1990 BMW 8 Series Reviews

If you’re an EV buyer in 2026, you need to know about this. The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) has revealed the state of play for electric and plug-in hybrid cars in Australia in 2026. This is the 10th year of the ‘State of EVs’ report as more buyers bought EVs than ever before Down Under. The report analysed the 2025-26 financial year, and how buyer trends and infrastructure, among other things, have changed in that time. It called for several policy reforms, including targeted equity-based policy to assist economically-disadvantaged Aussies reap the benefits of EV driving.Australia’s charging landscape is diverse, it is also complex and fragmented and needs major investment, according to the report. In June 2026, there were 4268 public charging locations, which is 235 per cent more than June 2025There were 11,602 public charge points in June 2026, up 175 per cent compared to June 2025The EVC said there needs to be more research into how owners charge EVs and where they need them most. “Australia still needs substantial public charging investment, but the task is not as simple as just installing more fast chargers,” the report reads.  “Most charging happens where vehicles already park—at homes, apartment buildings, workplaces, destinations, kerbsides and depots.”The report calls for a nationally-coordinated charging roadmap and scaled infrastructure deployment.This news comes after NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury told CarsGuide in December 2025 Australia’s charging infrastructure was lagging behind. “We’re nowhere near. We’ve got nowhere near enough public charging,” NRMA spokesperson Khoury said. “There are lots of areas that don’t have energy that comes from outside the energy grid so you’ve got to create energy sources at those locations.”The EVC is calling for the government to implement a range of new rules in Australia. It wants a targeted equity-based policy to help all Australians use EVs and take advantage of the cost savings with EV adoption.The report states that EVs have lower running costs than petrol- and diesel-powered cars, with less maintenance, seeing a typical driver saving roughly $3000 per year. The EVC said this figure did not include the substantial increases to fuel prices in 2026, with savings calculated today even higher. It said the federal government needs to implement an updated New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) for cars sold beyond 2029 to align with 2035 emissions reduction targets. NVES is a set of emissions rules that imposes fines on cars sold that emit high levels of CO2 into the atmosphere. Developing a car takes a brand several years to complete, meaning carmakers need to know the rules these models will need to follow.It also said there should be a national road-user charge that does not deter EV uptake.This would differ from the current system proposed by the New South Wales government from 2027 that the EVC said would slow EV sales.The New South Wales government wants a road user charge to make up for lost fuel excise revenue and ensure all road users contribute to maintenance. The EVC found a fully-electric or PHEV car was bought every 100 seconds on average in the first half of 2026, with one in four new car sales using an electric powertrain.The report reads cost-of-living pressures, soaring fuel prices and greater EV choice has contributed to a sharp increase in electric car uptake in 2026. Fully-electric and PHEV sales accounted for 25.8 per cent of new car sales up to June 2026, increasing from 12.1 per cent up to June 2025There are 196 combined full EV and PHEV models on sale, compared to 153 models in 2025There were 157,957 electric and PHEV sales in H1 2026, up 177 per cent from H1 2025Australia’s EV uptake is now in line with the global average, according to the International Energy Agency“So, at a time when fuel prices are fluctuating and cost-of-living continues to bite, it’s no surprise that EVs have become a popular choice,” the report states. “As of June 2026, drivers have never had a greater choice of EVs in Australia.”Australia recently got its new cheapest electric car in the BYD Atto 1 that is being offered from $19,990 (drive-away) until December, 15 2026.

