This Luxury Grand Tourer Costs Less Than A Subaru Outback

A grand touring luxury coupe has always been viewed as a rich driver’s indulgence—long hood, wide stance, big engine, leather interior, and the ability to run triple-digit speeds all day without breaking a sweat—with not much value added to everyday use, but a thorough enhancement of long-distance driving comfort on smooth sparsely-populated roads leading from point A to point B. These high-priced luxury cars are engineered for distance and comfort, not curb hopping and paint-chipping gravel.

That’s not often what the new-car buyer is looking for, though, when everyday mainstream needs include shuttling the kids to school in a comfortable back seat and making it easier for them to get in and out. That’s where vehicles like the Subaru Outback crossover come in—parking-lot-friendly footprint, efficient engine, durable interior, and the ability to perform suburban chores from morning to dusk. However, if you’re looking for something more thrilling for your $50,000 outlay, here is the ideal Grand Tourer.

You Can Get A 2019 BMW M850i xDrive For The Price Of A 2026 Subaru Outback

The 2019 BMW M850i xDrive is subtle only where it needs to be. Introduced in 1990 as BMW’s flagship coupe, the 8 Series was designed to replace the 6 Series, and the two have traded off generations as BMW’s grand touring coupe. Wide, low, and unapologetically expensive, the V-8-engined BMW M850i is a flagship GT, built to cruise effortlessly at speed while isolating its occupants from the outside world.

According to trusted valuation sources, average transaction prices for a 2019 BMW M850i xDrive run in the $40,000s, depending on mileage and condition. That’s a staggering fall from its original MSRP, which hovered around the $112,000 mark, but today makes it a crosshairs option for buyers looking to shop in the range of a 2026 Subaru Outback, whose MSRP tops out at $47,995.

The 2019 BMW M850i xDrive Has Depreciated Into Mainstream Midsize Crossover Territory

Introduced with some needless but fun features, the 2019 BMW M850i xDrive carried an MSRP north of $110,000 depending on options and bodystyle—the coupe started at just under $112,000 and the convertible at about $121,500. Fast-forward, letting depreciation do the heavy lifting (to the tune of over 60 percent over seven years), and the current KBB Fair Purchase Price is estimated at an average of $42,400 nationwide for the convertible, and slightly more expensive for the coupe, at $44,000.

The 2019 BMW M850i xDrive Has Some Similarities Besides Price To The 2026 Subaru Outback

Though the top-end 2026 Subaru Outback costs about the same, you’re not going to confuse it for a BMW M850i xDrive, with the only common characteristics being a turbocharged engine and AWD. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. First, the M850i’s powerful V-8 engine is not about drag-strip bragging rights. It’s about how it makes the car behave at high speed, under load, and over long distances, and how that robust torque helps on-demand power, enhances acceleration, and keeps sound levels low.

Comparing it to the Outback is like comparing apples to hand-crafted German knives. The Subaru engine is roughly half the size of the BMW’s in displacement, and half the number of cylinders and turbochargers. It’s not overwhelmingly more efficient, though, managing just four extra miles per gallon, combined, and estimated to eke out about 70 more miles per tank load (both can take on 18 gallons of fuel). The Outback, however, can make a beeline over unpaved terrain to cover the distance, whereas the M850i shouldn’t.

The 2019 BMW M850i xDrive Competes Above Its Price Bracket

The BMW M850i xDrive competes in a space that mainstream buyers never seriously shop because the car’s new prices are prohibitive. Although mainstream crossover buyers may consider going slightly upscale, they’re more likely to look at the BMW X1. The M850 is an aspirational vehicle that resides in the dreams of Aston Martin, Bentley, and Maserati. Even buyers willing to venture into the luxury realm aren’t likely to seriously consider cars at the prestige end of the spectrum.

Even though it is the flagship car in the BMW stable, the BMW M850i xDrive occupies the middle ground on the grand touring playing field, elevated beyond the likes of the BMW 4 Series and Mercedes-Benz CLE, but not quite to the refinement and exotic-ness of an Aston Martin, or Maserati, though it can certainly get there with some Alpina input. It also doesn’t chase the overt flamboyance of the higher tier of grand touring, wholly relying on restrained Germanic precision.

The BMW M850i Is Effortless In Its Performance

The twin-turbocharged V-8 of the BMW M850i delivers effortless acceleration, while the xDrive all-wheel drivetrain ensures stability in conditions ranging from dry and hot to icy cold. There’s plenty of power underfoot for high-speed lane changes, and they’re precisely executed. Highway cruising is eerily quiet, save for the rush of air at max speed (where allowed), and the car feels solidly planted in a way few mainstream cars can handle a 155-mph headwind.

