Next year is set to be a big one for BMW. With the introduction of the long-awaited new vehicle class, starting with the very impressive BMW iX3, the Bavarians are ushering in a new era from 2026. But before we venture into new waters, it helps to take a look back at what was, where BMW came from and the best cars of the past year. So here are the best BMWs, at least in our book, from 2025.
There were plenty of great Bimmers on offer for 2025, even if they all came out much, much earlier. And some of them will still be on offer in 2026. So this list is neither an introduction nor a farewell. It’s just a look back at the last year before BMW’s Neue Klasse begins to reshape the brand forever.
Best sports car: BMW Z4 M40i “Handset”
This is arguably the most important category for any BMW list. After all, you don’t deserve the slogan “Ultimate Driving Machine” if you make luxury SUVs. And to put it simply: The best sports car with a roundel last year was the BMW Z4 M40i with the “manual switch” package.
While fans weren’t exactly surprised when BMW announced that it would be giving the Z4 a manual, as had been rumored for some time, it was still exciting news. Luckily, BMW has provided the excitement, as the Z4 M40i is sensational with three pedals and a joystick. BMW calls the option an “Edition Manual Package” and it comes with a few other extras, such as upgraded wheels, M Sport brakes with red calipers, extended Shadowline trim, black mirror caps and high-gloss black trim inside. What really matters is the six-speed manual gearbox, which is mated to BMW’s extremely brilliant B58 engine.
The Z4 M40i was already a much better sports car than it was given credit for, even with its previously mandatory ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Still, equipping it with a manual transmission unleashed its full sports car potential, which felt like a revelation. After spending a week with the manual Z4, I was completely hooked and, more importantly, felt it was the best BMW available. Period. I know many fans of the brand agree with this.
There are a lot of great Bimmers to drive right now. But none of them feel as much like an old-school BMW sports car as the manual Z4 M40i. It’s simply the perfect combination of easy handling, perfect chassis balance, precise steering and powerful power. And since the Z4 still uses BMW’s now old but still brilliant iDrive 7, it doesn’t feel like an overly complicated techno-fest inside. It’s just a simple, no-nonsense BMW cabin that’s functional, ergonomic and extremely well built. The Z4 M40i “Handswitch” isn’t just the best BMW sports car of 2025, it’s one of the best sports cars out there, period.
Best SUV: BMW X5 xDrive50e
If you said that the entire BMW X5 family is the best SUV in the BMW lineup, you probably wouldn’t get an argument from me. While I’m a big fan of the X7 with its impressive combination of interior space and surprising driving dynamics, overall the X5 is a sensational SUV. It still looks great despite being near the end of its life cycle, its interior is beautiful and very simply designed for the most part (even if the newer iDrive 8 is a bit much), and it’s wonderful to drive.
In the X5 range, however, it’s neither the monstrous M Competition nor the comfortable V8-powered M60i that takes the crown. It’s the more modest X5 xDrive50e. Okay, it’s not the sexiest or most exciting choice, but it’s the right one. The X5 50e is the perfect combination of features that make BMW’s longest-lasting SUV so great. It’s still comfortable and forgoes the brittle M Performance suspension, but still rides with typical BMW balance. And thanks to its brilliant B58 inline-six engine coupled to an electric motor, it’s still quick, hitting 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. Add 40 miles of all-electric range and an excellent 58 MPGe, and you have one of the best all-around luxury SUVs on the market.
Best Convertible: BMW M850i Convertible
OK, OK, so it’s kind of weird to say that the Z4 M40i is the best sports car and then not also give it the title of “Best Convertible.” I understand it. But we have to limit each car to one title; otherwise the manual folding roof would take over most of them. Nevertheless, the aging BMW M850i Convertible makes a convincing argument here. It does exactly what it’s supposed to do, and does it well: it’s a grand tourer in the truest sense of the word.
Old-school grand tourers are dying quietly, without the kind of enthusiast protest against the death of manual transmissions or traditional sports cars. But the M850i is among the last of a dying breed, and it deserves to be applauded for sticking around. Despite being one of the oldest cars in the BMW lineup, it may still be the prettiest (maybe). Because it is one of the oldest). Like the also gray-haired Z4, the M850i has an older interior with iDrive 7, and it’s much better. Physical, metallic buttons and subtle but classy materials adorn the interior, giving it an expensive and substantial feel, in contrast to the superficial techno flavor found in some more modern BMWs.
Get behind the wheel and the M850i delights with a refined, comfortable ride, smooth and balanced handling and effortless power. It’s not a car you drive furiously, it’s one you just enjoy while getting from one place to another very quickly. It’s exactly what a good GT car should be, and that deserves applause before BMW kills it for good.
Best value for money: BMW M340i
There has to be a 3 Series somewhere on this list, right? The 3 Series has always been the be-all and end-all of BMW and still is today, even as the brand marches into the future. This G20-generation 3 Series is itself starting to show its age, and a New Class replacement is on the way. However, it’s still one of the best overall sports sedans on the market, and the M340i is the best example of that. With the always spectacular B58 engine under the hood, the M340i is faster than almost any M3 ever built. With precise steering and balanced handling, it can probably keep up with most M3s on the track. Yet it’s comfortable enough to live with every day, has room for two adults or three children in the backseat, and has a trunk big enough to handle most daily life.
Sure, the M340i isn’t quite as precise or as fun as some previous generations of the 3 Series. But it’s about as good as you can get these days. There are sedans that are more fun to drive than the G20 3 Series, such as the Alfa Romeo Giulia, the Cadillac CT4 and the Acura TLX. But none of them offer the same combination of fun, elegance, comfort and technology as the 3 Series. And the M340i is also faster than the others.
Even though the M340i has become a bit pricey with a starting price of over $62,000, it’s hard to beat as an overall value. The M340i offers pretty much everything you need as a daily driver, but is also fun on a winding back road and capable of smoking sports cars at traffic lights. It’s hard to beat this range of possibilities at any price.
Best looking BMW: Speedtop
Maybe I’m cheating a little here since the Speedtop isn’t available to mere mortals. However, it is still a vehicle that BMW produced and sold in 2025. And just look at it. Will any of you actually claim that the Speedtop is not the most beautiful BMW of the year?
The BMW Speedtop is based on the 8 Series, but its body is completely unique. First of all, it’s a stunning shooting brake with its long three-door station wagon body, which alone earns it major style points. But it also has a really beautiful shape with the low hood, the shark-like front end, the narrow headlights and the curved rear fenders. It looks powerful and luxurious at the same time while being far more practical than a typical coupe. I also love the simple wheels and wish BMW would carry this design over to some of their more affordable vehicles.
OK, as far as the interior goes, BMW just did its best WinAmp impression by redesigning the cabin of an 8 Series with new colors and calling it a day. Still, it’s a good-looking interior with an admittedly beautifully tailored trunk. Despite being absurdly expensive at a reported $500,000, it’s still the nicest model BMW has released all year. Therefore, it deserves this title even if it is an unobtanium.
