BMW M has spent a long time mixing racetrack engineering with every day drivability. In 2025, the lineup ranges from V8 SUVs to four-door sports activities sedans — however which M automotive is essentially the most sensible, snug, and enjoyable to dwell with every single day?
The Motorsport division began within the Seventies as a racetrack-only operation, but it surely rapidly grew to become accountable for injecting efficiency into BMW’s on a regular basis fashions. Classes from competitors — from suspension tuning and weight administration to braking methods and whole engines — made their approach into highway automobiles. The outcome was a lineup equally at house on a morning commute as on a day of arduous lapping on the native Rennstrecke.
That’s all the time been the purpose: a BMW M3 or M5 was meant to be pushed every day, not simply saved for weekends. In some ways, they continue to be a number of the greatest “one-car options” you should purchase. However with at present’s vary of M fashions — and extra electrical choices on the horizon — which one actually makes one of the best every day driver?
What Makes a Good Day by day Driver?
Whereas particular person use circumstances for automobiles are as assorted because the folks driving them, there are a couple of standards we expect any good every day must be judged on. First is consolation, through which we’ll embrace expertise and creature comforts. What this may be boiled all the way down to is, basically, no track-focused M automobiles. Assume particular editions that deliberately eschew facilities (like an armrest, for instance) in pursuit of efficiency. So, most CS and CSL/GTS choices are off the desk. All good every day drivers ought to have 4 seats and a usable trunk, too — which doesn’t remove something within the present BMW M lineup. Lastly, good dailies needs to be quick and enjoyable, two extra standards that each M automotive on sale at present obtain.
Good every day drivers are, ideally, additionally pretty gentle on gasoline consumption. Whereas few present M Sequence automobiles are what we’d name gasoline sippers, we do suppose this sadly removes the extra ludicrous V8-powered fashions. For instance, the X5 M and X6 M, whereas prodigiously highly effective, obtain simply 13 mpg within the metropolis. Even the M8 does higher than that, all whereas providing higher dynamics as well. So, we’ll drop them from the working. That’s to not say they received’t work as an incredible every day — significantly for those who occur to personal a personal oil subject or a lot of XON — however for “general greatest every day,” we expect the reply lies elsewhere. Whereas there’s an asterisk, since they’re hybrids, this additionally eliminates the M5 Touring and M5 Sedan. Each return equally pathetic gasoline financial system —12 mpg metropolis/14 mixed. And the XM — though we doubt that was topping anybody’s listing within the first place.
What’s the Finest M Automotive to Day by day Drive?
So, we’ve narrowed issues down a bit, however we’re nonetheless nowhere shut. With little different separating a lot of the remaining lineup, one of the best M every day driver is basically as much as what you want. We predict the greatest every day driver ought to have 4 doorways, simply in case it’s essential to convey a couple of further folks with you (or pets). So, that additional pares down the lineup to…the M3 and the M8. Because the M3 is half round half the value, we expect it’s clearly one of the best M automotive to drive every single day. Being cheaper has all types of fringe advantages, together with optics, decrease restore prices, and ease of alternative. If you may get it, the BMW M3 Touring is much more admirable as a every day driver, due to its added cargo house.
The As soon as and Future King?
Whereas the M3 being one of the best M every day driver is a little bit of a foregone conclusion, issues might’ve been completely different. If the BMW X3 M was nonetheless in manufacturing, it will’ve pressured our hand. Its greater floor clearance and considerably better cargo house would’ve made it a transparent selection over the M3, a minimum of for consumers keen to sacrifice a pound of efficiency for an oz. of utility. The X3 M is now rumored to return as an EV, and — assuming an EV works in your way of life — we might think about writing a really completely different article subsequent time round. We’ll have to attend and see. Till then, the M3 continues to reign supreme as M automotive every day driver royalty.