2021 BMW M3 Review

　　

2021 BMW M3 Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The BMW M3 has always been a hero car. It began with the original 1986 M3 that BMW built to satisfy the production-car homologation rules of a German race car series. Enthusiast buyers loved it, and have ever since. Flash-forward some 35 years and we've arrived at the redesigned 2021 BMW M3. Based on the latest 3 Series sedan that came out for 2019, this new M3 fits the more recent M3 theme: It's a practical daily driver with plenty of performance capability to support recreational track use.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 BMW M3 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$247/mo  for M3 Base

　　M3 Base

　　4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 6M) - $69,900 MSRPCompetition 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $72,800 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　Powering the standard M3 is a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder. This new engine is similar to the previous M3's engine but has been given a thorough overhaul. It produces 473 horsepower, which is a bump of 48 hp over the previous model. Stepping up to the M3 Competition increases output to 503 hp. BMW puts the 0-60 mph time for the standard M3 at 4.1 seconds — likely a few ticks slower if you opt for the manual — and 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds for the Competition.

　　Put your foot in it and the M3 becomes ridiculously rapid. Big speeds just ambush you. Any significant right-ankle extension has you riding ahead on a colossal wave of torque. There's heroic grip when going around turns too. Unfortunately, the steering doesn't provide as much feel for the road as we'd expect from a performance car like this.

　　And yet this new M3 is a major upgrade over the old one. It's outrageously fast, yet it also inspires confidence when approaching its limits and gives you plenty of sedan-based practicality. But competition is tight in this class. The Audi RS 5 Sportback and Mercedes-AMG C 63 are similarly capable, and Cadillac is back in the small performance sedan business with its CT4-V Blackwing. The M3 easily holds its own here, but you should also take a few test drives to see which high-performance four-door suits you best.

　　

Which M3 does zzdcar recommend?

If you still prefer your cars with manual transmissions, the base M3 is the only way to go. For everyone else, we suggest opting for the M3 Competition. It's only available with an automatic transmission, but it gets a bump in power and a wider array of options than the standard car for a relatively small jump in price. Either way, we suggest opting for the M3's Executive package.

　　

2021 BMW M3 models

The 2021 BMW M3 is available in two trim levels: the base M3 and the M3 Competition. Both use a new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder. It produces 473 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque in the standard model and 503 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque in the M3 Competition. Currently, all M3s are rear-wheel-drive. Starting in 2022, BMW will offer all-wheel drive for the first time in the M3. A six-speed manual transmission is standard in the sedan. An eight-speed automatic is optional on the standard model and the only available transmission on the Competition. Feature highlights include:

　　M3 Coupe

　　Comes loaded with:

　　18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels with performance tires Adjustable drive modes M Sport rear differential for improved traction Adaptive suspension dampers (adjust to improve ride comfort and handling) LED headlights Keyless entry with push-button start Leather upholstery Power-adjustable, heated front sport seats Automatic climate control Harman Kardon audio system Navigation system Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration with wireless connectivity Parking sensorsThe M3 also comes with:

　　Forward collision warning with pedestrian detection (alerts you of a possible collision with the car in front) Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)A handful of options are available on the M3. Notable picks include:

　　Executive package Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield) Adaptive LED headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves) Wireless charging pad Wi-Fi hotspot Heated steering wheel Power trunklid Sunroof (removes lightweight carbon-fiber roof) Ventilated front seats Carbon-fiber bucket front seats Carbon-ceramic brakes M Drive Professional package (includes Track mode as well as other performance displays and settings)Competition

　　Standard features on the M3 Competition mirror those on the standard car. Besides a bump in power, the M3 Competition includes:

　　19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels with performance tires Gloss black exterior trim including spoiler and exhaust tips Different seat beltsAdditionally, the M3 Competition is available with one extra package:

　　Driving Assistance Professional package Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Lane keeping assist (steers the M3 back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Front and rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is about to cross your vehicle's path)

　　

2021 M3 Highlights

Trim: BaseCompetitionBase

　　

Base MSRP	$69,900
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	19 MPG
Cost to Drive	$247/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	13.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles