The BMW M3 is one of the most iconic sports sedan nameplates on the planet. The impressive engine, beautifully balanced chassis and suspension, and the excellent comfort provided by the M3 made it superior to many of the rivals of the segment. For the 2022 model year, BMW hasn't watered down on the character of the outgoing generations, making it still the go-to offering of the segment for gearheads.
Launched at a base selling price of $69,900, the 2022 BMW M3 does get a few notable changes from the outgoing model year. The xDrive AWD drivetrain can be had for an additional price and comes with the Competition trim with the automatic transmission. This is the first time the M3 lineup gets AWD drivetrain and that makes it even more special. With the rising competition from the likes of Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, here are 10 things you need to know before buying the 2022 BMW M3.
10 Straight-Six Engine Comes As Standard
Performance has always been one of the strong suits of all M3 generations, and the G80 is no different. The 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-6 engine producing 473 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque makes for an excellent driving experience, allowing the car to cover the 0-60 mph run in just 4.1 seconds.
The 2022 M3 is also the only offering of the performance compact sedan segment that gets a 6-speed manual transmission as standard. With the RWD drivetrain coming with the M3, you can expect some sliding action around the tight corners due to the low curb weight of 2,840 lbs and sprightly acceleration from the engine.
9 Beautiful Interior
The leather interior of the 2022 BMW M3 makes it elegant without compromising on the luxury factor. Get into this cabin, and the attention to detail on the dashboard and door cards with leather inserts with contrast stitching, beautifully crafted aluminum inserts, and many carbon fiber accents will leave you impressed.
The interior is plenty customizable, too, with more than eight standard color combinations with the extended Marino leather or the optional full Marino leather. The lovely leather-wrapped steering wheel with clicky buttons and the optional performance seats give the M3 more of a race car vibe. Get the optional Executive package, and you can get SensaTec dashboard, too.
8 Long List Of Standard Features
The 2022 BMW M3 comes packed with most of the features related to interior, exterior, and driver assistance. This means that you wouldn't need to shell out more money opting for the features from the optional packages that would further raise the price.
The interior gets M Sport seats that are heated, powered, and ventilated, split rear seats, heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, four-zone automatic climate control, leatherette interior accents, and an iDrive infotainment system. The 18" front and 19" rear double spoke alloy wheels, lip spoiler, LED headlights and taillights, and the quad exhaust system complete the exterior.
7 The M3 Competition Is Even Faster
If you find the regular BMW M3 to be a bit watered down and want an even fiercer moniker for not a lot more money, BMW has also brought in the M3 Competition. Launched at a base selling price of $76,600 for the RWD variant, the car gets an even more powerful tune, producing 503 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque.
Put your foot down from the standstill and the 2022 BMW M3 Competition would achieve the 0-60 mph run in 3.8 seconds. The year 2022 also marks the first year of the M3 with the xDrive AWD system, which comes only with the Competition trim with the automatic transmission. This makes it even faster in terms of acceleration and road grip, giving out a 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds, topping the charts.
6 Styling May Not Be Everyone's Cup Of Tea
The love-it or hate-it design of the new generation of the M3 comes with no changes to this 2022 model and that may be a dealbreaker to some. Though the design stands out from the front end, the massive blacked-out kidney grille is still one of the few polarizing aspects of this car.
If you get the night package, the 2022 BMW M3 comes with blacked-out exterior bits, making it a bit more aggressive than the regular M3. The carbon fiber package can be had for an additional $4,700. The massive wheelbase and length make it look like it's from a segment above and the side profile gets the fender vents and the beautiful double-spoke alloy wheels. The rear gets the sporty touch with the quad exhaust, air diffuser, and striking LED taillights.
5 Respectable Fuel Economy For A High-Performance Sedan
The fuel efficiency of the regular BMW M3 turned out to be in line with the rivals like the Audi RS5 and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. The M3 could do 16 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highways, and it has a fuel tank capacity of 15.6 gallons.
This helps the M3 to do close to 358 miles on the highways on a full tank of gas. However, the fuel efficiency sees a minor drop in the case of the M3 Competition. In comparison, the Mercedes-AMG C63 S achieved the highest combined gas mileage of 21 mpg, as reported by the EPA.
4 Decently Spacious And Ergonomic Cabin
The comfort and convenience factor isn't bogged down in the case of the 2022 BMW M3 and the occupants are going to have a comfortable traveling experience in it. The M Sport seats are supremely comfortable and offer excellent support. Even the rear seat could accommodate five passengers due to the best-in-class headroom and shoulder room.
The cabin is pretty versatile too, with multiple cubbyholes, a deep glove box, wide storage pockets on the door pads, and multiple cup holders and bottle holders. However, getting in and out is going to be a bit more difficult than the regular 3 Series due to the low height and ground clearance of the BMW M3. The cargo space of 13 cu-ft is adequate for the segment.
3 Excellent Infotainment System
The iDrive touchscreen infotainment system is the same as the 2021 M3 and comes packed with all the relevant connectivity and entertainment features. This includes Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM radio, navigation, and voice recognition.
You can also get the wi-fi hotspot connectivity, wireless phone charging pad, and gesture control from the optional list. The 12.3" digital gauge cluster displays all the information neatly, and it changes the themes when changing the driving modes. The Harman Kardon audio system offers a top-notch audio experience too.
2 Many Driver-Assistance Features Are Standard
The safety section sees no revamp when compared to the outgoing 2021 M3 as it retains all the bells and whistles. The standard features include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automated emergency braking, and forward-collision monitoring.
However, we would also recommend getting the optional parking assistance package for an additional $700 as it includes a surround-view camera system and a self-parking feature. The adaptive cruise control is an optional extra too. The 2022 BMW M3 offers solid build quality inside-out as well.
1 Superb Braking Hardware
The 2022 BMW M3 gets the same 15" and 14.6" ventilated front and rear rotors along with all the braking features like ABS with EBD, brake assist, and the automated emergency braking system making it very capable on racetracks and open roads. This also helps the M3 to do the 70-0 mph braking in just 150 feet.
If you want even better braking, BMW also offers quite a few optional upgrades. The optional M carbon ceramic brakes cost an additional $8,500 and that is going to please many of the folks who want to set records on racetracks.