Is the 335 Horsepower 840i Gran Coupe Worth a Six-Figure Price Tag?
Business Insider says the 840i Gran Coupe is an appealing alternative to the more common 5 Series sedan.
In keeping with BMW’s corporate tradition of the last few years, the Bavarian automaker offers a dizzying array of models variants in its lineup. Matthew DeBord, over at Business Insider, recently spent some time with a well-optioned 2020 BMW 840i xDrive Gran Coupe to see how it compares to other models in the BMW lineup.
The $87,800 840i comes standard with ventilated front disc brakes, a good sounding Harmon Kardon sound system as well as the latest iDrive infotainment system with its 10-25-inch central touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The BMW also has wireless charging for electronic devices. Business Insider’s 840i press vehicle included a bevy of options — including the $5,000 M Sport package and $1,300, 20-inch M Sport wheels — bringing the out-the-door price to a whopping $100,675.
The 840i slots in below the costlier M850. And instead of that halo model’s 523 horsepower twin-turbo V8, an inline-6 powers the 840i. Which should suit BMW traditionalists just fine. The 840i’s engine pumps out 335 horsepower and 368 lb/ft of torque. That’s a lot less than the M850.
But Business Insider appreciates the 6-cylinder engine’s practicality over the more powerful V8. “On paper, no contest,” notes Business Insider. “But here’s the thing about high-performance V8s versus high-performance sixes: I can be easily seduced by the six’s ease of use. I can’t complain about a ferocious V8 — there’s something about having a bottomless well of torque thrumming away at your fingertips — but I often enjoy the absence of two cylinders for the simple reason that the car feels sportier and I can get into far more of the power in normal driving.”
Business Insider was impressed with the Gran Coupe overall. “Over a long freeway drive, it offers comfort and amenities aplenty, but flip it into sport or sport-plus mode and you can dig into the powerband and stress the otherwise well-composed merger of sophisticated suspension and all-wheel drive. This is a car that can reward some throttle into a curve and still blows past semis on the highway with elite aplomb.” While it doesn’t have the outright performance of the V8-powered 8 Series, the 840i has enough performance. It also gets a decent 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.
While Business Insider doesn’t think the 840i is the best BMW available, it is a solid option to the more commonplace 5 Series. The 840i may just be the perfect Bimmer for someone who wants to stand out in a sea of plain-Jane sedans.
Photos: BMW