Arduous 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 automobile, and thus, little adjustments for the 2026 mannequin 12 months. With an increase in MSRP comes extra normal working gear, although. The 2026 BMW M3 good points a heated steering wheel as normal, and Competitors fashions additionally get distant begin normal. Oh, and BMW’s on-line configurator now exhibits some examples of what’s attainable via 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 buy is the BMW M3 Competitors xDrive. It’s the all-wheel drive mannequin and might speed up from zero to 60 mph in underneath three seconds. Or, at the least 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 endure with “simply” 473 horsepower. Whereas the 50-horsepower hole would possibly sound like so much on paper, we doubt you’ll discover. Particularly when you 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 anticipate the 2026 BMW M3 to carry out identically to final 12 months’s mannequin. However, technically, the EPA hasn’t examined the automobile but, so these are estimates. M3 fashions outfitted with xDrive fare the worst in gasoline financial system; they achieved simply 16 mpg metropolis and 23 mpg freeway for a mixed 18 mpg. Rear-wheel drive fashions do just one mpg total higher. It’s secure to name this one a tie. Moreover, who’s shopping for an M3 for the gasoline financial system numbers? Optimistically, anticipate round 300 miles per full tank of fuel.
Inside and Cargo House
The 2026 BMW M3, like its predecessors, combines motorsport really feel with luxurious touches. The result’s a cabin that’s typically snug, though we suggest sampling the depraved cool, depraved costly carbon fiber bucket seats earlier than making a dedication to reside with them. With solely three trim decisions — carbon fiber and two completely different aluminum seems to be — there’s frankly little option to make previous coloration and whether or not or not you need the extra Full leather-based choice, which provides leather-based underneath the steering wheel and a leather-based glovebox. Reminder: no ventilated seats for individuals who go for carbon buckets.
Trunk house within the BMW M3 is nice, permitting the automobile to reside as much as its fame for being as usable a day by day driver as it’s weapons-grade canyon-carving machine. With 16.9 cubic ft of trunk house, you’ll take pleasure in 5 cubic ft greater than drivers of the Mercedes C-Class and 4 extra ft relative to Audi A4 drivers. Not dangerous, particularly contemplating these fold-down rear seats for additional house. The backseats, whereas shy of spacious, are lots snug 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 Package deal sees a considerable value lower (from $1,600 to $1,100), making it extra worthwhile than ever. Whereas there’s a little bit de-contenting (since a few of the stuff is now normal gear), the essential issues — head-up show and full LED headlights — are properly value shelling out for. As typical, the M3 comes with wi-fi Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, built-in navigation, app integration, and entire mess of different expertise.
Security and Driver Help Options
The $800 Parking Help Package deal stays a great worth on the 2026 BMW M3. It provides a surround-view digital camera system and self-parking for automobiles with an computerized transmission. Additionally, a useful Drive Recorder that means that you can, properly, document your drives. The Driving Help Skilled Package deal prices $1,700 however is an effective add for those who spend time in site 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 so much extra expnsive this 12 months. The manual-equipped M3 begins at $79,575. Computerized rear-driven automobiles 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 exhausting to argue it’s a foul worth. Illustrating the grim state of the efficiency sedan market, even the Competitors fashions have few actual rivals. Potential options embody the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, four-cylinder and AWD-only Mercedes-Benz AMG C63, and the fascinating, 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 automobile and preserving prices down. With out over editorializing, the handbook transmission is a severely endangered species that provides the trendy M3 a significantly extra particular edge over rivals than it has in generations previous. After all, 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.
