BMW M3.(Product/Service Evaluation)

HIGHS | Acceleration, handling, braking, fit and finish.

LOWS | Hard to drive smoothly, noise, rear seat.

The M3 is virtually a race car that feels most at home on a track, but it's not the easiest car to drive smoothly in normal conditions. Although it has the only six-cylinder engine in this group of cars, the M3 had the quickest 0-to-60-mph acceleration. It also provides strong brakes and excellent handling. The M3 has impeccable interior fit and finish, and although it's a two-door coupe, the car seats five people and has a usable trunk.

The M3's handling finesse comes with trade-offs, however. Its stiff ride is tolerable but may be uncomfortable for many people. The shifter is a bit imprecise, and the clutch requires attention to operate smoothly. The M3 feels stable and comfortable at higher speeds, but it may require driver restraint to keep from going too fast on public roads. Reliability of the 3 Series line, which includes the M3, has been average.

THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE

The M3 has a stiff, yet tolerable ride with short, abrupt motions. On the highway the car feels taut and under control. Tire and engine noise, however, are pronounced.

The sportiest car in this group, the M3 handles with agility and has very little body lean in corners. At low speeds the steering is a bit slow and lacks feedback, but it becomes precise as speeds increase. When pushed to its handling limits, the M3 cornered with excellent balance and tenacious grip, posting this group's quickest speed in our avoidance ...