Every year the BMWBLOG team spends thousands of kilometers behind the wheel. Press cars, prototypes, long-term testers, track sessions, road trips, mountain passes and daily commutes merge into one long highlight reel. In December, it becomes surprisingly difficult to highlight just one car.
And yet it is exactly what we asked of our team.
Not the fastest BMW. Not the most expensive. Not the one with the best spec sheet. The very BMW that made the biggest impression in 2025 – the one that reminded us why we care about driving in the first place. This year the answers span decades, drives and philosophies. So let’s dive right in.
Sean Kealey: 2025 BMW M2 six-speed manual transmission
For Sean, the answer was immediate: the 2025 BMW M2. This year’s updates – more power, improved interior and expanded color choices – didn’t change the M2’s core mission, and that’s exactly why it was so well received. The G87 M2 represents something that is becoming increasingly rare: a rear-wheel-drive, inline-six coupe that prioritizes engagement over abstraction.
On the canyon roads around Los Angeles, the M2 felt both powerful and playful. It delivered real power without intimidation, encouraging the driver to apply more pressure rather than intervene too early. For Sean, it was a formative memory – riding as a passenger while his father drove a then-new E46 M3 Coupe. That feeling of joy, balance and mechanical honesty is still alive here.
What surprised him most, however, was how complete the package felt. In quieter driving modes, the M2 adjusted to daily driving without any problems. The cabin remained quiet, the ride comfortable and the suspension refined when not pushed into full attack mode. The back seats are usable, the trunk is practical, and the driving experience doesn’t feel compromised in any way.
In today’s market, Sean sees the M2 as something close to a unicorn: a manual, rear-wheel-drive sports car with real everyday utility and near-supercar performance at a price that still seems affordable. For him, it wasn’t just the most entertaining BMW of the year – it was also a reminder of what BMW does best.
You can check out the full review below:
Nate Risch: BMW M2 CS and BMW M5 Touring
Nate’s selections are at opposite ends of the BMW spectrum, but both left equally strong impressions. His first choice, the BMW M2 CS, builds directly on an experience he had at the BMW Performance Center two years ago. The standard M2 impressed him at the time because it was almost too easy to drive too fast. The CS takes this formula and refines it.
Suspension improvements, more power and the familiar CS carbon fiber treatment – bucket seats, weight reduction and a distinctive rear spoiler – transform the M2 into something much more focused. Nate describes it as a modern take on the classic M3 ethos, infused with motorsport aggression. Every onramp feels like the exit from Turn 1 at the Circuit of the Americas. Every ride feels deliberate.
It’s not just a fast car. It’s a car that makes you want to get up early just to drive.
His second pick surprised even him.
Nate had long been a fan of station wagons and was equally skeptical of large, heavy vehicles. He didn’t expect to fall in love with the BMW M5 Touring. But it completely redefined its definition of a great daily driver.
On paper, the numbers are breathtaking: 717 horsepower, enormous weight and real utility. On the road, the M5 Touring somehow defies physics. It carries gear like an X3, accelerates like a super sedan and still feels eager and responsive when pushed. BMW’s technology makes the mass feel almost insignificant.
The duality sealed the deal. Wait, it’s a sophisticated long-range cruiser with up to 54 MPGe. In the next step, he is able to run 11 seconds per quarter mile without breaking a sweat. For Nate, it’s the ultimate machine from Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – and one of the most impressive all-round vehicles that BMW has ever built.
Chuck Vossler: BMW X5 xDrive50e
Chuck’s favorite BMW of 2025 is a reminder that greatness doesn’t always scream. His choice, the BMW X5 xDrive50e, may not be the obvious choice among M cars and performance icons, but the moment he explained why, it made sense. The X5 has long been one of BMW’s best-selling models, and living with the plug-in hybrid version shows exactly why.
It is an excellent companion on long journeys. The interior is comfortable and thoughtfully appointed, the elevated seating position inspires confidence, and features like heated and ventilated seats and a heated steering wheel are important if you use a car all year round. For Chuck, who spends time in the snowy mountain regions of Colorado, the X5 felt effortlessly capable thanks to the combination of all-wheel drive and ground clearance.
What really surprised him, however, was the way it drove.
