Exhausting to imagine it, however the G80 M3 is now in now properly previous its half-life. Final 12 months BMW introduced a slew of adjustments to the automotive, and thus, little adjustments for the 2026 mannequin 12 months. With an increase in MSRP comes further commonplace working gear, although. The 2026 BMW M3 positive factors a heated steering wheel as commonplace, and Competitors fashions additionally get distant begin commonplace. Oh, and BMW’s on-line configurator now reveals some examples of what’s doable by way of the Particular person program. The excellent news is that even in 2026, the G80 M3 stays arguably the efficiency sedan to beat.
2026 BMW M3 Engine, Transmission, and Efficiency
The quickest M3 you should purchase is the BMW M3 Competitors xDrive. It’s the all-wheel drive mannequin and may speed up from zero to 60 mph in below three seconds. Or, a minimum of the one Automobile and Driver examined did. With 523 horsepower on faucet, xDrive fashions are additionally probably the most highly effective. Rear-wheel drive Competitors fashions make do with 503 horsepower, and base M3 fashions undergo with “simply” 473 horsepower. Whereas the 50-horsepower hole may sound like rather a lot on paper, we doubt you’ll discover. Particularly if you happen to go for a handbook transmission, which retains prices decrease and is significantly extra thrilling to drive.
2026 BMW M3 Gasoline Financial system and MPG
With no mechanical adjustments, we count on the 2026 BMW M3 to carry out identically to final 12 months’s mannequin. However, technically, the EPA hasn’t examined the automotive but, so these are estimates. M3 fashions geared up with xDrive fare the worst in gasoline economic system; they achieved simply 16 mpg metropolis and 23 mpg freeway for a mixed 18 mpg. Rear-wheel drive fashions do only one mpg total higher. It’s secure to name this one a tie. Apart from, who’s shopping for an M3 for the gasoline economic system numbers? Optimistically, count on round 300 miles per full tank of fuel.
Inside and Cargo Area
The 2026 BMW M3, like its predecessors, combines motorsport really feel with luxurious touches. The result’s a cabin that’s usually comfy, though we advocate sampling the depraved cool, depraved costly carbon fiber bucket seats earlier than making a dedication to dwell with them. With solely three trim decisions — carbon fiber and two totally different aluminum appears to be like — there’s frankly little option to make previous coloration and whether or not or not you need the extra Full leather-based possibility, which provides leather-based below the steering wheel and a leather-based glovebox. Reminder: no ventilated seats for many who go for carbon buckets.
Trunk house within the BMW M3 is sweet, permitting the automotive to dwell as much as its status for being as usable a day by day driver as it’s weapons-grade canyon-carving machine. With 16.9 cubic toes of trunk house, you’ll take pleasure in 5 cubic toes greater than drivers of the Mercedes C-Class and 4 further toes relative to Audi A4 drivers. Not dangerous, particularly contemplating these fold-down rear seats for further house. The backseats, whereas shy of spacious, are loads comfy even for adults.
2026 BMW M3 Expertise and Connectivity
The 2026 BMW M3 will get iDrive 8.5, which is totally carried over from final 12 months’s mannequin. The Government Bundle sees a considerable worth lower (from $1,600 to $1,100), making it extra worthwhile than ever. Whereas there’s somewhat de-contenting (since a few of the stuff is now commonplace gear), the necessary issues — head-up show and full LED headlights — are properly price shelling out for. As common, the M3 comes with wi-fi Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, built-in navigation, app integration, and complete mess of different know-how.
Security and Driver Help Options
The $800 Parking Help Bundle stays a very good worth on the 2026 BMW M3. It provides a surround-view digital camera system and self-parking for vehicles with an computerized transmission. Additionally, a helpful Drive Recorder that lets you, properly, document your drives. The Driving Help Skilled Bundle prices $1,700 however is an efficient add for those who spend time in visitors. It provides mostly-automated driving on highways. Commonplace security options like blind spot monitoring, lane-keeping, and rear cross-traffic alert spherical are additionally good.
2026 BMW M3 Pricing
The BMW M3 is rather a lot extra expnsive this 12 months. The manual-equipped M3 begins at $79,575. Computerized rear-driven vehicles begin at $83,775, whereas Competitors xDrive fashions begin at $88,875. As we stated final 12 months, there’s actually no direct competitors for the manual-equipped base M3. So, it’s arduous to argue it’s a nasty worth. Illustrating the grim state of the efficiency sedan market, even the Competitors fashions have few actual rivals. Potential alternate options embody the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, four-cylinder and AWD-only Mercedes-Benz AMG C63, and the attention-grabbing, however much less athletic, Audi RS5 Sportback.
2026 BMW M3: Our Take
As we expressed in our tackle the 2026 BMW M4, there’s lots of worth gained by ordering the handbook transmission automotive and maintaining prices down. With out over editorializing, the handbook transmission is a severely endangered species that provides the fashionable M3 a significantly extra particular edge over rivals than it has in generations previous. In fact, we additionally perceive the attract of mashing the pedal and conjuring the growl-yowl-whoosh-snort of the S58 inline-six pulling to redline and shifting, placing you on a collision course with license-suspending speeds. The 2026 BMW M3 faithfully builds on a legacy of sport sedan supremacy.