If you love the looks of the stunning BMW i3 but aren't quite ready for an EV, the German brand has got you covered with its all-new BMW 3 Series.To the untrained eye, the petrol-powered 3 Series will look identical to the sharp-suited mid-size battery-powered sedan when it rocks up early next year priced from around $85,000.Once again created to rival the Mercedes C-Class and Audi A5, it's only side by side that you begin to spot the huge differences between the i3 and 3 Series.The first is the eighth-generation 3 Series has a longer snout, needed to home a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine that powers the flagship M350 and the inbound M3 that arrives later.The combustion BMW sedan also has a shorter wheelbase and slimmer sill, as there's no need to house a chunky battery pack between the axles. A set of taller four doors completes the changes.Beneath the skin, the new-gen 3 Series is based on the previous model's platform (G20) but grows in every dimension, with it measuring 4765mm (+52mm) long, 1850mm wide (+23mm) and standing 1455mm (+7mm) tall, with a 2860mm (+9mm) wheelbase for a bit more room inside.Space in the second row is still at a premium, but without a battery pack the floor is lower for more space for feet, and the boot is also bigger than the EV with up to 450 litres (+30L) available.Inside, if anything, the 3 Series remains as impressive as the outside, with the BMW gaining the same Neue Klasse cabin design as the i3 and iX3 SUV, which sees the full-width, configurable Panoramic Vision screen stretch from pillar to pillar, replacing a conventional instrument panel.The cabin also combines both a generous, tilted 17.9-inch infotainment system and a huge 3D head-up display, the driver relies on a multifunction steering wheel that features physical buttons to help operate the tech.If you're wondering, the ugly tiller, with its 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock spokes, can be replaced by a more conventional M steering wheel.Bathing the cabin in light are an expansive panoramic roof and large glass windows, which add a light and airy feel to a cabin with an impressive mix of high-quality materials.All the tech runs an Android-based BMW X operating system that introduces an AI-powered Amazon Alexa voice assistant that is capable of a natural conversation.In Australia, just two variants will initially be offered – a rear-wheel drive 320 with 155kW and 330Nm of torque, for a 0-100km/h dash of 7.4 seconds, while the flagship all-wheel drive M350 xDrive punches out 326kW of power and 540Nm of torque.Looking like a proper BMW M product, the flagship version gets M Performance upgrades that see an aero kit added, bigger black 20-inch alloy wheels and a yellow daytime light signature that reminds you of the recent BMW M5 CS muscle car.Off the line, with all-wheel drive the quickest M350 takes just 4.1 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint.For the first time, as well as looking like the M3, the M350 gets something called Drift Moment that switches it to rear-wheel drive to allow the driver to provoke lurid slides (hopefully on track).BMW engineers are confident the i3 and 3 Series will raise the bar for both driver enjoyment and handling, but without compromising long-distance comfort.That explains why, as well as adaptive suspension, the German brand has rolled out its latest Level 2 semi-autonomous cruise control that provides hands-free highway driving up to 130km/h.The same tech is promised to be rolled out to work in urban environments at much lower speeds before the end of next year.Available in up to 11 colours, BMW Australia says it will release pricing and full specifications of the 2027 BMW 3 Series in a few days’ time.When it lands, expect the base 320 to ride on either 18- or 19-inch rims and come with 8-way adjustable heated and ventilated seats, get an electric tailgate and come with adaptive cruise, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assist.Pay more for the M350 and you'll bag 20-inch alloy wheels, a premium sound system and the sportier BMW M styling kit inside and out.When it launches next year, the 2027 BMW 3 Series will go head to head with the equally fresh soon to launch next-generation Mercedes C-Class and the Audi A5 ($79,900-$89,900) which was introduced in 2025.Shortly after its debut, the German car-maker will reveal both a plug-in hybrid version with a long EV range, and the eagerly-awaited M3 that will be offered with both petrol and all-electric powertrains, with the latter expected to produce more than 750kW from a state-of-the-art quad-motors.

BMW has priced its latest luxe SUV Down Under. The new-generation BMW X5 large SUV will start from $143,900 for the diesel variant, while petrol power starts from $145,900, both before on-road costs. This means the diesel variant is $4000 more expensive now, while the petrol variant costs an extra $2000. The new BMW X5 is due to arrive in showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2026, with plug-in hybrid variants available in the first quarter of 2027. The brand has confirmed a new fully-electric iX5 is also on its way to Australia in Q1 2027. The X5 will rival the cheaper Audi Q7, with its base diesel-powered variant starting from $120,530. It will also tackle the new Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class that was unveiled in Australia for the first time in September 2026, priced from $142,300. Both petrol- and diesel-powered variants use an improved 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-charged engine layout with 48-volt mild hybrid system.The base Mercedes-Benz GLE 350d also now comes with a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine as standard, but is $1300 more expensive. Diesel variants now produce 230kW/670Nm, compared to 210kW/650Nm, while petrol variants now make 294kW/540Nm, up from 280kW/520Nm. Petrol variants can sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.3 seconds. All examples come with all-wheel drive as standard and a 3500kg braked towing capacity. The BMW X5 is only available as a five-seater, so it does not have a seven-seater option, like its close rivals the Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class. It features BMW’s high-tech interface, with a 3D head-up display and panoramic dashboard-mounted screen. The car also gets a flashy new 17.9-inch central touchscreen and a passenger display as standard. The front seats are heated, ventilated and have massage functionality. Elsewhere in the cabin, there is an 18-speaker sound system and a panoramic glass roof.   Buyers can option heated armrests and rear seats and a rear roller sunblind for an extra $2300.

