The year is coming to a close and after reflecting on the best BMWs we drove in 2025, it seemed like the right moment to formalize something we’ve been doing informally for years: naming our BMWBLOG Car of the Year winners.
This is only the second time we have officially presented these awards, but the motivation remains the same. BMW owners and enthusiasts constantly ask us one simple question: Which BMW would you actually buy? After a year of driving, testing, filming and living with more than 50 different BMWs across all continents and segments, these awards are our clearest answer yet.
The small jury consisted of BMWBLOG editors and contributors, each of whom brought their own priorities – from everyday suitability and long-term ownership appeal to emotional connection and technical innovation. Although the criteria were deliberately kept open, patterns quickly emerged. Some cars didn’t just impress once, they came back onto the market again and again.
Here are the winners of the BMWBLOG 2025 Car of the Year Awards.
BMW M Car of the Year – BMW M2 CS
Few modern BMWs have united our editorial team like the M2 CS.
Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it is uncompromising. And no, it doesn’t pretend to be anything other than a hardcore M car. But that’s exactly why it won. The M2 CS represents BMW M at its most concentrated: compact proportions, real power, true rear-wheel drive and the feeling that the engineers were still allowed to build cars for drivers.
Several editors independently chose the M2 CS as M Car of the Year, with some calling it the most complete modern M car BMW is currently building. In a lineup that includes everything from the M3 and M4 Competition to heavy-duty performance sedans, the M2 CS stood out for doing less—and doing it better.
Notable mentions: M2 Manual, M3/M4 Competition, M4 CS.
BMW Electric Car of the Year – BMW iX3
The most decisive result of this year’s voting came in the electric category.
The iX3 received widespread support not because it was flashy, but because it quietly reset expectations. It provides the clearest picture yet of where BMW’s EV philosophy is heading – one that prioritizes driving balance, intuitive technology and practical usability over histrionic spec sheets.
Several editors noted that while the iX3 was faster than electric vehicles, the iX3 felt more like a BMW than most previous electric SUVs. Others pointed to the technology stack, performance consistency and overall execution as evidence that BMW’s next generation of electric vehicles is coming to market with confidence rather than experimentation.
Even editors who hadn’t driven the iX3 found its importance undeniable. That rarely happens.
Notable mentions: i4, i5, iX
BMW SUV of the Year – BMW iX3
Yes, the iX3 appears twice – and intentionally so.
While BMW’s SUV lineup remains among the most competitive in the industry, the iX3 stood out as the most comprehensive package in 2025. It combines everyday practicality with the sophistication of an electric vehicle in a way that feels natural rather than forced, and several editors highlighted how comfortable it is as a daily driver without losing the sense of engagement.
The X5 50e remains a benchmark for plug-in hybrids, and the iX continues to divide opinions while being technically excellent. But when the votes were counted, it became clear that the iX3 is the SUV that best represents BMW’s present and future.
Notable mentions: X5 xDrive50e, iX
BMW car with the best price-performance ratio of the year: BMW M340i
This year, the BMW M340i quietly reminded us that fun doesn’t have to be fun The expensive.
Performance cars and electric vehicles often grab the headlines, but value lies at the intersection of everyday usability, performance, technology and price – and this is where the M340i excels. For many of us on the team, it’s the car we’d recommend to friends, family or anyone who wants a well-rounded BMW without the premium sticker of an M car or EV flagship.
The G20 M340i does everything right: the B58 engine remains one of BMW’s greatest modern powerplants, delivering smooth, linear torque and a sense of effortless urgency in everyday driving. The chassis combines comfort and sovereignty and makes the 3 Series just as capable on a canyon road as it is on the motorway. The technology in the interior feels current without being intrusive, and the car’s overall package is well above its price point.
Several editors named it the best daily BMW of the year – basically what you should buy if you want to enjoy the essence of BMW performance without compromising on practicality or breaking your budget.
Notable mentions: 330i, i4 eDrive35, X3 xDrive30i
The BMWBLOG Car of the Year 2025 is the BMW M2 CS
When all categories were removed and one question remained: Which BMW currently best defines the brand? – The answer went back to the same car.
Some editors made a passionate case that the Z4 M40i manual transmission was the purest expression of traditional BMW values. Others called the iX3 the most strategically important car BMW makes today. Both arguments are valid. But the M2 CS won in the end because it captures something increasingly rare: a modern BMW that feels uncompromisingly built for enthusiasts.
In a time of electrification, automation and increasing complexity, the M2 CS is a reminder that BMW still knows how to build a car that prioritizes driver feel, feedback and engagement – without compromise.
This is important.
The final winners at a glance
- BMW M Car of the Year: BMW M2 CS
- BMW Electric Car of the Year: BMW iX3
- BMW SUV of the Year: BMW iX3
- BMW Car of the Year: BMW M2 CS
