BMW i8

It’s quite hard to make direct comparisons to any direct rivals, for the simple reason none of them this side of the more expensive Honda NSX are hybrids. But the Audi R8 Sypder seems a logical car to line up alongside the i8, as it’s pretty close in price, and a convertible. When you look at the running costs for both, the R8 promises to hold its value a lot better, but it’s also likely to cost considerably more than the BMW to service, maintain and repair. And it goes without saying the hybrid i8 will use a lot less fuel than a 5.2-litre Audi and the sub-50g/km emissions are much more tax friendly.

However, it’s worth noting the way you drive your i8 will have a big influence on your fuel costs. If you do a lot of shorter journeys, and keep the battery charged, your costs will be almost nothing. But if you’re using the petrol engine and depleting the battery, that will quickly rise.