2020 BMW 840i Coupe Review: Mastering The Art Of Luxury With Performance

Many of us think that when we maximize comfort and luxury in a car, we sacrifice performance and vice versa. The 2020 BMW 840i Coupe bridges this gap. This finely balanced luxury/performance offering from the Bavarian auto giant represents a near-perfect synergy of design, comfort, and ride quality. Sure, it’s not without certain problems, but it proved a fine addition to the 2020 lineup after being announced and confirmed back in 2019.

Interior Design:

When seating yourself in the driver’s cockpit, the first thing you notice is the wider console at the center. Its well-placed buttons represent a considerable effort to make this one of the most ergonomically and aesthetically pleasing control centers of any car out there. Take your seat in the lush Vernasca leather (or optional Merino leather if you prefer) sports seat as you bathe in warm ambient light to take in the interior’s full luxury.

Enjoy your favorite playlist through the standard Harman Kardon surround system, or upgrade to the 12-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System with illuminated speakers with an output of 1,375 watts.

To get started, check out the 10.25″ central display, which offers intuitive control, as does the 12.3″ digital instrument cluster. As I drove, I found all the controls easy to reach and use without taking my eyes off the road. This car is built for a safe yet enjoyable driving experience. Plus, I had great fun setting the volume of my music with the hand-gesture controls.

Fantastic Driving Experience:

This brings me neatly to the next high point of the BMW 840i Coupe —- the drive itself. The 840i is powered by a 6-cylinder 3.0L engine outputting some 335hp and 368 lb-ft of torque, reaching a top speed of 130 mph. I got it from 0 to 60 in just under 4.8 seconds, exactly as advertised, and I found the overall driving experience to be truly dynamic. Powerful as it is, the drive is unbelievably quiet, which complements the interior sense of comfort and opulence.

It’s odd for a car of such luxurious bearing to also deliver such sporty drive dynamics, but this BMW manages it in spades. A 6-cylinder engine admittedly seems quite low for a car of this prestige and specification, but let me tell you that the 6-cylinder model is more than enough to have fun with. Sure, I’d personally opt for an 8-cylinder option, but those opting for the standard 6 cylinders should not anticipate any disappointment in the power and dynamics of this car’s drive.

The front double-wishbone suspension combined with rear five-link suspension and electromechanical steering makes for substantial control, even on the tightest corners. The seats and steering wheel adjust easily to get the perfect driving position, and on the road, you feel safe and in control, thanks to the many innovative ADAS features that BMW packs into the 840i Coupe.

Safety First:

The standard kit includes front collision warning and the City Collision Mitigation system, the latter of which will try to bring you to a full stop if you have failed to heed warnings. It does depend on the situation, though. Other optional gear includes blind-spot detection, lane departure warning, 360-degree camera, active cruise control, automatic braking, automatic stop & go —- the list goes on.

A real highlight for me was the HUD, which in the 2020 model had been updated by BMW. It brought key details of my drive like my speed, the speed limit, overtaking restrictions, and other vital things right into my field of vision, so I barely had to divert my attention from the road, even for a second. A built-in dashcam feature is also a great addition, recording and saving important events in the car’s infotainment system.

A Pricey Notion:

I explained above that the V6 engine is certainly sufficient to enjoy this car and get the most out of the driving experience. However, with an initial start price of $87,900 and easily exceeding $100,000 with options, many would undoubtedly like to have the V8, which offers a substantial upgrade in power to 535hp and a 0-60 time of 3.5s. The M850i xDrive starts at $111,900.

Interior Space:

One complaint I’d add, not necessarily for me, but for other drivers out there, is that of interior space. It’s luxurious and comfortable, but the headroom is limited, and the back seat is basically useless unless the driver and all passengers are very short. It appears to be really just there for show. Perhaps this is the price you pay for any 2-door coupe, but it is very noticeable in the 840i Coupe.

Performance with Luxury – It’s a Fine Car:

In the end, I have to stick by my initial assessment that the 840i Coupe carries a great deal of wow-factor. The lush interiors, impressive driving dynamics, and overall build quality are incredible. The 2020 BMW 840i Coupe is another big hit from BMW.