BMW Excellence Continues In Their 2020 Model Lineup

BMW was always known as the ultimate driving machine. Their products gave drivers that extra bit of joy as they went around a corner or put their foot down. Sometimes this meant that other sacrifices were made, but they had an identity. Their 2020 lineup shows that identity remains, but perhaps isn’t quite as strong as it used to be. Many vehicles have made compromises to become bigger, more comfortable and luxurious. This is mostly true of their sedan options. What’s interesting is the strength of their crossover and SUV lineup. Strangely, these larger vehicles show a lot more of the BMW past ethos! That being said, the 2020 lineup for BMW remains incredibly strong and almost anyone could use one of their vehicles. 

BMW i3

Specifications: $45,445+ - 113 mpg equivalent - 181 hp

Review: It seems that designers of electric cars all got together one day and agreed that they needed to be quirky. The i3 certainly fulfills that requirement. That’s not to say it looks bad. The i3 is appealing on both the interior and the exterior. Unfortunately, the all electric range of 153 miles is disappointing compared to competitors like the Tesla Model 3 or Chevy Bolt EV. Charging can also be quite slow if you’re using a 120V connection. It’s also more expensive than either of those models.  Overall it’s a solid electric vehicle, but there may be better options on the market. 

BMW i8

Specifications: $148,495+ - 27 mpg - 369 hp

Review: First up, the i8 is one of the most beautiful vehicles on the planet. Perfect lines show off a wonderful hybrid sports car. However, there’s some flaws with the car once you stop looking at it (if you can manage to stop). Despite being a hybrid sports car, the fuel efficiency isn’t particularly impressive. Neither is the overall power. The interior can look a bit cheap in places. Cargo space is small and access to the cabin isn’t easy.  It would seem that practicality is sacrificed. Hold on though. The ride is friendly and forgiving and the seats are very comfortable as long as you’re not very tall. Drawing a conclusion, the i8 is a beautiful and flashy car that sadly has limited usefulness if used day to day. 

BMW 2-Series

Specifications: $36,295+ - 32 mpg - 248 hp

Review: If you’re looking for a sporty little sports coupe on a budget, then the 2-series may be a perfect vehicle for you. What’s more, the convertible provides just as much driving enjoyment with the option of top down fun. Both the turbo four-cylinder and turbo six-cylinder are excellent engines and give more than enough juice to this perky offering. If there’s issues, it’s within. Space isn’t particularly high. This applies for both passengers and cargo. Legroom in the rear seats is more on the theoretical side than actual. Despite that, it’s a fun bouncy car that would make almost any driver’s day!  

BMW 3-Series

Specifications: $41,245+ - 27 mpg - 255 hp

Review: The 3-Series has been the bread and butter of the BMW line for decades. Despite being an entry level luxury line, the 2020 version is the largest and most spacious it has ever been. Luxury features inside the cabin may confuse people into thinking they are driving the 5-Series. The 3-Series isn’t quite as fun as it used to be. That isn’t to say it has given up on being sporty, but there’s a couple of things. The exterior is a touch blasé and it doesn’t even have the option of a manual gearbox. 

BMW 4-Series

Specifications: $16,250+ - 34 mpg - 248 hp

Review: When it comes to a lot of two door coupes, size is a problem. The beautiful styling comes at a cost and the currency is headroom and cargo space. Somehow the BMW 4-Series has managed to reduce this. It’s got a lot more room than most 2 door options on the market. In addition it’s managed a nice balance of fuel economy with power. Sadly, the interior isn’t quite up to snuff in a few areas. It can feel a bit simplistic and obvious. The materials could be a bit better for a BMW product. 

BMW 5-Series

Specifications: $54,895+ - 30 mpg - 335 hp

Review: The perfect sedan for younger executives continues to evolve into something a little more grown up with each year. The 5-Series has always been known for incredible handling and a sport tuned suspension. 2020 marks a little bit of a departure. The 5-Series may have finally grown up. It’s traded in a bit of that driving passion for a bit more space in the cabin and lots of gadgets. There’s still plenty of powertrain options and tech options, but the downside is that many of the options are very expensive compared to some of their competitors.

