BMW’s performance sedans are some fantastic pieces of machinery and hard to match in terms of what they offer. Prestige, quality, and that unmatched German refinement are just a few of their strongest attributes, coupled with a perfect balance between comfort and outright performance. Of course, we’re mainly referring to the M Division here, and the purpose of today’s discussion narrows our focus to the M3 along with its more civilized M340i sibling. Serving as performance-oriented variants of the 3 Series lineup, they offer different levels of track readiness for those who want a bit more than what the base 330i can provide. A Closer Look At Bavaria’s Sports Sedans Bring a TrailerOn the one hand, the M340i is easier to live with as a daily driver while giving you the ability to unleash some serious power whenever you feel like it. In the engine bay, there’s a three-liter twin-turbo inline-six codenamed B58, coupled with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology and an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The B58 can spawn up to 386 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of low-end torque, propelling the Bimmer from zero to 60 mph in as little as 4.1 seconds when paired with xDrive. That's pretty sweet, to say the least, but things get a lot crazier when it comes to the M3.Its twin-turbocharged S58 powerplant delivers between 473 and 523 ponies depending on the trim, along with a torque output ranging from 406 to 479 lb-ft. The range-topping M3 Competition xDrive can hit 60 mph from a standstill in 3.4 ticks of the stopwatch, and its chassis is far more track-focused than that of the M340i. But what if we told you there’s a perfect middle ground between these two, an underrated sports sedan which has nothing to do with BMW at all? It doesn’t quite match Bavaria’s offerings in every area nor is it as prestigious, yet those who appreciate performance on a budget should definitely take it into consideration. Luxurious Performance Doesn’t Come Cheap, Or Does It? InfinitiA 2026 M3 has a starting price of around $80,000, whereas the M340i from the same year will set you back a little over $60,000. By contrast, the model we’re about to look at costs half as much as an M3 and significantly less than an M340i, all while offering a great chunk of their capabilities. And although it is no longer in production, you can find some great deals on used models across the web without even trying very hard. The model comes from Nissan’s luxury division Infiniti, first introduced in 2016 and kept on the assembly line until 2024. Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400: Often Overlooked, But Extremely Capable Nissan Global NewsroomEnter the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400, a car similar to BMW’s performance-oriented 3 Series sedans in many ways. Its name provides a direct hint at the sort of power produced under the hood, where you would find the twin-turbo VR30DDTT engine shared with the Nissan Z. The mill is a three-liter V6 linked to a seven-speed automatic transmission, complete with manual override via paddle shifters. And, as the model's name suggests, this six-cylinder motor is good for up to 400 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, sent to either a rear-wheel-drive configuration or an optional AWD. We’ve only just gotten started here, but you can probably see why the comparison to the M3 and M340i is warranted. How It Stacks Up Against Its German Rivals InfinitiThe Red Sport 400 accelerates to 60 mph in a mere 4.5 seconds—slower than the Bimmers yet quick enough to be placed into the same league. And those differences were even smaller back when the Red Sport was launched in 2016, as the M3 available at the time had 425 horses on tap and a 0–60 mph time of 3.9 to 4.1 seconds. Besides that, Infiniti's flagship brought some genuine luxury credentials to the table, offering premium materials and tech at a considerably lower price. A lot of people found it easier to live with on a daily basis too, as the M3's aggressive character wasn't necessarily for everyone.By comparison, the Red Sport is slightly more tame and spiritually closer to the M340i with better road-going manners. It’s also more of a sleeper, featuring bold stylistic cues but not to the same extent as BMW’s models. The ignorant among us might assume it’s just another luxury sedan at first glance, only to be surprised by its true capability when the throttle is engaged. That takes us back to the car’s VR30DDTT power plant for a minute, as it’s worth pointing out its popularity among tuners stemming from its mod-friendly nature. Where BMW Still Comes Out On Top InfinitiIt didn’t take an awful lot for the VR30 to unleash some extra power, also benefiting from extensive aftermarket support to help you reveal its true potential. But despite how good the Q50 Red Sport 400 is, it still lagged behind Bavaria’s high-performance sedans in some key areas and that gap only widened as time went on. For starters, many Q50s came with a steer-by-wire system known as Direct Adaptive Steering, especially earlier on in the model’s production run. People weren’t too keen on it, though, as it was said to provide very poor feedback compared to conventional steering setups.The M3 revealed a considerably better chassis when pushed to the limit, as well—more balanced and track-capable than what the Red Sport had to offer. And then there was the fact that BMW's lineup evolved while Infiniti's flagship remained mostly unchanged inside and out, becoming rather outdated by the time production was nearing its end. Moreover, Infiniti was also losing momentum as a whole by the late 2010s, which didn't exactly facilitate proper public attention for the Red Sport 400 and ended up being yet another hindrance to its success. But then we’ve got the pricing aspect, and that’s where the performance-oriented Q50 regains a ton of ground. Pricing Makes The Red Sport 400 Hard To Ignore Infiniti Earlier models could be yours for around $25,000, while those released from 2020 onward will command anywhere from $35k to $45,000. Compare that to what you’d be paying for a brand-new M3 or even the more accessible M340i, and it’s not hard to see why the Q50 Red Sport 400 is so appealing. Some of that cash you’re saving could potentially go toward a nice bit of aftermarket sorcery, which may just turn your understated Infiniti sedan into a real BMW killer. Either that, or you’re in for a real bargain taking you close to M territory without breaking the bank.