Audi R8 vs BMW i8
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
The Audi R8 wins on money kept: 52% retained after three years vs 48%, worth about R 974 357 at trade-in time.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| R8 | i8 | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 3 500 000 | R 1 755 000 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 61 174/m | R 30 675/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 75% | 72% |
| Retained after 3 years | 52% | 48% |
| Value after 3 years | R 1 822 895 | R 848 538 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 1 677 105 | R 906 462 |
| Value after 5 years | R 1 237 702 | R 551 788 |
| Our tier | Luxury flagship & exotic | Luxury flagship & exotic |
Audi R8 →
Audi's mid-engined halo car shared its V10 with the Lamborghini Huracan and sold here from 2007 until production ended in March 2024. It earned a reputation as the usable everyday supercar. Used values hold firmer than mainstream Audis but sit well below the roughly R3.5 million the last V10 Performance cars listed for.
Known for: everyday v10 supercar
BMW i8 →
A plug-in hybrid sports car with butterfly doors, the i8 was sold in South Africa from 2015 to 2020 in coupe and later roadster form. Power came from a 1.5-litre three-cylinder paired with an electric motor. Values dropped steeply at first but have settled as it gains modern-classic status.
Known for: butterfly-door hybrid sports car
Common questions
Which holds value better, the Audi R8 or the BMW i8?
The Audi R8. It keeps about 52% of its price after three years against 48% for the BMW i8, a gap of 4 points.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The Audi R8 loses about R 1 677 105 over three years and the BMW i8 loses about R 906 462. Fuel, insurance and servicing can narrow or widen that, but the depreciation gap is the number to start from.
What do they cost per month?
On typical finance (10% deposit, 72 months, 11.75%), the Audi R8 runs about R 61 174 per month and the BMW i8 about R 30 675, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.