Thinking of switching from a BMW 420i to a Model 3 — which is the best value?
I currently own a 2021 BMW 420i M Sport and love it. It looks great, drives well, and has loads of tech (heated wheel, HUD, ACC, CarPlay, 360° cameras, Harman Kardon, adaptive suspension, etc.).
I’ve noticed 2021 Model 3 LR AWDs are now around £16k, which is getting hard to ignore. My main gripe with the BMW is running costs — I keep it in Eco mode to save fuel, but I actually want to enjoy driving it. The stiff suspension also makes UK roads feel like I’m constantly damaging the car.
I drove a 2025 Highland M3 RWD and was really impressed by how comfortable and premium it felt. The ventilated seats were great too, although I believe earlier Model 3s can pre-condition the cabin remotely anyway?
For the best value, I’m looking at:
2021 M3 LR AWD ~£16k
2022 M3 LR AWD ~£20k — slightly larger battery, Ryzen, etc.
Highland — tempting, but I’m worried about depreciation.
Is the extra ~£4k for a 2022 LR AWD actually worth it, or would you go for the 2021 and pocket the difference?
Ultimately I just want something comfortable, easy to drive and where I don’t cringe every time I start the car thinking about fuel costs 😂