9.2/10Score

Score breakdown

8.5

Safety, value and features

9.5

Comfort and space

9.5

Engine and gearbox

9.0

Ride and handling

9.5

Technology

Things we like

  • Imposing design
  • Outstanding ride and refinement
  • i7’s slick driveability and silky thrust
  • Benchmark rear-seat experience

Not so much

  • Dynamic talent not as accessible as a W223 S-Class’s
  • Over-styled screen graphics
  • Some control interfaces lack intuitiveness
  • Rear styling lacks distinction

9.2/10Score

Score breakdown

8.5

Safety, value and features

9.5

Comfort and space

9.5

Engine and gearbox

9.0

Ride and handling

9.5

Technology

Things we like

  • Imposing design
  • Outstanding ride and refinement
  • i7’s slick driveability and silky thrust
  • Benchmark rear-seat experience

Not so much

  • Dynamic talent not as accessible as a W223 S-Class’s
  • Over-styled screen graphics
  • Some control interfaces lack intuitiveness
  • Rear styling lacks distinction

Almost a year after the W223-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class wowed us with its all-round excellence and supreme elegance – prompting the label of ‘best sedan in the world’ – BMW has responded with an all-new seventh-generation (G70) 7 Series.

Simplified to just two variants for Australia – one petrol, one electric – the imposing new 7 Series has bucked convention and reimagined what a flagship sedan should be for BMW.

Not only is it the first truly modern 7 Series design since the Chris Bangle-penned E65 of 2001, animated by an intimidating front end, Munich’s statement sedan also rejects conservatism with its packaging – offering just one super-sized body style in all markets, rather than the short- and long-wheelbase variants of the past.

At almost 5.4m long, riding on a slightly longer wheelbase (3215mm) than the previous L version, the new 7 is easily the most imposing limousine in its segment. It also stands 65mm taller to make entry and egress more dignified, yet the new 7 is unashamedly flamboyant – almost to the point of brashness – in its individual expression of futuristic luxury.

Unlike Europe, Australia only gets a turbo-petrol-powered G70 – the rear-drive 740i – to accompany the range-topping i7 xDrive60, which commands a near-$30K premium but is expected to make up roughly 50 per cent of sales volume for the new 7 Series.

Based on our initial drive impressions, however, the star-billing i7 deserves even greater popularity because its execution is deeply impressive.

2023 bmw 7 series and i7 launch: first australian drive

JUMP AHEAD

  • How much is it, and what do you get?
  • Interior comfort, space and storage
  • What is it like to drive?
  • VERDICT

How much is it, and what do you get?

At $268,900, the ‘standard wheelbase’ 740i is priced to compete with the S450 L ($268,491) in the petrol-powered limousine sector whereas the $297,900 electric i7 significantly undercuts its closest Mercedes-Benz rival – the electric EQS53 AMG ($328,400). All prices before on-road costs.

Unlike the clear-cut rivalry between 740i and S450 L, however, the i7 and EQS53 are quite different luxury cars. In terms of size, the EQS has an almost identical wheelbase length to the i7, and weighs the same (around 2640kg), but is significantly shorter in overall length (by 175mm).

And the electric EQS is differentiated from the combustion-engined S-Class in every possible way, whereas the i7 is almost identical to a 740i apart from badgework and a few minor details – giving BMW’s electric limousine some clear air in terms of intended audience.

2023 bmw 7 series and i7 launch: first australian drive

Defining standard features of the Australian 740i include 20-inch M Sport alloy wheels, four-wheel steering, adaptive air suspension, BMW crystal headlights (with Swarovski crystal inlays), an illuminated kidney grille (not yet globally legislated but able to be ‘switched on’ when that happens in the coming months), a panoramic glass roof, M carbon-fibre interior trim, merino leather upholstery, multi-functional electric front seats with massaging, front and rear seat heating, 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio, BMW Individual metallic paint and five years or 80,000km of free servicing.

The 740i also includes BMW’s Travel & Comfort system, Driving Assistant Professional and Parking Assistant Professional.

2023 bmw 7 series and i7 launch: first australian drive

The i7 xDrive60 adds all-wheel drive, 21-inch M alloy wheels, Executive Drive Pro (with active anti-roll and active roll comfort suspension), automatic doors (acquired from Rolls-Royce), merino and cashmere-wool upholstery, multi-function rear seats, Executive Lounge rear console, 35-speaker Bowers & Wilkins diamond surround-sound audio, and an enormous 31.3-inch BMW theatre screen for rear-seat passengers that silently lowers itself from the headlining.

BMW also throws in a third-generation wallbox charger and five-year ChargeFox subscription. And if you’d prefer your new-gen 7 without the standard M Sport package, BMW offers the much shinier Design Pure Excellence appearance package on both models for a more traditional style.

Options include ‘frozen’ matte paint ($2600), two-tone metallic paint ($17,500) and the Connoisseur Lounge Package ($27,900 on 740i, $9000 on i7) that brings active rear-seat ventilation, rear massaging function and Executive Lounge console.

