Home

BMW

Reviews

For Around $40,000, You Can Buy BMW's Sports Car Of The Future

BMW's futuristic plug-in hybrid once cost more than $160,000. Today, you can buy one for around $40,000. But should you?

2019 BMW i8 Roadster: Review

Jeff Glucker

By: Jeff Glucker

Oct 22, at 11:00am ET

Add Motor1.com as a preferred source in Google

Comment

When the BMW i8 arrived in 2014, it looked like something that had escaped from a concept car display. Its dramatic butterfly doors, futuristic bodywork, and unusual plug-in hybrid powertrain made it unlike anything else on the road.

More than a decade later, it still looks like a car from the future.

The i8 was also expensive. Early examples cost nearly $140,000, while later Roadsters exceeded $160,000. For that money, buyers got a carbon-fiber sports car powered by a tiny turbocharged three-cylinder engine and an electric motor. It was a bold experiment, even by BMW standards.

Production ended in 2020, and the i8 never really found its footing—sadly. But depreciation has changed things. Today, early examples can cost around $40,000, making BMW's former technological flagship a surprisingly attainable exotic.

Why Buy The BMW i8?

2019 BMW i8 Roadster: Review

The i8's greatest selling point is its design.

The low nose, sweeping bodywork, flying buttresses, and upward-opening doors still look spectacular. Even next to modern supercars, the i8 doesn't appear particularly dated. Its carbon-fiber-reinforced passenger cell and aluminum structure are also far more exotic than you'll find in most similarly priced sports cars.

In our 2019 BMW i8 Roadster review, we praised its striking exterior design, comfortable ride, and impressive efficiency:

'The BMW i8 revolutionized a segment.'
'The slim LED headlights and faux dual kidney grilles give the i8 an eye-catching look up front, while the floating roof, moon-shaped taillights, and electric blue accents help define the sleek rear-end.'
'For a two-door, the BMW i8 is shockingly comfortable. The Lexus LC is the only car in its class that's cushier (and that’s much more GT than sports car, anyways), and the Acura NSX comes close.'

How Much Is A Used BMW i8?

BMW i8 Roadster im Test

The i8 has experienced significant depreciation since new, particularly the early coupes. According to Kelley Blue Book, some examples have lost more than two-thirds of their original value.

Here's what buyers can expect to pay based on KBB's national Fair Purchase Price estimates as of October 2026:

2015 BMW i8 Coupe: $42,600
2016 BMW i8 Coupe: $43,600
2017 BMW i8 Coupe: $39,200
2019 BMW i8 Coupe: $62,200
2019 BMW i8 Roadster: $66,500
2020 BMW i8 Coupe: $62,000
2020 BMW i8 Roadster: $68,500

These figures represent typical dealership purchase prices. Actual values will vary depending on mileage, condition, equipment, and location.

The early coupes represent an enormous amount of exotic-car design for the money. A 2017 example originally carried a starting price of roughly $144,000. Today, KBB values that same car at less than $40,000.

The later cars command a significant premium, particularly the Roadster. But considering the updated battery, additional electric range, and improved powertrain, that extra money isn't entirely unjustified.

Which BMW i8 Should You Buy?

2019 BMW i8 Roadster

Personally, I'd look for a 2019 BMW i8 Coupe. If the budget allows, however, the Roadster is even more tempting.

The 2019 model year marked the i8's most significant update. BMW increased combined horsepower from 357 to 369, enlarged the battery, improved the suspension tuning, and introduced the convertible Roadster.

The additional battery capacity is particularly appealing. With an EPA-rated electric range of 18 miles, the updated i8 makes more sense for short, electric-only trips. The earlier cars offered just 15 miles when new, and battery aging can reduce that figure further.

And something is appealing about driving a car that looks like a spaceship with the roof down.

What Could Go Wrong?

The BMW i8 has developed a reasonably positive reputation for reliability, particularly given its unusual construction and complex hybrid powertrain. But that doesn't mean ownership is inexpensive.

One of the biggest concerns is the air-conditioning system. The i8 uses an electrically driven compressor, and the climate-control system also plays an important role in battery thermal management. Compressor failures have been reported, and repairs can become extremely expensive if internal debris contaminates other components. Verify that the system operates properly and listen for unusual compressor noises.

The high-voltage battery is another important consideration. BMW originally provided eight years or 100,000 miles of coverage for the i8's lithium-ion battery, meaning that many early cars are now outside their original warranty periods. Later cars may still have coverage depending on their original in-service dates.

