2006 BMW 3-series M3 rear

It might be hard to tell by looking, but BMW just revised the most envied, acclaimed, and benchmarked four-door car in the world (two-door versions catch up next year), even when the outgoing one had yet to be matched. Nevertheless, every seven years marks a new Bimmer, and consistent with all past redesigns, the 3-series has grown a bit. Also consistent is an increase in the engine roster. Just nine years ago, the entry-level 3-series had a cute little 4-cylinder engine. Now, even the 2.5-liter six-cylinder got canned, so all cars use 3.0-liter sixes with either 215 or 255 horsepower. The extra speed did not come at the cost of the 3-series' personality or razor-sharp handling, and thankfully, items like iDrive and Active Steering remain strictly optional. Not a whole lot has changed since the last 3-series. Of course, not a lot had to.