2023 bmw 7 series and i7 launch: first australian drive

Interior comfort, space and storage

With its taller roofline and doors that open to almost 90 degrees – automatically in the i7’s case, in six different ways! – the new-gen 7 is clearly about introducing a degree of SUV elevation to the traditionally low-slung limousine form factor.

And once you’re inside its screen-dominated cabin, anyone familiar with the dull conservatism of the previous generation will be blown away by the new 7’s combination of technical prowess and design warmth.

The fact that there’s an enormous curved screen across more than half the dashboard – consisting of a 12.3-inch instrument display and a 14.9-inch centre control display – appears almost incidental because there are so many other interesting aspects to its interior design.

Classicists will much prefer the clean cohesion of an S-Class cabin, yet the brash new 7 somehow stops short of appearing completely garish, despite its focus on sparkly detailing and clashing patterns.

2023 bmw 7 series and i7 launch: first australian drive

The tan leather and bright-pink ambient lighting of the first i7 we drove seemed to perfectly synergise with Elton John’s Australian tour, yet it also worked.

Even the dashboard’s hidden air outlets operate seamlessly, though some of the background screen graphics are borderline over-styled and the icons for the control screens on the rear doors look like they’re from a cheap Android phone. And while the intricate speaker grilles are styled to mimic a fabric pattern, they’re also quite sharp and can be unkind to misdirected fingernails.

Admittedly, the multitude of colour, trim and lighting options mean that you can suitably tone down the 7’s interior if you desire, though the fundamentals of its seating remain spot-on. The front buckets are everything you’d expect – broadly comfortable, yet impressively supportive – while the thatched seat upholstery, particularly the i7’s gorgeous leather and cashmere-wool combination, adds textural warmth to this unashamedly high-tech cabin.

2023 bmw 7 series and i7 launch: first australian drive

Both the 20- and 35-speaker B&W audio systems are bangers, and the 31.3-inch rear-seat theatre screen (optional on 740i) is one of the finest examples of technological one-upmanship we can think of – the kind of tech you didn’t know you need until you have it.

Yet it’s the 7 Series’ outstanding rear-seat comfort and vision, combined with effortless access and available space, that confirms that this new-generation limousine sedan sits right at the top of its class for occupant pampering.

Apart from some detailing in the instrument display, the only tangible difference between 740i and i7 is boot space. The petrol-engined model relegates 540 litres to luggage duties whereas the electric sedan reduces that to 500 litres due to underfloor electric motor storage.

2023 bmw 7 series and i7 launch: first australian drive

What is it like to drive?

Based on our launch drive, it’s hard to directly compare the dynamics of the G70 7 Series with the W223 S-Class because BMW chose the kind of roads that owners might encounter – namely, not too many corners – whereas Mercedes-Benz directed the new S down some of Victoria’s best driving roads.

With standard four-wheel steering (called ‘Integral Active’) and adaptive air suspension, the BMW combines a degree of pointability with an outstanding level of refined ride plushness that makes this huge sedan shrink around its driver while feeling expensive. Yet there’s ultimately no escaping the new 7’s sheer size, or the degree of aloofness from its steering, and on tight mountain roads the 2090kg 740i fails to transcend what the scales say.

2023 bmw 7 series and i7 launch: first australian drive

Comparisons

Best Electric Cars, $65k-80k: Australia’s premium EVs tested

In part two of our three price-based EV buying guides, we compare Australia’s electric cars priced between $65,000 and $80,000

2 days ago

With its low-mounted powertrain and uprated suspension’s active anti-roll and active roll comfort properties (optional on 740i), the all-wheel drive i7 is superior at combining chassis poise and corner-exit drive with a cushy ride.

Indeed, given its 2640kg ballast, the i7 does a superb job of maintaining its cool, though in both new 7s we found the suspension’s Sport mode to be too firm and not in keeping with the flagship BMW’s station in life.

2023 bmw 7 series and i7 launch: first australian drive

As for the drivetrains, the i7 combines a 106kWh battery with front and rear electric motors for a total of 400kW and 745Nm – enough for a claimed 0-100km/h sprint in 4.7sec, up to 625km of range, and a 10-80 per cent charging time of 34 minutes. Its combination of silken smoothness with instant throttle response and searing accelerative thrust is borderline addictive, managing to make the combustion-engined 740i feel comparatively grainy and a touch lethargic.

While BMW’s 0-100km/h claim for the 280kW/540Nm 740i is an impressive 5.4sec, and its maximum torque spread covers a vast area (1850-5000rpm), it simply can’t match the crisp immediacy of its electric sibling.

For all the 740i’s capabilities – impressive high-rev refinement, strong performance and surprising thrift from its 48-volt mild-hybrid, single-turbo 3.0-litre (combined consumption is 7.9L/100km) – the i7 is much more appealing from a driving perspective.