Before purchasing, have a qualified BMW technician evaluate the battery's condition, check for stored hybrid-system fault codes, and confirm that the charging system operates correctly. Also inspect the conventional 12-volt electrical system, particularly on cars that have spent extended periods in storage.

There are more conventional problems to consider, too. The butterfly doors use gas struts and specialized hinge mechanisms that can wear with age. Check that both doors open smoothly, remain supported, and close correctly. The electronically controlled fuel filler door can also malfunction, while coolant warnings and leaks warrant immediate attention.

Then there's the bodywork. The i8's carbon-fiber passenger structure and specialized exterior panels require expertise to repair. Even relatively minor accident damage can be expensive, so carefully inspect any vehicle with a collision history.

What Else Could You Buy?

2019 BMW i8 Roadster: Review

There are several excellent used sports cars available for similar money, although few offer the i8's combination of design and hybrid technology.

The Audi R8 is perhaps the most obvious alternative, offering a proper exotic-car experience with a naturally aspirated V8 or V10, depending on the year. But maintenance and ownership costs can be considerable.

The Jaguar F-Type R delivers a supercharged V8 soundtrack that the i8 simply can't match. Meanwhile, a used Porsche Cayman or 911 will almost certainly be more entertaining on a winding road.

The Lexus LC 500 is another compelling alternative. It combines dramatic styling, a naturally aspirated V8, and an upscale interior with a comfortable grand-touring personality.

And if you're interested in something more modern, a used C8 Corvette offers substantially more performance for similar money.

Why The BMW i8 Makes Sense

The BMW i8 was a strange proposition when it was new. It looked like a supercar, cost as much as a supercar, and featured some of the most advanced construction technology BMW had ever put into production. Yet it was powered by a three-cylinder engine and couldn't match the performance of its traditional competitors.

For 2019, BMW increased output to 369 hp and fitted a larger 11.6-kilowatt-hour battery, replacing the original 7.1-kWh pack. Electric-only range grew from an EPA-rated 15 miles to 18 miles, while the coupe retained its 4.2-second 0-60 mph sprint. The Roadster needed 4.4 seconds.

Those numbers won't intimidate modern performance cars, but the i8 offers something different. You can cruise around town almost silently on electric power, then engage Sport mode and enjoy the combined output of both powertrains. Fuel economy is impressive for something that looks this dramatic, too, with the later i8 achieving an EPA-rated 27 mpg combined when operating on gasoline.

What do you think?

View

Comments

For around $40,000, you can buy a car that still looks genuinely exotic, delivers respectable performance, and offers efficiency that most conventional sports cars can't touch. Spend closer to $65,000, and you can enjoy the updated powertrain and open-air experience of the Roadster.

It isn't the perfect driver's car, and there's certainly some financial risk involved in maintaining an aging plug-in hybrid with exotic construction. But just look at it.

More Why Buy

Remember The Ford Flex? This Weird SUV Is Now A Great Used Buy

The Porsche Macan Once Cost $80,000. Now It's A Used-Car Bargain: Why Buy?

A Used Toyota Tacoma Isn't Cheap. Here's Why It's Still Worth Buying

Volvo V60 Polestar: Why Buy?

BMW i8

Engine Turbocharged 1.5-Liter Three Cylinder

Motor Two Electric Motors (Front and Rear)

Output 369 Horsepower / 420 Pound-Feet (Combined)

Battery 11.6 kWh Lithium Ion

Transmission Six-Speed Automatic (Gas) / Two-Speed Automatic (Electric)

Drive Type All-Wheel Drive

Speed 0-60 MPH 4.4 Seconds

Maximum speed 155 Miles Per Hour

Base Price $163,300 (2019)

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motor1.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

- The Motor1.com Team

Share this Story

GO TO COMMENTS

(

)

Got a tip for us? Email: tips@motor1.com

View all comments ( )

Popular

The Rotary Engine Should Be Everywhere. Why Isn't It?

Honda's Mitsubishi-Based Truck Is Official, Coming In 2028

Mercedes-AMG Is Developing A New C63, And There Could Be Two Models

Volkswagen Wanted An Electric Bugatti Tourbillon, But Mate Rimac Pushed For A V16 Engine

Ferrari's Luce EV Costs Way More Than Its V12 Purosangue SUV