The BMW M3 has long been the benchmark performance sedan/coupe/convertible in its class. But even though it has been around since 1986, BMW has never offered an M3 in a station wagon body style. This omission has been exploited by its German rivals, especially Audi, whose RS Avant models have developed a cult following over the past two decades.

The current G80 generation M3 has been on sale since 2020. The 2025 model year updates include a 20 hp power hike for xDrive models, new iDrive software, and a few subtle exterior and interior design tweaks. The biggest change, of course, was the introduction of the Touring (wagon) body style a few months ago.

We got a chance to experience the latest version at the historic Kyalami Grand Prix circuit in South Africa, and we came away feeling exhilarated, impressed, sad, and angry all at once.

Specifications and pricing for all vehicles listed are sourced from the relevant manufacturer.

We Love: The Performance

While it may look pretty much like the M3 Sedan aside from the elongated rear end, the M3 Touring has been comprehensively re-engineered to deliver the same sharp driving experience as its sedan and coupe stablemates. The Touring is available only in the top Competition xDrive trim, which means 523 hp (up 20 hp for 2025) and 479 lb-ft of torque. The rear-biased all-wheel-drive system has a rear-wheel drive mode, but we don’t recommend using it unless you have the skill and space to handle this much torque being sent through just one axle. That said, the levels of grip, even on road tires, are immense, and the multi-level traction control system is always on hand to curb your enthusiasm.

The actual curb weight is up slightly, thanks to a strengthened chassis and additional rear bracing. The suspension and shocks have also been updated to account for the body changes. The 0-62 mph time is down by just 0.1 seconds compared to the sedan, a difference that is impossible to feel from behind the wheel.

The eight-speed transmission may be a traditional torque converter instead of a dual-clutch system, but it delivers ferociously fast shifts, and it doesn’t stumble about at crawling speeds like some dual-clutch transmissions tend to. When not trying to get the kids to school on time, the M3 Touring becomes a placid daily driver, only the slightly firm ride and eager engine hinting at its manic alter ego.

We Love: The Practicality

A sports sedan with a base price of $76,000 needs to tick a lot of boxes to become a viable proposition. It needs to seamlessly transition between a sports car and daily transport, and be spacious enough for a family and its luggage. That’s a tall order to fill, but BMW’s M cars tend to hit that sweet spot time and again.

In the Touring, the practicality levels get a boost without any discernible compromise in overall performance. Think of it as a lowered BMW X3 M with better handling and performance.

We Love: Great Infotainment Setup

BMW’s iDrive infotainment system was one of the first to use a large interactive screen, through which you could control everything from the audio system to HVAC functions and everything in between. The early iDrive setups could be clunky, but years of fine-tuning have resulted in one of the most intuitive and easy-to-use systems around. All 2025 M3 and M4 models now get BMW’s curved digital display, comprising a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

In-car functions can be controlled via steering-wheel buttons, voice control, rotary knob, and touch. There are precious few buttons in the cabin, but the central screen has a permanent strip at its base, which allows you to access the HVAC controls without having to scroll through various sub-menus. Important functions like audio controls, seat settings, and driving modes all still have dedicated buttons. The bright-red M1 and M2 buttons on either side of the steering wheel bring up pre-set M driving settings, allowing you to switch between Jekyll and Hyde modes at a moment’s notice.

Hate: Lack Of US Availability

Now, to the bit we hate about the M3 Touring. BMW has announced that it won’t be offered for the US market. The reason is that the current G80 generation M3 sedan and M4 convertible have already been homologated to meet US safety and emissions requirements, and carrying out this costly process on a single body style this late in the model production cycle is too costly.

Sound, logical reasoning doesn’t negate the fact that we won’t be getting this model here, but at least the even more powerful M5 Touring is available here. At $124,100 before taxes, it is a significant $38,800 more than an M3 Competition xDrive Sedan, but according to BMW’s US Vice President of Product Management, Andreas Meyer, if enough people buy it, they will consider bringing the next-generation M3 Touring to the US.

So, where Ferrari insists on you buying a selection of entry-level cars before it sells you its most desirable models, BMW wants you to buy its range-topper to prove you are worthy of the next-gen M3. Having experienced the 717 hp M5 (albeit in sedan guise) back-to-back with the M3, we can confirm that ‘settling’ for this model will be no hardship if you wait for the next M3 Touring.

Some Frustrations: No Manual Transmission And Those Sport Seats

Don’t get us wrong, we are thankful that the latest M3 is available with a manual transmission at all, but it is a bit irritating when you can’t have it with the most powerful engine, or all-wheel-drive. The auto ‘box is great, but it would be even better if we could row our own gears in the Touring.

Of more relevance to us is that the manual transmission option is limited to the base M3. It is 50 hp down on power compared to the xDrive models, and has 406 lb-ft of torque versus 479 lb-ft. It still feels plenty quick, though, and there must be plenty of tuning companies that would be very willing to find those missing horses for a small fee.

One option we’d rather not have is the awesome-looking but really impractical M Carbon Bucket seats. They hold you in place like superglued velcro, but getting past those massive side bolsters is a pain, and that carbon bit between your legs can get in the way, especially on manual cars. If your M car is spending most of its life on track, then, by all means, get it. Otherwise, we suggest skipping this pricey $4,500 option.

Conclusion: The Family-Friendly M Car We Can’t Have

Wagons were the practical family choice before the SUV craze took over the world. They remain a common sight on European roads, where large and bulky vehicles struggle to cope with narrow roads and cities were designed when the horse and cart were cutting-edge transport.

That is perhaps why some of the finest wagons have never been offered stateside. But things may be about to change. First, the Audi RS6 Avant was brought here thanks to a lot of begging and cajoling by US customers, and now the new BMW M5 is being sold in Touring form.

The M3 Touring really does offer a beguiling mix of performance and practicality, but without that handling compromise that inevitably afflicts fast SUVs. It comes with all the tech and luxury that make daily driving a pleasure, and it can transform into a track car at the press of a button.

It’s time to do our part and start buying up every wagon within our budget. The improved sales statistics will embolden manufacturers to bring in more wagons, and perhaps the next generation of M3 Touring will be sold here.