2019 BMW M850i Performance Specs

There Are Discernible Differences Between BMW M850i Coupes And Convertibles

The BMW M850i coupe remains the enthusiast’s choice, and perhaps a better choice for long-distance high-speed motoring. It’s lighter, stiffer, and typically better valued on the used market than the topless model, and better represents the grand touring intent. Convertibles trade presence and, with very few exceptions, good looks with the cabin covered. The top workings add complexity and weight, which is the enemy of performance and efficiency (on paper, if not perceptibly).

2019 BMW M850i Spec Comparison

The BMW 850i: Then, Gone, And Back Again

BMW first introduced the 8 Series coupe for the 1992 model year, as a replacement for the smaller 6 Series. It was a technological tour de force—expensive, complex, and ahead of its time—and it sold accordingly, despite what many consider one of the better-looking coupes on the market (at the time and since). When it was removed from active service in 1997, it was itself replaced by the 6 Series, with the thought that a smaller, less expensive luxury coupe would be better received by consumers.

The resurrection of the BMW 8 Series for 2019 took on some neat features and a different philosophy, as it again replaced the 6 Series coupe, though this time around the 6 Series continues in the Gran Coupe bodystyle (BMW-speak for four-door liftback). The modern 850i was engineered to be competitive, profitable, and usable, though you could argue the same attributes were present in the original (despite its guzzling 5.0-liter V-12 engine and $78,500 price tag, which would equal about $168,000 today).

Real-World Sensibilities Highlight Wanton Desire For A BMW M850i, Not A Need

The new-gen BMW M850i is not cheap to live with, and especially so when you compare it to the mainstream 2026 Subaru Outback crossover. Despite having the same size fuel tank as the Subaru, the M850i prefers premium fuel for peak performance from its considerably larger engine, which means higher fuel bills. Maintenance costs are higher, and repairs, parts, and components are costlier; the whole BMW dealership experience is also more expensive.

2019 BMW 850i And 2026 Subaru Outback Spec Comparison

The 2019 BMW M850i May Be Out Of Warranty, But It Has A Bullet Proof Reputation

The good news is that the comprehensive BMW warranty covers absolutely everything for 48 months or 50,000 miles, with complimentary maintenance provided for the first 36 months up to 36,000 miles. The bad news is that even if the original owner had purchased the extended warranty (up to seven years or 100,000 miles), the 2019 BMW M850i is now out of warranty, though it is still protected for the next five years against rust perforation (regardless of mileage). The other bit of bad news is that this may be the last BMW 8 Series coupe for a while, maybe forever.

• Overall Consumer Rating: 79/100 (J.D. Power)
• Chance Of Major Repairs In First 10 Years: 44.08% (CarEdge)
• 2019 Recalls: 2

The 2019 BMW M850i Is A Flagship Luxury Grand Tourer Bargain, But There Are Choices

With 60 percent depreciation, the 2019 BMW M850i xDrive has become a great deal in the used car market, specifically for drivers who long for the comfort and solidity of a long-distance cruiser. It’s powerful, resplendent, and refined—all the great characteristics of a flagship luxury coupe—yet available for the price of the typical midsize mainstream crossover like the 2026 Subaru Outback.

There is no telling what the future holds for the BMW 8 Series, since the M850i is unabashedly old-school grand touring, when luxury coupes were big and brawny, but disguised both attributes through an athletic, balanced stance and a meticulous engine build. The M850i is fast without being sinewy, luxurious without being ostentatious, and now shockingly affordable. Still, if you want something a little more GTish or more exotic, there are options.

The 2017 Maserati GranTurismo Is A Gem Of A Grand Tourer

The Maserati GranTurismo is one of those overlooked gems, primarily because few people even know about the marque. Maserati has had a working relationship with Ferrari for decades, when both were under the Fiat umbrella. Maseratis are known for their style and engine notes, and the GranTurismo is the classic grand touring coupe in form and function, and one of the prettiest cars on the market, though it does show its age inside.

2017 Maserati GranTurismo Specs

The Bentley Continental GT Carries On Bentley’s Grand Touring Legacy

The 2009 Bentley Continental GT carries on the Bentley Continental name, which has been around for nigh on 75 years, with engines supplied by various companies and coachwork from several British independents. Since the company was taken over by Volkswagen shortly after the turn of the century, the Continental lineup was resurrected as a touring sedan (Flying Spur), coupe, and convertible (GT and GTC, respectively), with the coupe holding true to its GT roots with unmatched presence and torque.

2009 Bentley Continental GT Specs

The 2008 Aston Martin DB9 Is A Classic GT With Big Engine Power

Brits love their grand touring automobiles, and Aston Martin has a long history of supplying substantial luxury coupes motivated by large, powerful engines. The 2008 Aston Martin DB9 (since sequentially succeeded by the DB11 and DB12, among others) provides one of the market’s great V-12 experiences, and one of the last grand touring models to hold onto the gas-guzzling engine. The DB9 is long and sleek, with the minimalist elegance and impeccable refinement that comes with hand-craftsmanship.

2008 Aston Martin DB9 Specs

Sources: Kelley Blue Book, the EPA, NHTSA