BMW M has spent many years mixing racetrack engineering with day by day drivability. In 2025, the lineup ranges from V8 SUVs to four-door sports activities sedans — however which M automotive is essentially the most sensible, snug, and enjoyable to reside with day by day?
The Motorsport division began within the Nineteen Seventies as a racetrack-only operation, but it surely rapidly grew to become answerable for injecting efficiency into BMW’s on a regular basis fashions. Classes from competitors — from suspension tuning and weight administration to braking techniques and whole engines — made their method into street vehicles. The end result was a lineup equally at house on a morning commute as on a day of exhausting lapping on the native Rennstrecke.
That’s all the time been the purpose: a BMW M3 or M5 was meant to be pushed day by day, not simply saved for weekends. In some ways, they continue to be a few of the finest “one-car options” you should purchase. However with as we speak’s vary of M fashions — and extra electrical choices on the horizon — which one really makes the very best day by day driver?
What Makes a Good Every day Driver?
Whereas particular person use circumstances for vehicles are as various because the folks driving them, there are a couple of standards we predict any good day by day must be judged on. First is consolation, wherein we’ll embody expertise and creature comforts. What this may be boiled all the way down to is, basically, no track-focused M vehicles. Assume particular editions that deliberately eschew facilities (like an armrest, for instance) in pursuit of efficiency. So, most CS and CSL/GTS choices are off the desk. All good day by day drivers ought to have 4 seats and a usable trunk, too — which doesn’t remove something within the present BMW M lineup. Lastly, good dailies must be quick and enjoyable, two extra standards that each M automotive on sale as we speak obtain.
Good day by day drivers are, ideally, additionally pretty mild on fuel consumption. Whereas few present M Sequence automobiles are what we’d name gasoline sippers, we do assume this sadly removes the extra ludicrous V8-powered fashions. For instance, the X5 M and X6 M, whereas prodigiously highly effective, obtain simply 13 mpg within the metropolis. Even the M8 does higher than that, all whereas providing higher dynamics in addition. So, we’ll drop them from the working. That’s to not say they received’t work as a terrific day by day — notably when you occur to personal a non-public oil area or numerous XON — however for “general finest day by day,” we predict the reply lies elsewhere. Whereas there’s an asterisk, since they’re hybrids, this additionally eliminates the M5 Touring and M5 Sedan. Each return equally pathetic gasoline economic system —12 mpg metropolis/14 mixed. And the XM — though we doubt that was topping anybody’s checklist within the first place.
What’s the Finest M Automotive to Every day Drive?
So, we’ve narrowed issues down a bit, however we’re nonetheless nowhere shut. With little different separating a lot of the remaining lineup, the very best M day by day driver is essentially as much as what you want. We predict the finest day by day driver ought to have 4 doorways, simply in case it’s good to deliver a couple of additional folks with you (or pets). So, that additional pares down the lineup to…the M3 and the M8. Because the M3 is half round half the value, we predict it’s clearly the very best M automotive to drive day by day. Being inexpensive has all types of fringe advantages, together with optics, decrease restore prices, and ease of substitute. If you will get it, the BMW M3 Touring is much more admirable as a day by day driver, because of its added cargo house.
The As soon as and Future King?
Whereas the M3 being the very best M day by day driver is a little bit of a foregone conclusion, issues may’ve been completely different. If the BMW X3 M was nonetheless in manufacturing, it will’ve pressured our hand. Its larger floor clearance and considerably better cargo house would’ve made it a transparent selection over the M3, no less than for consumers prepared to sacrifice a pound of efficiency for an oz. of utility. The X3 M is now rumored to return as an EV, and — assuming an EV works on your way of life — we may think about writing a really completely different article subsequent time round. We’ll have to attend and see. Till then, the M3 continues to reign supreme as M automotive day by day driver royalty.