The BMW X1 won the Best Small Car starting under $80,000 category in CarsGuide's 2026 Car of the Year awards, and the line-up has just received a shake-up.While petrol and electric (iX1) versions of this small SUV are still on offer, there is now a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant.Dubbed the X1 xDrive25e, it’s priced from $79,900, before on-road costs. It’s almost $9000 more than the petrol-powered sDrive20i M Sport ($70,962 BOC), which is only front-wheel drive.This sees it compete against other plug-in hybrid rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLA250e ($78,800 BOC) and Cupra Formentor VZe ($68,990 BOC). Audi hasn’t launched a PHEV version of its new-generation Q3 in Australia yet.Our test car is fitted with the Enhancement Package ($5700) which adds the following:Metallic paintPanoramic glass sunroof12-speaker Harman Kardon sound systemHeated steering wheelThere is a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine that powers the front wheels with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, as well as an 80kW electric motor on the rear axle. Total system outputs are 180kW and 477Nm which is good for a 0-100km/h sprint in 6.8 seconds.There’s plenty of power on tap. Around town the electric motor handles almost all of it on its own, but lean harder on the accelerator or deplete the battery charge and the petrol engine steps in to assist.When the petrol engine first fires there can be slight hesitation as the powertrain shuffles how the drive is sent. It’s brief and then things smooth out.The three-cylinder petrol engine has a fun, perky but you can tell it's working hard to shift 1855kg of small SUV.Feeding the electric motor is a 16.3kWh (14.2kWh usable) lithium-ion battery pack which allows for up to 86km of WLTP-claimed electric range. During my urban real-world testing I saw closer to 55km, which isn’t very much by today's standards.BMW claims the X1 xDrive25e has a combined fuel consumption of 3.3L/100km, according to ADR 81/02 testing, though your usage will depend on how often you charge. When the battery was depleted I saw an average of 9.5-10L/100km, which is a fair bit for a car of this size.There is a 47L fuel tank that requires a minimum of 95 RON premium unleaded petrol.Charging up the battery pack can only be done by a Type 2 plug that’s on the front-left quarter panel and allows for AC charging at rates up to 11kW. With this a full charge is claimed to take 1.75 hours.Even though it can feel like the turbo three-cylinder engine is working hard, it’s aided by the electric motor. When you boot the accelerator there's plenty of oomph available, plus if you’re feeling frisky, there’s also a ‘Boost’ mode that turns everything to 11.Once the need for speed is over, it’s surprising just how fun this car is to drive, even around town. This is primarily thanks to light, yet direct steering.This version of the X1 comes with the M Sport package as standard, which means it has a sportier suspension set-up with adaptive dampers. It’s generally comfortable and compliant, though harsher bumps can transmit into the cabin with a jolt.There’s a lot of polish to this car and it’s clear it's still a segment benchmark, at least from a dynamic standpoint.The BMW X1 still has a striking cabin with its dual screen set-up, though the 10.7-inch touchscreen multimedia system does look a touch small now compared to some of its competitors.Looking elsewhere there's the classic chunky BMW steering wheel, a generous amount of open storage under the centre console, a handy clamp to hold your phone on the wireless charger, as well as a comically small centre armrest storage spot.Despite being a small SUV, there’s still a generous amount of space in the second row. Plus, the floor is virtually flat, meaning the centre seat isn’t a terrible place to sit. Though the centre seat has a roof-mounted seatbelt which does eat into rearward visibility.Adding to the segment-defying space, it has 490L of boot space with the rear seats upright, expanding to 1495L when folded. Surprisingly for a PHEV there’s even underfloor storage for the charging cables, however there’s no spare wheel.Petrol and electric versions of the BMW X1 have a five-star ANCAP safety rating. It’s unclear whether this will be extended to the PHEV.The following safety equipment is on offer:Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)Blind-spot monitoringRear cross-traffic alertLane-keep assistAdaptive cruise controlLane-change assistSurround-view cameraFront and rear parking sensorsParking assistDashcamAll of the safety systems are well-calibrated and don’t interfere with the driving experience, unless required.Like all BMWs, the X1 xDrive25e is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is standard for luxury carmakers but lacking when compared to mainstream counterparts. The high-voltage battery is also covered for eight years or 160,000km.BMW offers three- and five-year pre-paid service packages which are priced at $1466 and $2493, respectively. The latter equals about $500 per service, which is typical for a European luxury car of this size.

