The 2027 BMW M350 xDrive delivers strong acceleration and composed handling, but lacks the theatrical character buyers expect from an M-badged sedan.
The eighth-generation 3-series arrives in the U.S. next year with a choice of a four-cylinder 330 or an inline-six M350 xDrive. The M350 uses a turbocharged B58 engine paired with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 437 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque, up 55 hp and 59 lb-ft from the outgoing M340i. An eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive are standard; rear-wheel drive is no longer available, though BMW plans to add a switchable rear-wheel drive mode via software update later.
BMW claims a 3.9-second 0-60 time. The car launches with serious urgency and maintains linear power delivery at high speeds. The snarling exhaust note remains mostly organic even with active noise enhancement disabled. At lower revs, light turbo lag appears, though the quick-shifting gearbox minimizes the issue. Overall, the M350 feels like a substantial upgrade over the previous M340i.
All-wheel drive keeps grip confident. On tight mountain roads in southern France, the M350 exited corners without slip. Only heavy throttle combined with high cornering loads hinted that most power reached the rear wheels. The car's stability control maintained tight management throughout.
Where the M350 falters is engagement. Dynamic modes adjust throttle mapping and steering weight in Sport and Sport Plus, but none unlock genuine excitement. The steering delivers crisp, linear responses and proved precise at speed, yet feedback stayed muted unless active lane-keeping assistance was disabled. Weighting felt too soft at lower speeds across all modes.
The ride quality improved markedly over the M340i. Adaptive dampers handled every road surface tested. The cabin stayed quiet for a sports sedan, and the Highway Assistant enhanced cruise control system centered the car in its lane and executed lane changes via turn signal input.
The interior borrows heavily from the electric i3, sharing the cabin architecture. The new "Panoramic Vision" display spans the dashboard width but poorly suits a combustion car. The fuel gauge sits cramped to one side, while the rev counter displays as narrow graphic bars that lack clarity compared to conventional designs. A 17.9-inch touchscreen runs the latest BMW X operating system. Temperature controls are small and fiddly, and air vent angles require touchscreen adjustment.
Interior space improved, with ample head and shoulder room up front. Rear legroom saw more noticeable gains.