BMW 840I vs Gac M8

What's the difference?

Phwoar. Mate!

Or should I say, M-eight-fifty-I. That’s right. This is the all-new, 2020 BMW M850i Gran Coupe, the first ever example of its kind. It’s a big, long, luxury, sporty, coupey thing. And it’s gorgeous.

The BMW 8 Series 2020 range includes this new Gran Coupe body style, and also the Coupe and Convertible models. This particular model, the M850i xDrive Gran Coupe, is essentially BMW’s answer to, say, the Audi RS7. Or one of the many Porsche Panamera variants. Or the Mercedes-Benz CLS or Mercedes-AMG GT 4 door Coupe. 

Like those cars it has svelte looks, striking dimensions and a sledgehammer engine under its long, shapely bonnet. This is first ever 8 Series Gran Coupe, as it essentially stands in place of the existing, now defunct, 6 Series Gran Coupe. But it’s bolder, bigger and more brutal - just take note: this isn’t a full-scale ‘M8’ Gran Coupe. It has more of a luxury speed cruiser angle to it, arguably like a Mercedes-AMG CLS 53, not the full-fat AMG 63.

The question is, then, should you buy it over one of its established rivals?

Let’s figure it out together, shall we?

The flagship GAC M8 PHEV Luxury we’re reviewing lives in a strange corner of the family car market. It’s a people mover, but it’s priced like a luxury SUV, designed like a VIP shuttle and powered by a plug-in hybrid system that suggests someone, somewhere, had very specific plans.

It finds itself up against the fully-electric LDV Mifa 9 and Zeekr 009, while also circling the upper end of the Kia Carnival range. The latter of which has proven itself to be the default choice for families.

Which begs the question - who is the GAC M8 actually pitched towards? Families with older teens or ageing grandparents feel like a more natural fit than those deep in the child-seat phase, largely because the M8 prioritises space, comfort and efficiency over the usual kid-wrangling conveniences.

At the same time, its chauffeur-like identity hints at a broader, more commercial audience and one more focused on quiet efficiency and passenger comfort. What can be agreed is the real point of difference here isn’t packaging or versatility, it’s the M8’s plug-in hybrid powertrain, and the way it reshapes where a people mover like this sits within the broader electrified landscape.

Does that approach make sense once you live with it? Let's find out.