BMW i8 vs. BMW M4
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the BMW i8 and BMW M4 contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the BMW i8 and the BMW M4.
When we compare the BMW i8's and the BMW M4's specifications and ratings, the BMW i8 has the advantage in the areas of fuel efficiency and resale value. The BMW M4 has the advantage in the area of base engine power. Based on this comparison of the BMW i8's and the BMW M4's specifications and ratings, the BMW i8 is a better car than the BMW M4.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the BMW i8 loses 47.3 percent of its value and the BMW M4 loses 50.1 percent of its value. This means the BMW i8 retains 2.8 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the BMW M4.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the BMW i8’s base engine makes 369 horsepower, and the BMW M4 base engine makes 425 horsepower. The i8 is rated to deliver an average of 27 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 337 miles. The M4 is rated to deliver an average of 20 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 395 miles.This gives the BMW i8 the advantage in fuel efficiency and the BMW M4 the advantage in maximum range. The i8 uses electricity, premium unleaded, and the M4 uses premium unleaded.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
147500
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Hybrid Sports Cars)
143683
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Hybrid Sports Cars)
103800 - 163300
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
77650
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
94049
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
41350 - 500000
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
Price Range:
-
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Hybrid Sports Cars)
64084
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Hybrid Sports Cars)
58919 - 69249
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
1
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
53002
# Good or Great Deals:
0
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
50568
Price Range:
41508 - 59608
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
78907
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
29316 - 177099
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
54
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
44967
# Good or Great Deals:
8
BMW i8 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
8.0 / 10
Safety:
Not available
BMW M4 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
7.8 / 10
Safety:
Not available
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for BMW i8
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for BMW M4
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
11.3
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
4.9 - 24.7
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
4.719089694940832
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Hybrid Sports Cars)
4.7
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Hybrid Sports Cars)
2.2 - 22.4
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
4.68676251523383
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
2.1
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
1.0 - 21.6
BMW i8 Rankings
Not yet available
BMW M4 Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 39Ranking
1 out of / 23Ranking
1 out of / 23Ranking
1 out of / 1Ranking
2 out of / 3Ranking
3 out of / 39Ranking
5 out of / 23Ranking
6 out of / 23Ranking
6 out of / 23Ranking
6 out of / 13Ranking
7 out of / 39Ranking
7 out of / 39Ranking
9 out of / 39Ranking
9 out of / 23Ranking
12 out of / 24Ranking
18 out of / 39Ranking
18 out of / 23Ranking
19 out of / 39Ranking
35 out of / 39Available Body Styles
Convertible, Coupe
Available Body Styles
Convertible, Coupe
Available Drivetrain Options
Plug-In Hybrid
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
BMW i8 Trim Levels
Base
BMW M4 Trim Levels
Not yet available
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
369 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque:
420 foot-lbs @ 3700 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.105 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
425 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque:
406 foot-lbs @ 1850 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.103 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
1.5 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
3
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
26 / 29 / 27
Range (city/hwy):
304 / 337 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Electricity, Premium Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
3 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
6
Transmission:
Manual
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
17 / 25 / 20
Range (city/hwy):
269 / 395 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Premium Unleaded
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Parking Sensors:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Quad Seats:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Bench Seats:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Sunroof/Moonroof:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Parking Sensors:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Bench Seats:
Standard
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Sunroof/Moonroof:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Wifi:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Safety Features
360-Degree Camera:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Backup camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38.7 inches
Front Leg Room:
43.1 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
56.7 inches
Rear Head Room:
32.4 inches
Rear Leg Room:
28.2 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
49.6 inches
Cargo Space:
4.7 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
Not yet available
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
40.4 inches
Front Leg Room:
42.2 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55.3 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.1 inches
Rear Leg Room:
33.1 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
49.8 inches
Cargo Space:
7.9 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
91.0 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3501 lbs
Width:
87.3 inches
Height:
50.9 inches
Length:
184.9 inches
Wheelbase:
110.2 inches
Ground Clearance:
4.6 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
4110 lbs
Width:
79.3 inches
Height:
54.6 inches
Length:
184.5 inches
Wheelbase:
110.7 inches
Ground Clearance:
4.7 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
20.0 x 7.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
215/45R20
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 9.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
255/40R18
Exterior Colors
Brown
E-Copper Metallic w/ Frozen Grey Accent
Gray
Donington Grey / Sophisto Grey Metallic w/ BMW i Frozen Blue Accent / Sophisto Grey Metallic w/ E-Copper Accent / Sophisto Grey Metallic w/ Frozen Grey Accent
White
Crystal White Pearl Metallic w/ BMW i Frozen Blue Accent / Crystal White Pearl Metallic w/ Frozen Grey Accent
Black
Not available
Blue
Not available
Orange
Not available
Silver
Not available
Yellow
Not available
Exterior Colors
Brown
Smoked Topaz Metallic
Gray
Mineral Grey Metallic
White
Alpine White / Mineral White Metallic
Black
Azurite Black Metallic / Black Sapphire Metallic
Blue
San Marino Blue Metallic / Yas Marina Blue Metallic
Orange
Sakhir Orange II Metallic
Silver
Champagne Quartz Metallic
Yellow
Austin Yellow Metallic
Interior Colors
Brown
E-Copper Exclusive / Terra Exclusive Dalbergia Brown
Gray
Giga Amido
White
Giga Ivory White
Black
Not available
Orange
Not available
Interior Colors
Brown
Amaro Brown / Cohiba Brown / Golden Brown / Nutmeg
Gray
Silverstone
White
Opal White
Black
Black
Orange
Sakhir Orange/Black