BMW 7-Series

Specifications: $87,445+ - 25mpg - 523 hp

Review: When it comes to the large luxury sedan market, the 7-Series is certainly an option to consider. There’s a problem however. Gone are the distinct BMW driving roots and instead it’s more of a rolling luxury liner. I mean, it’s comfortable, but the ride is soft and steering input is lumpy and light. Despite the switch to luxury, some of the options can feel like a gimmick. So it’s not as sporty as it used to be, and while luxurious, it's not as luxurious as Mercedes or Audi counterparts. The 2020 7-Series is the rare BMW swing and a miss. 

BMW 8-Series

Specifications: $88,895+ - 25 mpg - 523 hp

Review: Whether you get the 8-Series in coupe or convertible, it’s going to provide a beautiful V8 engine with twin turbos. The ride is fantastic and road noise is nearly non-existent. The 8-Series is what a grand touring car should be. It’s elegant and it’s refined, while having the power to take you wherever you need to go quickly. Unfortunately, it’s just not as good looking as it should be on the outside. Compared to some of the Jaguar or Aston Martin grand touring options on the market, the 8-Series seems somewhat plain. 

BMW M2

Specifications: $59,895+ - 25 mpg - 405 hp

Review: If your only consideration is driving, then the BMW M2 is arguably the best choice in the entire BMW line. It’s hard to use words to really quantify how truly special it is. Steering is incredibly precise and almost intuits what the driver wanted. The ride is stiff and sporty without being troublesome. It may not have the most power of M cars, but it’s the most fun! There is a small downside though. The interior is somewhat basic and plain. It also doesn’t have as much room for driver and passenger as may be ideal. 

BMW M3

Specifications: $67,495+ - 22 mpg - 453 hp

Review: The M3 has essentially been unchanged since 2018. 2021 is going to release an all new M3 that is promising to knock driver’s socks off with a return to the pure sport roots of past M3s. The current version has plenty of power. The interior is basically a mirror of the 3-series, which isn’t bad, but could arguably be a bit more upscale for the huge price jump to an M3. While the M3 is still a blast to drive and toss around corners, waiting for the 2021 variant wouldn’t be a bad choice. 

BMW M4

Specifications: $70.145+ - 23 mpg - 454 hp

Review: When you look at the stats of the M4, you have to admit they are impressive compared to past versions. It has everything you could hope for power wise. Blistering acceleration in a straight line is the result. However, it doesn't corner like it should and the ride is surprisingly firm. Both the coupe and convertible versions are available. It’s a nice looking vehicle though and gives enough of a sporty upgrade from the M3 to make it worthy consideration. 

BMW M5

Specifications: $103,695+ - 21 mpg - 617 hp

Review: At times in the past, the M5 has been the best car in the world. Full Stop. The 2020 version isn’t a runaway winner in that category, but is at least finally back in the conversation. Driving one can remind someone of a Benihana restaurant chef. Power, speed and agility all melded into one with their knife. 0-60 mph can be as fast as 2.8 seconds. The top speed is limited to 163 mph because it needs to be. Drivers may not even realize how fast they are going with how smooth it is. The only downside is the exterior. It needs a little bit of M flair to what is a bit of a drab outer cover. 

BMW M8

Specifications: $133,995+ - 21 mpg - 600 hp

Review: Is the 8 series somehow lacking in power for you? Welcome to the M8. When the M division gets their hands on a vehicle you know it’s going to be something special. The M8 is responsive and beyond powerful. The transmission is superb and when linked to a 600 horsepower marvel like this one, really shows off. Despite all the power, the M8 is actually comfortable when you’re doing your daily commute. Some people might consider this car a thrill. But that’s only if you’re driving it. The outside is surprisingly demure for a vehicle like this. Also, when you rev the engine, it just doesn’t sound like a twin turbo V8. That sort of over the top wow factor you want in your six figure sports cars is missing. That being said, it’s a 600 horsepower two door BMW that you can enjoy anywhere, not just on a track. 