BMW has crossed a line owners of its cars around the world believe it shouldn’t have by turning the multimedia screens in their cars into what they perceive to be advertising billboards.What the German carmaker is positioning as “a limited-time themed experience” promoting the movie Spider-Man: Brand New Day and delivered through its Festive App has the blood of BMW owners and drivers in 35 markets boiling.Selected post-2020 BMW models played a full-screen animation on the main multimedia screen in response to the tap of a banner served across its upper third.And in what appears to be a tangled web of overreach, the in-car ‘experience’, run in partnership with Sony Pictures and Marvel from July 27 to August 10, then took control of the car’s audio system and ambient lighting settings to lean into the movie.In BMW's defence, a company spokesperson told CarsGuide, "Each driver could individually decide with a single click whether they wanted to view the Spider-Man animation or not."Similar activations have been featured in BMW vehicles on several occasions and they were positively received."The animation was intended to generate excitement for the new BMW iX3 and its appearance in the film."It was not designed to promote the film or serve as a conventional movie trailer."Therefore, it should not be considered traditional advertising, and there will continue to be no advertising displayed in the vehicle," they said.That response aligns with statements made by BMW’s top brass three years ago, committing to ensuring a car’s interior remained "a private space."Speaking at an industry media roundtable discussion in late 2023, BMW Group Senior Vice President for Connected Company Development Stephan Durach specifically stated its cars’ interiors were not a commercial space.‘In-car commerce’ has emerged in parallel with the proliferation of automotive subscription services and increasing efficiency of over-the-air updates. BMW has history with more formal (and commercial) software-based subscription sales, previously pitching monthly fees in a variety of markets for unlocking everything from heated seats and remote engine start to adaptive cruise control and Apple CarPlay.But this time around the company said the Spider-Man activation is a one-off promotion rather than the leading edge of a longer-term marketing strategy. And it’s worth noting BMW Australia opted out of the campaign.

The soon-to-arrive BMW iX3 40 eDrive will open the new iX3 range, sitting well below the iX3 50 xDrive in terms of price, but not in terms of equipment, with both models sharing the same features list.BMW has secured Luxury Car Tax-busting pricing for the 40, starting at $89,900, before on-road costs. For that, you get a single motor for rear-wheel drive and a smaller battery than in the twin-motor 50 xDrive.The iX3 40's battery is 82.6kWh and the range promise is a still-considerable 635km, while its rear motor delivers 235kW and 500Nm – enough for a sprint to 100km/h in a brisk 5.9 seconds.

In a world of monstrously big SUVs and terrifyingly giant utes, there still exists the super large saloons for those who prefer to maintain a powerful presence with class and sophistication. We're talking limos - not the party kind - we mean the luxurious transport for business executives or those who prefer to be driven rather than drive.We've put together the top 5 largest cars currently sold in AustraliaLength: 5139mm Width: 2241mm Height: 1464mmA Lotus was not on my list of possible big-car candidates, but here we are with the fully electric 5139mm long Emeya four-door lift back. The Emeya is the first of its kind from a brand that forged its iconic reputation by building tiny sportscars in a shed. Things have changed and Lotus is now owned by Chinese manufacturer Geely, and the Emeya is built in China. While not the longest car here, the Emeya is actually the widest with its wing mirrors out. Despite its enormous exterior dimensions the Emeya isn’t particularly voluminous on the inside, but there are four seats and a 509-litre boot. Dual motors make 450kW and 710Nm, 0-100km/h in 4.1 seconds. The starting price is $190K.Length: 5139mm Width: 1900mm Height: 1450mmSecretly loving that a Toyota, sorry Lexus, quietly slipped into this top 5 elite party. At 5235mm end-to-end the LS isn’t small, and nor is it short on luxury.Lexus positions itself as a Benz or BMW on a budget, but with a starting price of $200,000 the LS isn’t all that cheap. The value is outstanding, however, compared to the others here, and while rolling up in a Lexus to meet business executives at the airport doesn’t have the same impact as a BMW 7 Series, but as a car girl, I honestly think the LS is more opulent.Powered by a V6 hybrid the LS is without a doubt the most reliable and cheapest to maintain limo here.Length: 5391mm Width: 1950mm Height: 1544mmBMW’s 7 Series is seriously imposing, a cliff face on wheels, with its gigantic grille and its sheer vertical drop, but it’s not just all front - this beast is 5.39m end to end. As a reference the Australian design rules state a car park space must be 5.4m long and 2.4m wide. So it’ll fit… just.   Updated for 2026/27 with BMW’s next-gen Neue Klasse design the 7 Series looks even more menacing and futuristic, while the interior is sporty and hi-tech with screens everywhere. As for powertrains you can burn fossil fuel with a 3.0-litre inline 294kW/580Nm six-cylinder engine on offer but the electric i7’s enormously powerful and torquey motors (making up to 400kW and 745Nm) and seamlessly brutal ability to get out of its own way suits the big BMW limo better.  The 7 Series starts at a list price of $272,900.Length: 5469mm  Width: 2109mm  Height: 1510mmThe Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is a super luxury version of the S-Class and it’s even longer than one too. A regular S-Class long wheelbase is 5289mm end to end while the Maybach version stretched 180mm at 5469mm in length.While more or less the same car as the S-Class the Maybach offers more legroom, more decadence and more engine - with a V12 offered on the higher grades.The Maybach is also more expensive - almost double the price of an S-Class LWB at about $630,000Length: 5982mm, width: 2154mm Height: 1656mmOf course the biggest car sold in Australia is a Rolls-Royce and it’s not just the Phantom Extended, it’s also the Ghost Extended at 5715mm and the Spectre Series II at 5453mm. But if we had included them, then the top 5 biggest cars would have all been Rollers.So we’ve gone for the largest Rolls-Royce car, the Phantom Extended, which at 5982mm is more a train than a car and 220mm longer than the standard wheelbase Phantom.While there are only four seats in a Phantom Extended they are the size of lounge chairs in a sumptuous hotel lobby and legroom is, well you can literally lie down back there because the seats become beds.In Australia the Phantom Extended starts at more than $1.1m but as with most Rolls-Royce’s the customers will want to personalise it with bespoke touches taking the final price much higher. 

