2021 BMW 3-Series

Certainly you have an opinion on the M3’s gaping snouts. Decide for yourself. 

Inside, the 3-Series has a low dash augmented by digital displays in front of the driver and topping the  center stack. A sliver of real wood or aluminum trim and a stretch of ambient lights dress things up while adding the illusion of width. The 3-Series is expensive, and yet it rewards with upscale touches inside that make it feel worth the hefty price. 

How fast is the BMW 3-Series?

BMW doesn’t build a slow 3-Series. This lineup boasts turbo-4 and turbo-6 engines with excellent performance all around. We haven’t driven the M3s yet, but the 3-Series cars for us mere mortals rate 8 out of 10 on account of good handling, composed rides, and underhood thrust.

The gateway to the range is the 330i with its 255-hp turbo-4, which hustles power rearward or to all four corners through an 8-speed automatic. The intriguing new 330e starts with that engine and adds an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery for a combined output of 288 hp plus an EPA-estimated 22 miles of electric-only range.

The base 330i is plenty quick for most drivers, with 0-60 mph zips in around 5.5 seconds—that was M3 territory not very long ago. We haven’t driven a 330e yet, but experience with this engine in the X3 bodes well for acceleration plus the ability to hang onto electric charge for when you can best use it, such as for a high-traffic, low-speed part of your commuting slog.

The M340i swaps in a 3.0-liter turbo-6 good for 382 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque, again hustled to the rear or all four wheels through an 8-speed automatic. This engine provides masterful grunt and composure. It’s a gem, and it can hustle the all-wheel-drive version to 60 mph in a tick over four seconds. 

The M3 soars to performance heights with a 473-hp twin-turbo-6—tuned to 503 hp in Competition form. It's capable of 0-60 mph times of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph.

Handling is excellent. Underneath, you’ll find a double-joint front strut setup and a five-link rear-end. We’ve largely driven cars with the optional adaptive dampers and the M Sport setup, which results in a lower ride height and sportier tires. The more commonly-ordered base setup is plenty compliant.

One recommendation: swap out the all-season run-flat tires BMW makes standard for the optional conventional tires, which both ride better and provide more winding road grip.

The M3 exudes even more driving confidence with its standard 6-speed manual transmission, but the optional Competition package only gets an 8-speed paddle-shifted automatic. It's up to the task of making the most of the sophisticated suspension (with standard adaptive damping), a limited-slip differential, and launch control. The M3's handling nears brilliance; it's exceptionally poised in terms of ride quality and road grip, even if the steering's less sharp than expected. A brake-by-wire setup could use more progressive feedback, too; carbon-ceramic brakes are a hefty $8,150 option but will likely prove their worth on track. The M Driver’s Package ups the car’s top speed and includes a day-long driving school at a BMW Performance Center. 

Cargo space is good at 17 cubic feet, and the 40/20/40 split-folding rear seatback makes the 3-Series a viable SUV-rival in terms of practicality.

The 3-Series has a quality feel inside, and a wide range of color options ensures plenty of customizability. The M3 can be had with sensational and colorful leather, and with power carbon-fiber bucket seats that confine the driver in a very snug way. Test them before you buy, if you can.

BMW charges extra for adaptive cruise control plus tech that can allow for limited hands-free driving to help reduce traffic fatigue, though the features require adding a number of additional options that can elevate the price by a few thousand dollars. Additionally, the best-performing LED headlights are walled off in an expensive option package. 

What 3-Series makes the most sense for you depends on your needs. For most of us, the base 330i makes the most sense, though those with commutes might be able to justify the extra cost of the 330e given its 22-mile electric-only range.

From there, the 3-Series can get expensive quickly. The Driving Assistance Professional Package adds desirable adaptive cruise control and fatigue-reducing assistance tech, but it requires several other options that can push what was a $42,500 car to nearly $50,000. 

Once you’ve started adding performance options such as the Adaptive M Suspension or even the M Sport trim package, the M340i won’t be much of a leap, either. 

The M3 runs about $71,000 to start, or a reasonable $3,000 for the extra 30 horsepower and buttoned-down suspension in the Competition. Choose wisely, though, as the base M3 comes only with a 6-speed manual while the Competition swaps in an automatic transmission—and only the Competition edition can be configured with adaptive cruise control. 

How much is a fully loaded 2021 BMW 3-Series?

An M3 Competition with all the bells and whistles like matte finish paint, upgraded carbon fiber seats, driver assistance features, and more can run nearly $105,000.

The base 330i rates 6 out of 10 on our scale at 26 mpg city, 36 highway, 30 combined, figures dinged by about 2 mpg with all-wheel drive.

Meanwhile, BMW says to expect 75 mpg-e from the 330e, or 28 mpg combined. The EPA figures about 22 miles of electric-only range, which drivers can access at the tap of a button for lower-speed driving. 

M340i sedans aren’t all that thirsty for their power—expect as much as 32 mpg on the highway. 

The M3 has been rated at 16/23/19 mpg.

Premium fuel is mandatory.