What is the best BMW for me?
The premium German brand has been synonymous with class and sporting heritage for many years, but which model should you go for?
The Cazoo editorial team
Published on 27 March 2025 | 2 mins read
BMW has been the car manufacturer for those wanting a premium vehicle that offers a sporty driving experience and an upmarket feel.
Over the years, the firm has produced some exciting sports cars and coupes that have soon become cult classics.
But, in the last two decades, its increasing production of SUVs, electric cars and hybrid models has made its cars even more attractive to buyers. As a result of their popularity, BMWs are a very common sight on the used car market, too.
So, which BMW is best? What is the best model in the firm’s lineup? And, what BMW is the best buy on the used market?
Which is best for space?
If you want a spacious BMW but don’t want to spend lots of money, the perfect model is a previous generation 5 Series Touring (G31).
The 5 Series Touring looks good and is great to drive, but it offers lots of interior space, making it the perfect companion for you, your family and your dog.
The (G31) model features a very large boot capacity of 570 litres, and with the rear seats folded down, the space expands to 1,700 litres.
There is lots of head and legroom for rear occupants, and up front, there is enough space for all your belongings, including a decent glove box, a split centre armrest with an underfloor compartment and very deep front door bins.
Prices for a second-hand (G31) 5 Series Touring range from £16,000 to £25,000 – which will get you into a decent Luxury or M Sport model with less than 50,000 miles on the clock.
Which is the best for comfort?
If you want a car that is all about comfort and luxury, then look no further than the 7 Series limousine.
It offers a vast amount of standard equipment while being spacious, refined and comfortable.
The latest generation, introduced in 2022 and known as the G70 in BMW-speak, comes with features such as massaging rear seats, a 14.9-inch curved infotainment display and even an optional 31.3-inch integrated TV screen.
The 7 Series is also good to drive and does a great job of being quiet, comfortable and smooth.
Used prices for the latest G70 model start at just over £70,000, making it rather expensive still, but if you want to save a little more money, the previous generation car can be purchased for as little as £40,000 with less than 40,000 miles on the clock.
Which is the best for those wanting to switch to electric?
BMW has been selling EVs for over a decade and has expanded its electric vehicle portfolio even further.
But, the best of the bunch is the i5 Touring because it has the driving experience of the 5 Series, but comes with the added benefit of being a more practical estate car.
Also, the i5 Touring comes equipped with an 88.4kWh battery pack and electric motor that BMW claims can take the car 310 to 342 miles on a single charge. Furthermore, the car comes with 205kW DC rapid charging, enabling a 10 to 80 per cent top-up in less than 30 minutes.
You can pick up a used i5 Touring example with less than 3,000 miles on the clock for under £55,000.
Which is the best value?
If you want a BMW that can do it all, the 3 Series is the best value for money in the firm’s model line-up.
The latest version is affordable to buy, comes with an eclectic array of engine options, is good to drive, has great build quality and is available as a saloon or estate.
You can pick up a decent 2023 M Sport example with less than 30,000 miles on the clock for under £28,000 or £30,000 for a Touring estate model.
The 3 Series offers decent interior space, and there is the choice of a plug-in hybrid variant badged ‘330e’, which comes with an additional 19.5kWh battery pack that BMW claims can run up to 61 miles on electric power alone.
Which is the most fun?
The latest M2 is a great car to drive and can be specified with a manual gearbox.
This (G87) model comes with BMW’s latest design language, with its redesigned front kidney grilles and flared wheel arches.
Under the bonnet, there is a 3.0-litre straight-six twin-turbocharged engine that develops 459bhp.
Out on the road, the car feels responsive and alert, its performance is brisk and the ride is rather smooth for a car of this type.
Used prices for a 2023 car with less than 5,000 miles on the clock are priced at £46,000 – making it good value considering its performance.
Which is the best for a future investment?
A very special car that BMW produced back in the early 2010s was the 1M Coupe, which is based on the standard 1 Series hatchback.
It comes with a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine that produces 335bhp and 332Nm of torque, while its top speed is 155mph.
The car features flared wheel arches, larger alloy wheels and a mechanical limited-slip differential out of an M3.
Also, its standard six-speed manual gearbox gives the driver more control. The car out on the road feels poised, eager and responsive, and having a 50:50 weight distribution improves its handling even further.
On the used market, prices are on the up, with a clean genuine example setting you back around £50,000.