BMW 840i Gran Coupe, DS 3 Crossback E-Tense, BMW X5 hybrid, Renault Captur
Don’t be tempted by the heavy V8 – this straight-six is a star of the 8-series line-up
What exactly is it you’re buying when you pay 70 grand for the new five-door version of the 8-series? Is it a car that’s more practical than the cheaper 6-series Gran Turismo with the same engine? Not really. Or one that’s better to drive than the roomier, lighter and cheaper still 5-series? Not at all.
So what is it, then? A lot of what you’re signing up for must be the image. It’s not a pretty car, but it’s certainly a striking one, and it hints at a combination of power, wealth and lunchtime-meeting-in-Geneva that’s nicely flattering to the driver.
The Gran Coupe has a longer wheelbase, greater overall length and wider haunches than the coupe, but smart use of lightweight materials has minimsed the weight increase. The extra length gives a decent amount of room in the back, and good-size rear doors. BMW has rather muddied the waters by calling it a 4+1 seater and fitting two rear seats that are similar in size and shape to the front seats, plus a tiny perch in between that’s hopeless for even a child-sized passenger.
The cabin is close to the coupe’s but the centre console is reshaped and the windscreen is more upright, combining well with the optional panoramic sunroof to make a much airier ambience than the coupe.
Your choice of Gran Coupes is the 840i with rear-wheel drive (sDrive in BMW-speak), and the 840d or M850i with all-wheel drive (xDrive). I reckon the sweet spot is this, the 840i. The 850i is thirstier, more expensive and 200kg heavier. The 4.4-litre V8’s 1.3-second advantage to 62mph is far outweighed by its more ponderous handling.
What matters more are the 840i’s trad BMW qualities: agility, nimbleness, sharp handling, a sweet engine and enhanced driver involvement. The sDrive system splits the torque expertly between the rear wheels and as a result its handling attitude is at all times laser sharp and absolutely unambiguous.
It’s a wonderful reminder of how much fun a rear-wheel-drive BMW can be, and that it does not take a high-performance M model to put a smile on your face.
First verdict
The 840i Gran Coupé sDrive is the real McCoy – a rear-drive straight-six of a kind you thought BMW didn’t make any more +++++