Compare the2022 BMW M8VS 2021 Nissan GT-R

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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The M8’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The GT-R doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The BMW M8 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The GT-R doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The M8 has standard City Collision Mitigation, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The GT-R doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

The M8 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The GT-R doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The M8 offers optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The GT-R doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The M8’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The GT-R doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The M8 offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The GT-R only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The M8’s optional blind spot warning system uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. The GT-R doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the M8’s optional cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The GT-R doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The M8’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The GT-R doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

The M8 has standard BMW Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The GT-R doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the M8 and the GT-R have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

Warranty

The M8 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The GT-R’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The M8’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GT-R’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M8 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the GT-R.

Reliability

The battery on the M8 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the M8’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The GT-R’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 21st.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 1 place higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

The M8’s 4.4 turbo V8 produces 52 more horsepower (617 vs. 565) and 86 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 467) than the GT-R’s standard 3.8 turbo V6. The M8’s 4.4 turbo V8 produces 17 more horsepower (617 vs. 600) and 72 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 481) than the GT-R NISMO’s standard 3.8 turbo V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the M8’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The GT-R doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the M8’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The GT-R doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the BMW M8, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the GT-R.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the M8’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the GT-R:

	M8	GT-R
Front Rotors	15.7 inches	15.35 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the M8 has larger front tires than the GT-R (F:275/35R20 & R:285/35R20 vs. F:255/40R20 & R:285/35R20).

The M8’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GT-R’s standard 40 series front tires.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the M8 Coupe/Convertible’s wheelbase is 1.9 inches longer than on the GT-R (111.3 inches vs. 109.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the M8 is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the GT-R.

Passenger Space

The M8 Gran Coupe has standard seating for 5 passengers; the GT-R can only carry 4.

The M8 Coupe has 2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GT-R (81 vs. 79).

The M8 Coupe has .8 inches more front headroom, 2.9 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom and 3.1 inches more rear legroom than the GT-R.

Cargo Capacity

The M8 Coupe has a much larger trunk than the GT-R (14.8 vs. 8.8 cubic feet).

The M8’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The GT-R doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the M8’s power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The GT-R doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Servicing Ease

The M8 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The GT-R uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Nissan. J.D. Power ranks BMW 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 12% lower rating, Nissan is ranked 17th.

Ergonomics

The M8 has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The GT-R doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When two different drivers share the M8, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The GT-R doesn’t offer a memory system.

The M8’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The GT-R doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The M8 has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The GT-R doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The M8’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The GT-R has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The power windows standard on both the M8 and the GT-R have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the M8 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The GT-R prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the M8 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the GT-R can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The M8’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The GT-R’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the M8 detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The GT-R doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the M8 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The GT-R doesn’t offer cornering lights. The M8 also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the M8 Gran Coupe to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The GT-R doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

When the M8 is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The GT-R’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The M8’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The GT-R has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the M8 and the GT-R have standard heated front seats. The M8 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the GT-R.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the M8 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The GT-R doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the M8’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The GT-R doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the M8 and the GT-R offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the M8 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The GT-R doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the M8 offers an optional Active Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The GT-R doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The M8’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The GT-R doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The BMW M8 comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Nissan GT-R isn’t available as a convertible or sedan.