BMW X1

Specifications: $38,195+ - 31 mpg - 228 hp

Review: The X1 is an excellent compact luxury crossover. The four cylinder turbo is perfectly paired with the vehicle and gives solid fuel economy with enough power to never feel lacking. Despite being a compact crossover, it manages to provide plenty of space in the back for cargo and the cabin itself feels spacious. The X1 is truly a magnificent little vehicle that perfectly blends fun and efficiency. 

BMW X2

Specifications: $39,395+ - 31 mpg - 228 hp

Review: There’s not a lot of differences from the X1 to the X2. The X2 is intended to be a more stylish and playful counterpart. This does come with some compromises however. The handling is improved, but has resulted in a bit of a harsh ride at times. While there’s plenty of great technology, most are paid options, rather than included at base level. The X2 is certainly far from a bad car, but the X1 is already so good that it sometimes seems superfluous. 

BMW X3

Specifications: $42,945+ - 29 mpg - 248 hp

Review: Agile, Exciting, Fast. These used to be the first terms used to describe the BMW 3-series. Thankfully, they are still terms that describe the X3! Somehow, the history of exciting sports sedans that BMW cultivated has evolved into their crossovers and SUVs. 248 horsepower may not seem like a lot, but the X3 is on the smaller side and it’s applied to the ground effortlessly! If you really need more, the M40i trim can give you a 335 hp option for a little extra boost. 

BMW X4

Specifications: $44,9455+ - 28 mpg - 248 hp

Review: BMW’s coupe style exterior crossovers quite simply all look incredible. The X4 is certainly no different. For a larger vehicle, the fuel economy is quite good and it’s comfortable. Despite perhaps not boasting the most power, the X4 is remarkably fun to drive and has excellently tuned suspension. While handsome, the cargo space could be bigger with a full square rear vehicle. Overall the X4 is pretty good, but then, so are every one of BMWs SUVs and crossovers at this point. It lacks the one wow factor to make it incredible though. 

BMW X5

Specifications: $54,895+ - 22 mpg - 456 hp

Review: While the X5 has a third row, it’s certainly not intended for people of any size. The X5 also lacks Android Auto as an option. However, that’s the end of any kind of complaints! The X5 is a beautiful SUV built with impeccable BMW quality. It’s got plenty of power and driving feel. It may arguably feel better to drive than the current 5 series, which is certainly saying something. The X5 has three different trim levels before you reach the M trims. Just the basic sDrive 40i posts an impressive 4.8 second 0-60mph time. That makes it easier to stick to a less expensive trim and save a few dollars. 

BMW X6

Specifications: $65,295+ - 26 mpg - 335 hp

Review: While the X5 mixes class and sophistication, the X6 oozes confidence and excitement. The sloped coupe style rear screams “look at me” as it’s driving by. The downside to this styling is a decrease in space and cargo space. This makes the X6 a little bit less practical than the X5. The interior is also designed with more of a sporty flair for drivers. The X6 truly shows off what it means to be a crossover. It still has solid room and comfort, but offers the joy and excitement of a sports sedan at the same time. 

BMW X7

Specifications: $74,895+ - 21 mpg - 523 hp

Review: If you’re looking for a flagship SUV that somehow manages to maintain a lot of joy to drive, then the X7 is a great option for you. The X7 is dripping in luxury. Interior materials are all high quality and perfectly fitted. Options are everywhere and the exterior looks stately but exciting. There’s one downside to the X7 however. The interior space in the third row is definitely not for adults to sit comfortable. This makes it slightly more cramped than some competitors, but still a beautiful piece of equipment. 

BMW Z4

Specifications: $50,695+ - 32 mpg - 255 hp

Review: The Z4 is a beautiful looking convertible that manages to turn heads anywhere it goes. The Z4 took some time off, but it’s now better than ever and ready to get the Porsche Boxster nervous. While not quite as powerful or fun to drive, it comes in less than $10,000 cheaper than it’s main competitor. Despite only being available as a convertible with traditional soft top, the associated noise during highway driving isn’t anywhere to be found. 

All images are courtesy of BMWgroup.com