BMW M has spent a long time mixing racetrack engineering with each day drivability. In 2025, the lineup ranges from V8 SUVs to four-door sports activities sedans — however which M automobile is essentially the most sensible, snug, and enjoyable to stay with every single day?
The Motorsport division began within the Seventies as a racetrack-only operation, however it rapidly grew to become answerable for injecting efficiency into BMW’s on a regular basis fashions. Classes from competitors — from suspension tuning and weight administration to braking methods and full engines — made their manner into highway vehicles. The end result was a lineup equally at residence on a morning commute as on a day of laborious lapping on the native Rennstrecke.
That’s at all times been the purpose: a BMW M3 or M5 was meant to be pushed each day, not simply saved for weekends. In some ways, they continue to be a number of the greatest “one-car options” you should buy. However with right now’s vary of M fashions — and extra electrical choices on the horizon — which one actually makes the very best each day driver?
What Makes a Good Each day Driver?
Whereas particular person use instances for vehicles are as assorted because the folks driving them, there are a couple of standards we predict any good each day must be judged on. First is consolation, through which we’ll embrace expertise and creature comforts. What this may be boiled right down to is, basically, no track-focused M vehicles. Suppose 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 each day drivers ought to have 4 seats and a usable trunk, too — which doesn’t get rid of something within the present BMW M lineup. Lastly, good dailies must be quick and enjoyable, two extra standards that each M automobile on sale right now obtain.
Good each day drivers are, ideally, additionally pretty gentle on fuel consumption. Whereas few present M Collection autos are what we’d name gas 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 besides. So, we’ll drop them from the operating. That’s to not say they gained’t work as an amazing each day — significantly when you occur to personal a non-public oil discipline or plenty of XON — however for “total greatest each day,” we predict 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 gas financial system —12 mpg metropolis/14 mixed. And the XM — though we doubt that was topping anybody’s record within the first place.
What’s the Finest M Automotive to Each 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, the very best M each day driver is basically as much as what you want. We predict the greatest each day driver ought to have 4 doorways, simply in case it’s worthwhile to deliver a couple of further folks with you (or pets). So, that additional pares down the lineup to…the M3 and the M8. For the reason that M3 is half round half the worth, we predict it’s clearly the very best M automobile to drive every single day. Being inexpensive has all types of fringe advantages, together with optics, decrease restore prices, and ease of substitute. If you may get it, the BMW M3 Touring is much more admirable as a each day driver, due to its added cargo area.
The As soon as and Future King?
Whereas the M3 being the very best M each 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 compelled our hand. Its greater floor clearance and considerably higher cargo area would’ve made it a transparent alternative over the M3, at the very least for consumers prepared 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 to your life-style — 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 automobile each day driver royalty.