Carmakers are looking to save costs and the environment, which means they will be using more recycled materials in their vehicles.This is being further reinforced by new European Union regulations, which require a minimum amount of recycled plastics used in cars and key battery materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel, among others.This means more and more carmakers will be diving into the skip bin to grab crucial materials to put into your next car.The German giant is the latest to tout its recycling handiwork, reducing CO2 emissions from production of its new X5 SUV by using second-hand materials and renewable energy.A big part of this is electric arc furnace steel (EAF), which sounds absolutely badass, and it is. It effectively uses electric currents to melt scrap metal into new liquid steel that can be reshaped into car parts.BMW uses recycled materials in a range of components such as wheel rims, rear axle supports and brake calipers. The doors consist of 35 per cent reused materials and the headliner is made of 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles.In the electric iX5 60 XDrive, about a third of its weight, or 940kg, is made up of recycled materials.BMW has reduced the materials it sends to landfills by 88 per cent in the past 20 years.Toyota is aiming to have its range of vehicles be at least 30 per cent built from recycled materials by 2030.The brand flags 19 parts including catalytic converters, bumpers, EV batteries and motors to be designed to be easily removed from scrap vehicles and deconstructed future range of vehicles.Toyota’s Gosei plastics manufacturing subsidiary has developed materials with a 50 per cent recycled plastic content and performance equivalent to newly-made plastics, which it says is a world-first. Examples of this material being used are in the glove box and grille-backing material in the new Euro-market Camry.Other new Toyotas using recycled plastics include the incoming new-generation RAV4 and the Crown Sport SUV.

The  BMW iX3 50 xDrive is the for-now flagship of the new iX3 range, combining ridiculous range with proper driving fun.The 50 xDrive is $109,900 MSRP, and for that you get a massive battery, lots of range and plenty of dual-motor punch, and a long list of standard features – including the headline-grabbing Panoramic Vision, which swaps the traditional driver screen for a vast display that stretches the entire width of the cabin.Its massive 108.7kWh net NMC battery delivers a maximum driving range of 805km, which is frankly ridiculous. To get it, you need to engage Efficiency Max, which dulls the drive experience, but that is an impressive number all the same. Engage the sportier settings and the figure drops to more like 650km-plus. Its twin-motor AWD set-up delivers a total 345kW and 645Nm, which is a lot. And because there is no traditional transmission to step through, and because all that oomph arrives at once, it feels plenty punchy. BMW says the sprint to 100km/h takes 4.9 seconds, and we believe them. Top speed is a claimed 210km/h.

The BMW iX3 is more than just a new EV for the German brand, it's the flag bearer for the Neue Klasse (or New Class) architecture, promising new tech, features and driving fun that will spread to all BMW's incoming electric vehicles. But does it live up to the hype? We put it to the test at its local launch to find out.