BMW M3 Competition review – interior and tech
Superbly built, great tech and materials, and big enough for the whole family, the interior’s a highlight of the G80 M3
The interior, of course, comes from the 3-series which in the G80’s generation is no bad thing as quality, space and technology have all taken a big leap forward. All M3s built from the 2023 model year-onwards pick up the all-new dashboard layout that replaces the integrated screens for the floating curved unit that's now proliferated across the BMW range. This is a good thing in general, as the screens are both huge and easy to use, and aside from the removal of a few physical controls is a broadly excellent update.
From a performance car standpoint, though, the new M3’s interior is defined by the fantastic seating position, which like the Porsche 911’s is able to sink lower than you imagine possible. This is especially true of cars fitted with the M Carbon bucket seats. If you too are slightly wider of body you might find the exaggerated bolsters a little tight for comfort, and regardless of your size, getting in and out of them isn’t for those who favour easy ingress and egress. Certainly worth a try before you buy. We’ve also yet to work out what the little carbon tray at the front of the seat’s base is for. BBQ dip from the drive-through, perhaps.
These seats are available for £3,400, or as part of the already mentioned optional M Carbon Pack. Go for the extended leather package and the dash, door cards and lower surfaces lift cabin ambiance even further, making it feel worth the £90k your M3 will have added up to by then – as mad as it sounds.
Of course, there’s a thick-rimmed steering wheel; it wouldn’t be an M-car if there wasn’t a rim that required hands more suited to a slip fielder, although the latest item in the G80 feels slimmer than those of previous generations. The ergonomics are hard to fault, and all 2023-onwards models now feature the new dashboard design that incorporates BMW's new curved infotainmant screen.
