Whenever the letter M and the number 3 are together on a model badge the driver can expect a great experience, and that's true once again for the 2022 BMW M3 sedan. Sure, it might get ridiculed for its overwrought, oversize grille, but row its satisfying manual gearbox or chase its silky six-cylinder to the redline and the styling stigma is forgotten. The standard 473-hp M3 is the purist's M3 because rear-wheel drive and a stick-shift are mandatory. If quicker lap times are more important, the Competition model has an enhanced twin-turbo straight-six with 503 horsepower and a track-tuned chassis.
It only comes with an automatic, but it's also the only way to add all-wheel drive. When the track day is done, the furious Bimmer can transform back into a tranquil daily driver. Too bad its busy digital gauges and excessive drive-mode adjustments can kill the mood. As impressive as the 2020 M3 is, both the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing are better at entertaining our lizard brain, so this Bimmer falls just short of being the ultimate driving machine.
Engine Performance
As with the new M4 coupe, the M3 sedan features a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six. The normal version sends 473 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels. A six-speed manual is the only transmission offered. The M3 Competition's engine is even more powerful, generating 503 horses and 479 pound-feet, but it's only offered with the eight-speed automatic. The M3 Comp comes standard with rear-wheel drive, but it's also available with an all-wheel-drive system that includes a rear-drive mode. Every M3 also features adaptive dampers and adjustable brake-pedal feel.
The sedan can be outfitted with even stronger carbon-ceramic brakes, too, which feature cool gold-painted calipers. Our first drive of the regular M3 and the Competition variant showcased their ability to pull off lurid drifts, which were encouraged by the optional M Drift Analyzer (part of the M Drive professional package). We also fell in love with the satisfying shifts of the manual gearbox, and we were just as pleased with the engine's tenacious acceleration. However, when compared to the raucous Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, the M3 doesn't immerse the driver quite as much.
Fuel Economy
The 2022 M3 sedan is rated at up to 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. Adding all-wheel drive lowers its highway estimate to 22 mph. Once we run one on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, we can't evaluate its real-world mpg. For more information about the M3's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.
Interior Design
Besides unique "M" badging and distinct trim details, the M3 interior is basically the same as the regular 3-series. That means the M3 has the same design, passenger space, and outward visibility as its more pedestrian counterpart. While M cars are known for their heartier performance, they also meet or exceed the materials and build quality of the top-of-the-line 3-series. Of course, the M3 has more carbon-fiber and microsuede accents for a racier aesthetic.
The driver faces a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster that will switch to M View in the sportier drive modes; they are activated via prominent red buttons on the M3's chunky steering wheel. Switching to M View adds a shift indicator and replaces the regular tachometer with one that's easier to read. A set of heavily bolstered, lightweight front seats are available (standard on the Competition) and provide incredible support without sacrificing much comfort, although that might not ring true on long road trips.
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