standard Feature Highlights

Trims and Options We’d Choose

In Depth: 2017 BMW i8

C/D Engine and Transmission Rating:

Acceleration, C/D Test Results

Charging System

In Depth: 2017 BMW i8

C/D Performance and Driving Impressions Rating:

Acceleration

Acceleration, C/D Test Results

Ride, Handling, and Steering

Maximum Cornering Capability, C/D Test Results

Braking

Maximum Braking Capability, C/D Test Results

In Depth: 2017 BMW i8

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Exterior Dimensions

Exterior Measurement Comparisons

Exterior Features

Active Key-Fob Commands

Passive Key-Fob Commands

In Depth: 2017 BMW i8

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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Test Results

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Test Results

Airbags, Child Seats, and Spare Tire Location

Active Safety Features

Backup Camera

In Depth: 2017 BMW i8

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Warranty Comparison

In Depth: 2017 BMW i8

C/D Fuel Economy Rating:

Fuel Economy Ratings Compared

Highway Fuel Economy, C/D Test Results

Highway Range, C/D Test Results

In Depth: 2017 BMW i8

C/D Interior Rating:

Interior Space Comparisons

Front Seats

Back Seats

Interior Features

Seat Adjustments

Cupholder Location

Climate Control

Seating Height

Seating-Height Comparisons

Blind Spots and Visibility

In Depth: 2017 BMW i8

C/D Infotainment Rating:

Infotainment Features

Infotainment Response Time, C/D Test Results

In Depth: 2017 BMW i8

C/D Cargo Space and Storage Rating:

Cargo Volume Comparisons

Carry-On Luggage, C/D Test Results

Cubby Storage

Why do we use ping-pong balls?

Maximum Cubby Storage, C/D Test Results

In Depth: 2017 BMW i8

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