We have all heard the saying 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' at one point or another, and that idea holds particularly true in the automotive realm. Over the last century, so many cars have come and gone and been polarizing to one side or another.

Yet there have been some almost universal truths that most people have been able to agree on. For example, something like the Lamborghini Countach that almost no one has ever laid eyes on and had a bad word to say. On the other end of that spectrum however, we find a car like the Pontiac Aztek that was considered more of a punchline than a knockout. Somewhere in the middle of those two opposite ends, competing in the luxury sports sedan segment against the AMG C43 from Mercedes-Benz, and CT4-V Blackwing from Cadillac, we find the 2023 BMW M3.

Continuing The Tradition

2023 continues the sixth generation of M3, which began back with the E30 M3 back in 1986 (the current model is the G80/81). Over the course of that time, the M3 has built a reputation for being the ultimate luxury sports sedan, continuing to improve its performance year after year, offering more and more speed while simultaneously supplying plenty of posh materials and surroundings to allows its owners to feel like they are a level above the rest of the world.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions...

For 2023, the BMW M3 presents a couple difficult decisions for potential buyers. There are two primary trim choices that present two unique powertrains. Unfortunately, neither option offers up anything like the naturally aspirated V8 we saw in the E90 M3, but both options for 2023 begin with a very potent 24-valve twin-turbocharged and intercooled dual overhead cam inline-six cylinder engine that utilizes direct injection as well as an aluminum block and heads. That engine in the base trim puts down an impressive 473-horsepower at 6,250 RPM and 406 pound-feet of torque at 2,750 RPM. Opt for the Competition trim and that power gets bumped up to 503-horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, both at the same rpm respectively.Related: The Cadillac CT-4 Blackwing Gives The BMW M3 A Run For Its Money If you decided to stick with the base M3, that power is then routed through a traditional, and very satisfying, six-speed manual transmission and then on to just the rear wheels. However, opt for the Competition trim and those ponies then get funneled through an eight-speed M Tectonic automatic transmission and then on to either just the rear wheels or to all four corners by way of the optional xDrive all-wheel drive system. The problem is that you can't get the higher-powered engine with the traditional manual transmission, and you can't get the manual transmission with xDrive. Though, no one complained that the venerable E46 M3 only had rear-wheel drive. So which is more important to you? In either case the M Differential and Adaptive M Suspension that incorporates plenty of aluminum to help keep those optional 275/35R-19 front and 285/30R-20 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires planted to the tarmac.

M Power

In terms of performance, the M3 has almost always been the standard by which other luxury sport sedan manufacturers, like Mercedes-Benz, have judged their cars against, and for good reason - the M3 is fast. According to BMW's own tests, the base rear-wheel drive manual can run from 0-60 mph in just 4.1 seconds, while the rear-wheel drive Competition model can do the same sprint in only 3.8 seconds, and the xDrive Competition variant is the fastest of all, taking just 3.4 seconds to get to 60 mph. If you do opt for the xDrive, BMW was smart enough to offer up different driving modes to suit your particular driving scenario, allowing a choice between 4WD, 4WD Sport, or 2WD modes. Despite being a sedan, BMW has managed to keep the M3's weight down to a reasonable 3,890 pounds (which splits 53.1/46.9% front/rear bias) for the heaviest all-wheel drive version thanks to things like a carbon fiber roof and carbon bucket seats. Even fuel economy isn't quite as bad as you might think for a 500-horspower sports sedan, as the M3 posts a 16/23/19 city/highway/combined MPG. Of course, those numbers can drop precipitously if you decide to do a bit more spirited driving with your M3.

Related: This Is The Best Feature Of The BMW E90 M3

More Than Just An Engine

But the Ultimate Driving Machine has always been about being more than a stripped down bone-jarring race car. A luxury car, even a sport-oriented one, still needs to be luxurious. The M's interior is essentially is a slightly nicer and racier version of its lesser 3-Series siblings. There are sporty touches like micro-suede accents and carbon fiber bits to remind you that this particular 3-Series is the top-of-the-line variant, as well as a myriad of M-badges strewn about the cabin. The lightweight sport front seats are well bolstered and supply plenty of support for both the drive to and from the track, as well as while you're racing around it.

Luxury. Sport. Sedan.

The most noticeable interior feature is definitely the big and curved dash gauge cluster that sits front and center of the driver, while a large 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment center hands HVAC controls as well as the well-equipped 16-speaker 464-watt Harman/Kardon stereo system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard fair, which can be a positive or negative, as well as the My BMW App that allows you to start or unlock your Bimmer as well as remotely start your car (provided you have the Competition package).

Related: A Detailed Look At The 1995 BMW M3

In terms of safety technology, BMW has all the electronic nannies you might expect: lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, active blind spot detection, and active lane keeping assist all work in unison to help keep everyone safe.

Name Your Price

As with almost any BMW, the price range can vary wildly depending on how crazy you go with options. The base MSRP for a 2023 BMW M3 is $72,800, and that number can balloon up to nearly six figures if you decide to opt for the Completion model with xDrive, and then tack on the optional $8,150 carbon-ceramic brakes. It is also worth mentioning that BMW is celebrating their 50th anniversary of their motorsport division by allocating 500 limited edition M3 50 Jahre BMW M models to the US. If you can get your hands on one of those rare units, pricing begins at $96,695 without accounting for any potential dealer markup.

Beauty Or Beast?

We have managed to make it this far without taking a shot at the most controversial aspect of the latest M3, and we're not referring to the fact that you can't get a manual transmission with the Competition model. No, the biggest talking point surrounding the M3 seems to revolve around the polarizing styling, and specifically, its front double-kidney grill. Sure, from some angles it reminds us of our dad talking about how the old Ford Edsel used to "look like it was sucking a lemon", but that doesn't seem quite right. Perhaps it's the colorful paint choices, or the more aggressive hood for 2023, but truth be told, the M3's looks are growing on us. So while the newest M3 is not quite the sultry vixen that the Countach was, it also isn't the rolling goblin that the Aztek was either. So it seems beauty continues to be in the eye of the beholder, and we think whether you are the holder of the keys to those 500-horsepower or not, will probably greatly influence your opinion.