First Drive: The 2023 BMW M3 Is an Instant Legend

What's in a name? In a nutshell, history and expectations—and BMW's M-badged cars are chock-full of just that. Since the M1 was introduced over four decades ago, we've come to expect an M-branded ride to wield racetrack-ready performance for the road, expertly flanked by luxurious accommodations and state-of-the-art technologies. The M family has grown to include quite a few siblings over the years, yet the BMW's 3 Series cars discovered the sporty sedan sweet spot, and it's a tradition the new 2023 BMW M3 wears like a badge of honor.

There's good reason for the admiration: A straight-six engine, stick shift, and rear-wheel drive aren't just hallmarks of the M3; it's red meat to the sport-driving crowd and precisely what you get with the base model M3.

The ritzier BMW M3 Competition flaunts a slick 8-speed automatic transmission, more power, and optional 4WD—and the BMW M3 Competition xDrive deserves every bit of praise pundits have pronounced. On paper, at least, they're objectively better cars.

That said, I say: bah! The base model M3 is a pure and honest driver's car that taps into the legacy built by M3 legends such as the E30, E36, and E46.

In the Eye of the Beholder

BMW rocked the boat when unveiling its sixth-generation, four-door M3, known as G80. The bucktoothed grilles are a visual change of pace and exemplify the quote, "If you want to make enemies, try to change something," by our 28th president, Woodrow Wilson. Wilson was most certainly critiquing his day's political climate, yet we can apply that to the visceral reactions of auto enthusiasts and talking heads alike.

People fear change. So it'll be a comfort to many that aside from the grilles, everything else is as you'd expect from the German brand—offering sultry lines from head to tail and an aggressive posture.

There's no denying the new M3 face is bold, and it's a descriptor the typically mature-styled brand seems to be embracing, as seen with the Verde Mantis colorway shown here (available in the BMW individual program). Of course, there are far more subdued colors available, but if you're going to drive a sports car, why not make a statement?

For better or worse, that's exactly what BMW's current design direction seems to be doing.

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Since its introduction in 2021, the G80 M3 hasn't received much engineering TLC, nor has it needed it, frankly. New to the party is the Bavarian brand's curved infotainment system, featuring a 12.3-inch driver's display and a 14.9-inch infotainment system, joined together as one seamless panel on the dash.

There's also the brand's new iDrive 8 operating system, which boasts Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. That's a big step up from what we saw in the initial years of the G80 M3, but exploring the labyrinthine menus can be taxing. Luckily, the only two you'll need are the Setup and M Mode screens, accessed with buttons parked next to the shifter.

The rest of the accommodations live up to BMW's well-deserved reputation, with our tester flexing optional carbon fiber accoutrements speckled across the cabin and exquisite leather seating, available in several colors, including an eye-catching Fiona Red/Black leather option.

The driver and passenger bucket seats strike a performance balance, offering the kind of support any spirited driver would want. Better still, it doesn't feel like you're attempting to birth yourself from a BMW when exiting the vehicle, which can happen on more sport-aligned seating arrangements.

Three Pedals, a Stick Shift, and a Straight Six: Who Could Ask for More?

Balance is everything in motorsport, and excess is rarely a good thing. Under the hood sits a smooth twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-6 engine, producing a claimed 473 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. It's the right amount of performance that won't overwhelm or leave you wanting.

The torque-rich mill never fails to deliver, with all that lovely peak low-end power available at an accessible 2,650 rpm—meaning you don't have to reach for the shifter when passing at cruising speeds, and it speaks to everyday drivability. It's sensible and will plod along happily, though it lives for a good stomp of the accelerator on a winding road for some tail wagging.

What separates the base model M3 from the herd is its standard manual transmission, equipped with automatic rev-matching to aid downshifts, lending a hand to those that don't practice heel-toe shifting regularly. It all works best when you're at a spirited pace, where the high engagement point of the clutch leans into more aggressive driving. The quintessential rubbery-feeling BMW gearbox and lengthy throws reprise their roles here: You either love or hate it.

Grabbing a gear and hearing the yowling 6-cylinder tunes pumped into the cabin ramp up the drama and engagement. I know that what we hear in the quiet cockpit isn't the same note spat out of the quad-exhaust pipes in the rear, but it's like our relationship with exotic dancers—it isn't real, and I still wouldn't change a damn thing.

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Then there's the excellent ride quality, bolstered by electronically controlled adaptive dampers with three distinct modes: Comfort, Sport, and Sport Plus. At the push of a button, you can enjoy an M3 ready to apex any racetrack curve with precision but without beating you like a dominatrix over Southern California's abused tarmac. Comfort works as advertised and ticks the daily driver box nicely.

The chassis and electronically assisted steering react to your every input to make canyon driving near surgical, which is undoubtedly aided by our test unit's grippy optional 275/35ZR19 front and 285/30ZR20 rear Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rubber.

The only blemish is with steering feedback, which can be numb unless you're loading the M3 chassis on the brakes or through a corner. Again, things get better when the pace picks up. Interestingly, the same observations can be said of the brake-by-wire system. Dig into the sizable steel rotors, and you'll haul to a halt instantly, but the computer-aided feel can't match conventional hydraulic counterparts yet.

How Much the 2023 BMW M3 Costs

At $72,800, the 2023 BMW M3 justifies its price tag, which has grown by about 4k since its introduction in ’21. What you're getting with the base model M3 is a car that taps into the lineage of the legendary M3 before it, delivering that ultra-satisfying experience that can only be had in a rear-wheel-driven sporty sedan equipped with a manual transmission.

Now, couple that with a capable chassis that encourages you to push the envelope, and it's clear why the base model M3 is a love letter to the faithful: A driver's car.

[$72,800; bmwusa.com]