2022 BMW M3 Competition xDrive Review: The Ideal M3 for Canada?

2022 BMW M3 Competition xDrive, M sport seats | Photo: V.Aubé

What about those seats?
With the optional M seats in the first row, the sedan isn't the most user-friendly in everyday life, especially because of its enveloping sides. But when it comes to backcountry driving on a twisty road, the wraparound feel is a definite advantage over the M3 with the base-model seats. I should also mention that separation in the middle of the seat, a “hump” that might bother some. If you’re unsure whether that might include you, a test drive would be a good idea to gauge your comfort level.

2022 BMW M3 Competition xDrive, interior | Photo: V.Aubé

The last word: two- or four-wheel drive?
The question, as I alluded to earlier is this: Is this xDrive variant the one to choose if your home address is in Canada? Many will argue that most owners of an M3/M4s keep their car tucked snugly away in a heated garage during the long winter months, making the point of this all-season variant questionable.

Well, that's my point. High-performance sedans are mostly available strictly on the better days of spring, summer and fall, at best, but the addition of this variant designed to withstand challenging winter conditions allows fans of dynamic driving  to enjoy the many qualities of this amazingly capable sedan twelve months a year. For the rest of us, BMW continues to offer its M3/M4 tandem with two-wheel drive and even a 6-speed manual transmission on the “regular” versions.

2022 BMW M3 Competition xDrive, three-quarters rear | Photo: V.Aubé

We like

The variety of the lineup
The benefits AWD proffer
The feeling of being behind the wheel of a race car

We like less

The so-so comfort of the M seats
The dry suspension (in Sport mode)
The borrowed time the M3/M4 tandem is on, given the shift to electric

The competition

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Audi RS4
Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing
Lexus IS 500
Mercedes-AMG C-Class (C 63)

See also: We Drove Seven 2022 BMW Models in Seven Hours: Check out Our Festival of First Drives

2022 BMW M3 Competition xDrive, badging | Photo: V.Aubé

Photos:V.Aubé

2022 BMW M3 Competition xDrive pictures

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