Laborious to imagine it, however the G80 M3 is now in now properly previous its half-life. Final yr BMW introduced a slew of modifications to the automotive, and thus, little modifications for the 2026 mannequin yr. With an increase in MSRP comes extra normal operating 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 reveals some examples of what’s doable by way of 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 purchase 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 Automotive and Driver examined did. With 523 horsepower on faucet, xDrive fashions are additionally essentially 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 may sound like quite a bit on paper, we doubt you’ll discover. Particularly for those who go for a guide transmission, which retains prices decrease and is significantly extra thrilling to drive.
2026 BMW M3 Gasoline Economic system and MPG
With no mechanical modifications, we anticipate the 2026 BMW M3 to carry out identically to final yr’s mannequin. However, technically, the EPA hasn’t examined the automotive but, so these are estimates. M3 fashions outfitted with xDrive fare the worst in gas financial system; they achieved simply 16 mpg metropolis and 23 mpg freeway for a mixed 18 mpg. Rear-wheel drive fashions do only one mpg total higher. It’s protected to name this one a tie. In addition to, who’s shopping for an M3 for the gas financial system numbers? Optimistically, anticipate round 300 miles per full tank of fuel.
Inside and Cargo Area
The 2026 BMW M3, like its predecessors, combines motorsport really feel with luxurious touches. The result’s a cabin that’s usually snug, though we advocate sampling the depraved cool, depraved costly carbon fiber bucket seats earlier than making a dedication to reside with them. With solely three trim selections — carbon fiber and two totally different aluminum appears to be like — there’s frankly little option to make previous coloration and whether or not or not you need the extra Full leather-based possibility, which provides leather-based underneath the steering wheel and a leather-based glovebox. Reminder: no ventilated seats for many who go for carbon buckets.
Trunk house within the BMW M3 is nice, permitting the automotive to reside as much as its popularity for being as usable a every 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 further house. The backseats, whereas shy of spacious, are a lot 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 yr’s mannequin. The Government Bundle sees a considerable worth lower (from $1,600 to $1,100), making it extra worthwhile than ever. Whereas there’s slightly de-contenting (since a few of the stuff is now normal gear), the necessary issues — head-up show and full LED headlights — are properly price shelling out for. As ordinary, the M3 comes with wi-fi Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, built-in navigation, app integration, and complete mess of different know-how.
Security and Driver Help Options
The $800 Parking Help Bundle stays a superb worth on the 2026 BMW M3. It provides a surround-view digicam system and self-parking for vehicles with an automated transmission. Additionally, a helpful Drive Recorder that means that you can, properly, document your drives. The Driving Help Skilled Bundle prices $1,700 however is an efficient add for people who spend time in visitors. It provides mostly-automated driving on highways. Normal 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 quite a bit extra expnsive this yr. The manual-equipped M3 begins at $79,575. Automated rear-driven vehicles begin at $83,775, whereas Competitors xDrive fashions begin at $88,875. As we mentioned final yr, there’s actually no direct competitors for the manual-equipped base M3. So, it’s laborious to argue it’s a nasty worth. Illustrating the grim state of the efficiency sedan market, even the Competitors fashions have few actual rivals. Potential options embrace the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, four-cylinder and AWD-only Mercedes-Benz AMG C63, and the attention-grabbing, however much less athletic, Audi RS5 Sportback.
2026 BMW M3: Our Take
As we expressed in our tackle the 2026 BMW M4, there’s a whole lot of worth gained by ordering the guide transmission automotive and preserving prices down. With out over editorializing, the guide transmission is a severely endangered species that offers the fashionable 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.
