2025 BMW M3

Cars come and go, but the BMW M3 remains a pinnacle. Like the 911 is the archetypal Porsche or the S-Class is the embodiment of Mercedes-Benz, the M3 tells us a lot about the BMW spirit. There has to be speed, agility, quality, and technology. The M3 comes with it all.

Based on the 3 Series, the M3 is the fruit of BMW’s high-performance M division. A powerful engine is just the start. It also has its own suspension, stronger brakes, aerodynamic treatment, and range-topping equipment. What’s more, the M3 doesn’t have to be a weekend toy. It’s sufficiently comfortable and roomy for everyday use, and there’s plenty of tech for information and entertainment when the roads are clogged.

The rest of the superb 2025 BMW 3 Series lineup is reviewed separately.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of compact luxury cars, including the BMW M3.

The 3 Series generation from which this M3 is derived made its debut for the 2019 model year and all versions gained an updated operating system for the infotainment setup. Along more M3-specific lines, the top Competition xDrive model receives a boost of 20 horsepower, while every M3 receives redesigned headlights and new wheel designs. That includes the steering wheel, whose bottom is now flat, making it easier for drivers to slide their knees under. The hardcore M3 CS limited edition hasn’t made it into 2025.

We can see why the M3 Competition xDrive is a popular choice among M3 buyers — that ultimate grip and traction and extra power are a heady combination. Even so, this is a car for enthusiast drivers, and the base model’s manual transmission brings another level of engagement. And 473 hp is more than enough, we’ve found.

Despite a few other high-performance luxury cars, the M3 has no direct rivals. The Audi RS 5 Sportback is old and slightly less potent while costing a couple of thousand more. The two AMG C-Class cars from Mercedes-Benz either come in below the M3 in brawn and budget (the C 43) or appreciably above (the C 63 S E Performance). It’s a similar story with the Cadillac CT5-V and the CT5-V Blackwing.

Before buying a new M3 sports sedan, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Because it’s so desirable, the M3 enjoys above-average resale values. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The M3 has always been much more than a fast 3 Series. In our opinion, it’s one of the finest creations a car company has ever built. Anyone who loves driving needs to own one at least once in their lives.

The regular M3 is propelled by 473 hp going to the rear wheels through its 6-speed manual transmission. That sentence signals nirvana for a section of the driving enthusiast community. According to BMW, the sprint from a standstill to 60 mph takes just 4.1 seconds. Then again, BMW tends to understate and overdeliver rather than the other way around. Let’s just say it’s wonderfully quick. The Audi RS 5 Sportback (with 444 hp) and Mercedes-AMG C 43 (402 hp) have the advantage of a tenth or two, however. Not that it really matters. After all, it’s the way the M3 balances power with precise handling that seals the deal.

The M3 Competition ups the muscle to 503 hp, while the all-wheel-drive M3 Competition xDrive is boosted to 523 horses and hits 60 mph in a fleeting 3.4 seconds. These two come exclusively with an 8-speed automatic transmission. It is tuned by the M division, though, and has paddle shifters. The xDrive system includes a setting for rear-wheel drive and no traction control for some track-day power-sliding.

An M-tuned adaptive suspension is standard across the board, while the optional carbon-ceramic brakes can withstand all sorts of fast-lap punishment and are lighter than the usual metal parts.

Fuel Economy

The M3 achieves 19 mpg in combined city/highway driving or 18 mpg combined if it’s an M3 Competition xDrive model. Given the power numbers involved, we don’t think that’s a negative. The Mercedes-AMG C 43 (with all-wheel drive) returns 23 mpg combined, while the Audi RS 5 Sportback (also with all-wheel drive) runs to 20 mpg combined.

Although the overall 3 Series falls into the category of compact luxury sedan, each generation has been bigger than the one before. So, this M3 variant is relatively spacious. The rear legroom is 35.2 inches, which is pretty much as good as anything in this class. Behind the 40/20/40-split folding rear seats, trunk space measures a generous 16.9 cubic feet.

BMW brings a new steering wheel to the 2025 M3, a flat-bottomed type with a red marker at the 12 o’clock position. Having it wrapped in suede-like Alcantara material is optional. The M3 also has sport front seats (with the option of lighter, sportier versions) covered in standard leather upholstery, while there’s still a lot of the regular 3 Series in the cabin.

The quality of materials and how they’ve been put together is at the usual top-notch BMW level. The impressive Curved Display is a standard feature in the 2025 M3. It’s a frameless glass-covered unit housing a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and an expansive 14.9-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system, each with high-resolution graphics.

It’s incredibly subtle, but the 2025 M3 has received a visual change. It’s mostly to do with the headlights, which have been redesigned so that low and high beams are housed in a single unit. BMW also offers a new alloy wheel design with a bright silver finish.

The M3 sits low on its suspension, wearing aerodynamic additions for efficient cooling and downforce. It also has a carbon-fiber roof to lower the center of gravity and save weight (the enemy of performance) and an aluminum hood. Previous M3 generations were coupes until BMW created the 4 Series. Anyone looking for a 2-door M car should check out the M4.

Infotainment system
The 2025 M3 comes with the latest iteration of BMW’s well-liked system, known to geeks as iDrive 8.5. The standard navigation system includes BMW Maps, and the voice command feature can also obey spoken requests to open (or close) the sunroof, for example. We appreciate that BMW has refined the operating system to reduce the number of actions needed to access and change a function. Augmented reality (AR) also comes to the navigation feature, with superimposed direction arrows for help at things like confusing intersections.

Manual transmission
Science has progressed to the point of particle accelerators and gene splicing, and here we are still yammering on about stick shifts. Because it’s yet another way of engaging with the M3, putting more attention into the driving experience. And one thing we’re sure will never change is that the more you put into something, the more you get out of it.

Harman Kardon audio
There will be times when the M3 can’t make its own music, which is when we found this standard 16-speaker/464-watt surround-sound system becomes especially welcome.

All-wheel drive
A popular option with M3 buyers, xDrive helps apply the power to the road and provides confidence in tricky conditions. Naturally, this system has been tuned by the M engineers.

Carbon Package
This bundle includes carbon-ceramic brakes, an M Track driving mode with a drift analyzer and lap timer, carbon-fiber sport front seats, and a day’s high-performance driving tuition.

Parking Assistant
This optional bundle includes steering the M3 into and out of parking spaces, automatic reverse emergency braking, and a 360-degree camera system.

At its entry level, the M3 has a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine, developing a gorgeous 473 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque going to the rear wheels. In the case of the M3 Competition, it is 503 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. Those 503 horses are boosted to 523 in the 2025 M3 Competition xDrive with all-wheel drive. The regular M3 has a 6-speed manual transmission. The Competition variants come with an M-tuned 8-speed automatic.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

BMW’s new-vehicle and powertrain warranties last four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. This is typical among European luxury car marques. Roadside assistance is included for that period, with unlimited mileage. Scheduled maintenance is free for three years or 36,000 miles, which is not so typical.

Safety Ratings

The 3 Series (on which the M3 is based) hasn’t been fully tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), although it did take top scores in various impact scenarios. The car also earned a maximum of five stars overall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard driver aids include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.