2024 BMW M3 Competition
You can order from the iconic BMW 3-Series in three different packages: fast, faster and, with the M3 Competition, supercar fast. They are all stylish, sporty and lots of fun to drive. The standard M3 had already taken things up a notch, generating an impressive 473 hp from its twin-turbo, 3.0-liter, inline-six engine. But the M3 Competition package boosts the numbers to heroic proportions. At 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, it will launch you from 0 to 60 in a mere 3.5 seconds.
With an eight-speed automatic, the Competition’s lack of a manual transmission—still available on the regular M3—might seem like an odd choice, but the logic is simple: today’s automatics shift so quickly that when using a stick even a professional racer can’t keep up. Customers have the option of rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. In my case, I spent a week with the AWD model and appreciated the additional grip it offered on wintery Michigan roads.
The M3 Competition stands out in plenty of other ways, starting with its distinctive take on BMW’s classic “double-kidney” grille. Massive intakes just below the bumper help the engine breathe while keeping it cool. A spoiler on the back of the trunk provides the downforce you need to keep the sedan glued to the pavement when pushing into extra-legal speeds. The cabin is, for the most part, identical to the base 3-Series—but for the addition of carbon fiber accents, premium leather and microsuede fabrics. A single digital screen covers about two-thirds of the instrument panel and the gauge cluster shifts to a more detailed M View, providing additional information when you switch to higher performance modes. One way to do that is by tapping the fire-engine-red buttons atop the center spokes of the chunky steering wheel.
The 2024 BMW M3 Competition is loaded with digital features, including the latest version of the automaker’s iDrive infotainment system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, as does a WiFi hotspot and a wireless smartphone charger.
While you may buy the M3 Competition for its performance, the sedan delivers a surprisingly comfortable ride when driven more sedately. That’s a bonus over more jarring competitors like the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. Equally astonishing is the fuel efficiency: an EPA-rated 16 city and 23 highway mpg with rear-wheel drive. You’ll appreciate the savings as the Competition doesn’t come cheap ($119,695) compared with the only slightly less powerful M3 ( $75,295).
