BMW M3 - Review, Specs, Pricing, Features, Videos and More
Pros | Sweet balance, available AWD or manual, still comfy on the daily |
Cons | That face, manual is AWD and base engine only, inconsistent steering feel |
Bottom Line | The BMW M3 is another quick four-door that does it all, if you can get past that nose. |
Table of contents
BMW M Track Test
Located about a half-hour from Penticton, the Main Circuit at Area 27 Motorsports Park is a seamless ribbon of pavement curvaceously draped over rolling hillsides surrounded by open skies and fields and a 360-degree view of the mountainous BC horizon largely uncluttered by signage and guardrails and infrastructure.
Paved in a continuous pass, there aren’t even any seams in the asphalt—not on the half-mile straight, not on the 357 feet of elevation change per lap, and not on any of the 16 corners. One of those corners is a tricky double-apex deal (one apex is blind!) with a quick undulation separating the two and offering to rapidly lighten the rear of your car mid-corner to giggle-eliciting effect.
2021 BMW M3 Review: More Pedals Equal More Fun
I swear, I’m not a manual transmission evangelist, but the 2021 BMW M3 makes it hard not to be.
For the vast majority of modern road cars—and crucially, the people who use them—the manual isn’t necessary. Imagine a luxury crossover with a three-pedal setup. Or what about a Rolls-Royce? Think how incredibly gauche that would be.
Not the case with this latest M3. BMW’s venerable fast four-door is as natural a three-pedal match as Bill Murray is to a Wes Anderson film. Yes, you can get it in M3 Competition form, with more power and an automatic transmission to harness it (and soon xDrive AWD, too). That’s all well and good, but I’m here to tell you that the best flavor of M3 is the base one.
Detailed Specs
| Price | $72,800 - $80,800 |
| Engine | 3.0-liter turbo 6-cylinder |
| Power | 473–503 hp |
| Torque | 406–479 lb-ft |
| Drivetrain | RWD / AWD |
| Transmission | 6MT / 8AT |
| Fuel Economy (city/hwy) | 16 mpg / 22–23 mpg |
| Cargo Capacity | 13.0 cu ft |
Our Final Verdict
BMW M3
Overall | 3.9 |
| Performance | 9.0 |
| Features | 9.0 |
| Comfort | 7.0 |
| Quality and Styling | 7.0 |
| Value | 7.0 |
More by AutoGuide.com Staff
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