10 BMW M3 Competitors

Even though the 2018 BMW M3 is a premium sport sedan endowed with 425 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque from a gorgeous turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine, some buyers seeking M3-style thrills and power may not need four doors. After all, most of us could be happy with a glorious amount of horsepower and handling ability in a compact car — and let any concerns over passenger or luggage space evaporate in our wake. Therefore, there are 10 BMW M3 competitors if we widen the net to include alternatives. 

It should also be said that the M3 is an automotive icon, a benchmark, and one of the most desirable enthusiast cars there’s ever been. These contenders have a similar appeal.

The Giulia is a direct rival with the advantage of fetching Italian design. The line-topping Quadrifoglio beats the M3’s power output with a devilishly captivating 505 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque from a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. It’s faster than the M3 in the sprint from standstill to 60 mph (3.6 seconds versus 4.1 seconds). And like the M3, it deploys rear-wheel drive, which is exactly how enthusiasts like it.

It also comes with a roof and hood that are made from carbon fiber, cutting weight and lowering the center of gravity for more precise handling. Color choices include a delicious deep red (Rosso Competizione) and it's priced from around $75,000; the 2018 M3 starts at approximately $66,500.

The RS 5 is all-new for 2018. Yes, it's a coupe, not a sedan. But it’s built for the same kind of driving thrills as an M3. A 2.9-liter V6 is turbocharged to generate 444 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. Standstill to 60 mph happens in 3.7 seconds.

Like most high-powered Audi cars, this one has all-wheel drive, but the company’s systems are intelligent and fast-acting. Under normal conditions, 60 percent of torque goes to the rear wheels, yet up to 85 percent can be directed to the front if required. It will even split power from wheel to wheel on the same axle. The result is a lot of grip. The price: about $71,000.

Successive generations of many cars become bigger and heavier. Not even the M3 has been immune. The 1985 original was a small coupe with 195 hp from a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. It might be hard to believe, but this car was kind of daunting at the time — but also loved because it was compact, light and nimble.

That’s why the current M2 is attractive: It evokes early M3 cars with its size and agility. It has a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine like the current M3 and can hit 60 mph in 4.0 seconds. The output of 365 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque falls short of its bigger brother, but it still has a healthy power-to-weight ratio. It's priced from $54,495.

Sometimes the only alternative to a BMW is another BMW. The M3 started life as a coupe before BMW renamed the two-door version as the M4, and there are plenty of purists who prefer their high-performance premium compact cars with only two doors. The M4, priced from $68,695, in a way makes more sense than an M3 because its ride height is fractionally lower and the track (the distance between wheels on the same axle) is fractionally wider, enhancing stability.

The M4 is also available as a convertible with a folding hardtop, but the purists will dislike that car’s extra weight. Even so, both body styles have the same engine, strong brakes, and well-tuned suspension as their four-door sibling.

This model comes as a sedan or coupe, priced from $62,950. Anyone who still thinks Cadillacs are big lumbering things should prepare to be amazed. The ATS competes with the BMW 3 Series and this V version is the high-performance candidate.

Its twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 has been upgraded with things like titanium connecting rods, and the whole setup makes a highly entertaining 464 hp and 445 lb-ft of torque. Zero to 60 mph happens in 4.2 seconds. An adaptive suspension is standard, and the six-speed manual transmission (don’t worry; there’s also an eight-speed automatic option) is tuned such that the driver doesn’t have to lift off the gas when shifting up.

If any premium Japanese marque can get close to BMW’s handling abilities, it’s Infiniti. The Q50 is its compact sedan (updated for 2018), and the Red Sport 400 (from around $54,000) sits at the sporty end of the Q50 range. With 400 hp, it’s shy of the M3 by only 25 horses, which isn’t that much of a handicap on public roads.

The twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 also produces 350 lb-ft of torque. That’s slightly disappointing, as the engine can surely make more. But hey, at least it’s super-smooth, and the actual driving experience is still fundamentally fun. All we’d say is don’t select the drive-by-wire option; it makes the steering too numb.

A Kia is hardly the most obvious alternative to a BMW M3, but stay with us for a moment. The all-new-for-2018 Stinger GT has received wild acclaim for its driving abilities, and reviews have been more than favorable regarding the rest of the car.

A turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 sends 365 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels or all four through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Acceleration is impressive: 4.4 seconds from standstill to 60 mph. For around $39,500, it gets a driving enthusiast most of the way at less than two-thirds of the cost of a new M3. It was even developed on the same tough track — the North Loop of the Nürburgring.

There’s something wonderful about a naturally aspirated engine (as opposed to using forced induction like a turbocharger or a supercharger), especially when it’s a high-revving 5.0-liter V8 like the one in the RC F. It feels more acutely responsive to throttle inputs. Yet its multi-mode traction control system still makes driving easy.

This coupe, like the IS F sedan before it, clearly has the BMW M3 and M4 in its sights, with 467 hp and 389 lb-ft of torque as its ammunition. The sprint to 60 mph is fired off in 4.4 seconds. And because it’s a Lexus, it comes with top-notch build quality and lots of standard equipment for its starting price of $65,645.

The regular Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a rival to the BMW 3 Series range. And the Stuttgart company’s AMG division can match whatever the Munich operation’s M techs create — and even go beyond at times.

The rear-wheel drive C 63 sedan is a like-for-like M3 alternative, but buyers may also choose a coupe or a convertible. The C 63 enjoys a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with 469 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. The C 63 S boosts those figures to 503 hp and 516 lb-ft. Sprints to 60 mph require only 4.0 or 3.9 seconds, respectively. Swift yet civilized, the C 63 sedan starts at $67,095.

The S60 Polestar is as close as Volvo gets to an M3, and it keeps a low profile. See one on the street and it might come across as a regular S60. But it’s the stuff underneath that really counts. Starting at $60,995, the Polestar comes with 362 hp and 347 lb-ft of torque from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that’s turbocharged and supercharged. Zero to 60 mph occurs in 4.4 seconds.

All-wheel drive is standard, as is a suspension that includes Öhlins shock absorbers, one of the most highly respected manufacturers of such components. Nonconformists might like the S60's station wagon version, the V60 Polestar. Also, the Polestar brand is going completely electric, so these gas-powered 2018 versions might eventually become collectibles.