Instead of an isolated hybrid experience, the xDrive50e offered real sportiness. With a 0-60 mph time of 4.6 seconds and continuously variable electrically assisted torque, it felt lively and responsive. Fully charged and with a full tank, the total range is more than 500 miles – ideal for road trips without constant planning.
With the M Sport package and a trailer hitch for a bike rack, the X5 xDrive50e was a perfect fit for Chuck’s lifestyle. Practical, efficient and quiet to drive, it proved that a BMW doesn’t have to be loud to be special.
Canon: BMW iX xDrive50 (and an honorable mention of Motorrad)
It’s never easy for Kanon to choose his favorite BMW every year. As countless journeys – and journeys – merge into one another, narrowing them down requires consideration.
He briefly thought about being cheeky and naming a 1973 BMW 3.0 CS, one of the most beautiful cars BMW ever built. But his final choice was far more unexpected: the BMW iX xDrive50.
As the current reference point for BMW electric vehicles, the iX Kanon impressed with its coherent feel. Luxury, performance, interior design and technology all worked together without drawing attention to themselves. The power delivery was effortless, the interior was genuinely inviting and the technology was intuitive rather than distracting.
What stood out most was the iX’s real-world efficiency relative to its size, combined with a sense of calm and elegance that made it easy to live with. It didn’t try to recreate a combustion-era BMW – it simply worked on its own terms. For Kanon, it was the package’s quiet confidence that made it his favorite BMW ride of the year.
As BMWBLOG’s resident motorcycle expert, he couldn’t leave it at that.
His favorite two-wheeled BMW of 2025 was the BMW R 1300 RT 2025. Completely redesigned, the new RT brings real sport back to sports touring. Despite its size, it proved to be agile, dedicated and extremely capable.
Days of riding through the southern Appalachians in northern Georgia and Alabama marked the highlight of his riding year. The R 1300 RT entertained, surprised and impressed at every turn – proof that touring bikes can still be very involving machines.
Horatiu Boeriu: BMW iX3 (New Class)
For me the choice was clear. My favorite BMW of 2025 was the BMW iX3, a car that I experienced twice in a unique way – first in prototype and later in production form. This rare opportunity offered a clear insight into what BMW’s Neue Klasse philosophy truly represents.
Both times the result was the same: exceptional driving dynamics.
Despite being an all-electric SUV, the iX3 proved capable on the track while remaining an excellent daily driver. The balance between agility and comfort seemed to be intentional and not compromised. Much of this is due to the new class technology and the new “Heart of Joy” central computer, which integrates power delivery, braking, recuperation and chassis control in a unified system.
With an EPA-estimated range of approximately 400 miles and ultra-fast charging capability of up to 400 kW, the iX3 addresses real-world electric vehicle issues without turning them into marketing slogans. It simply delivers.
Not only was it my favorite BMW of the year, it’s also my next car and one that I believe will redefine expectations for BMW and the EV segment as a whole.
Steven Paul: 1999 BMW M Coupe
Steven’s choice takes us back 26 years. His favorite BMW of 2025 was not new, not electrified and not chasing performance records. It was a 1999 BMW M Coupe that he drove for the first time after he had already bought it.
Thanks to its close connection to the E30 and E36 3 Series, the M Coupe immediately felt familiar. The steering is wonderfully communicative, the S52 inline-six delivers power with character, and the car’s notoriously unconventional design feels purposeful rather than whimsical. The boundaries are accessible and encourage exploration rather than intimidation.
Driving it rekindled Steven’s love for BMW and reminded him why he became an enthusiast in the first place – and why he ended up at BMWBLOG. In a year marked by cutting-edge technology and impressive performance figures, his favorite ride was a reminder that some of BMW’s greatest achievements have already stood the test of time.
Respect your elders.
What these tips say about BMW in 2025
Taken together, these decisions tell a compelling story.
BMW’s future is electric, fast and technologically ambitious – but its past still matters. Whether it’s a New Class iX3, a 26-year-old M coupe, a plug-in hybrid X5 or a fire-breathing M2, the common thread is connection. The best BMWs of 2025 weren’t just impressive – they were also the ones that made us want to keep driving.
And above all, that is still a BMW characteristic.