VERDICT

If you’ve already forgotten what the previous G11/G12 7 Series generation looked like (think overblown 5 Series), or the generation before that (the handsome but understated F01 7 Series), you’re not alone. But that will never happen with the G70 7 Series.

From its imposing shape to its muscular proportions and swathe of intriguing design details, this is a limousine that begs for attention. And it maintains that inside with almost youthful flair – embracing futurism with a degree of whimsy that so often eludes cars like this.

It may not possess the timeless elegance and refined taste of its chief Mercedes-Benz rival, but that gives the 7 Series scope to push a few boundaries and be a bit brash, yet with just enough restraint to keep it classy.

2023 bmw 7 series and i7 launch: first australian drive

The new 7 doesn’t feel as dynamically suave as a W223 S-Class, though for its intended audience, the flagship BMW’s brilliant ride, outstanding refinement, benchmark space and seating comfort, and supreme drivetrain smoothness will be enough.

Yet of the two variants on offer, it’s the i7 that really shines. The silky immediacy of the i7’s movement makes the 740i feel and sound a bit dated, and even though the i7 weighs a shed-tonne, its lower centre of gravity and superb driveability make amends.

Add a worthwhile degree of extra equipment for its modest price premium – plus very cool (optional) two-tone black-over-grey paint (our colour choice) – and you can see why the i7 is the new Seven that makes the most sense.

SCORING

BMW i7 BMW 740i
Safety, value and features 8.5 8
Comfort and space 9.5 9.5
Engine and gearbox 9.5 8
Ride and handling 9 8
Technology 9.5 9
OVERALL (average of above) 9.2 8.5

Keyword: 2023 BMW 7 series and i7 launch: First Australian drive

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

Evolved: Giving BMW’s G81 M3 Touring The CSL Treatment

My favourite BMWs are the ones you can’t actually buy. Even if you see them at a BMW showroom. A few months back, BMW Park Lane in London collaborated with Evolve Automotive. It was a great example of a manufacturer paying attention to the aftermarket, and getting involved with arguably the ...

View more: Evolved: Giving BMW’s G81 M3 Touring The CSL Treatment

2023 BMW iX M60 Review: Ramping up the Power

•    Auto123 reviews the 2023 BMW iX M60. BMW takes straight aim at Tesla and its top-selling Model X with the iX all-electric SUV’s new M60 edition. This is the third variant of the model BMW has put out, after the xDrive40 and iX xDrive50 that debuted with the 2022 ...

View more: 2023 BMW iX M60 Review: Ramping up the Power

2024 BMW 530i xDrive Is A Perfect Example Of Why Electric Cars Are Great

Photo: Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik Having entered its eighth generation, the BMW 5 Series is all new for 2024, and for the first time, there are fully electric variants of the iconic sports sedan. While those electric i5 models are moving the 5 Series lineup into the future, the ...

View more: 2024 BMW 530i xDrive Is A Perfect Example Of Why Electric Cars Are Great

BMW announce R12 nineT and R12 cruiser in rejuvenated boxer heritage range

A side view of the BMW R12 nineT 2024 BMW R12 being ridden A static view of the BMW R12 cruiser A pair of BMW R12 nineTs riding together Ten years on from the introduction of the first R nineT retro in 2013, BMW have pulled the covers off ...

View more: BMW announce R12 nineT and R12 cruiser in rejuvenated boxer heritage range

BMW’s Electric Gravel Bike Puts A Very Big, Very Fast Smile On Your Face

Photo: Jalopnik / Owen Bellwood Automakers around the world are looking for a way into the burgeoning electric bike market. Porsche bought up European bike builder Greyp to further its two-wheeled ambitions, Jeep partnered with American outfit QuietKat, and now BMW has a range of e-bikes built in partnership ...

View more: BMW’s Electric Gravel Bike Puts A Very Big, Very Fast Smile On Your Face

Imp By Name, Imp By Nature

Imp, (noun), a mischievous child or little devil. That word description is hardly something a standard Hillman Imp could embody, but James Williams‘ 1976 Imp – seen here on the Lancaster Pride of Ownership stand at the recent NEC Classic Motor Show – well and truly lives up to its name. When you think ...

View more: Imp By Name, Imp By Nature

The BMW M3 CS Is A Flawed Daily Driver But A Perfect Track Toy

This car was made for weekend racers.

View more: The BMW M3 CS Is A Flawed Daily Driver But A Perfect Track Toy

What is the BMW M3 top speed?

We list the top speed as well as the performance figures and 0-100 km/h sprint time of the latest-generation BMW M3. In 2021, BMW introduced the G80 generation M3 model. Like the E30 M3, introduced in 1986, the latest iteration embodies the trait of being a race car for the ...

View more: What is the BMW M3 top speed?

Which used BMW X1 is better: diesel or petrol?

BMW’s M Performance Parts Kit Now Includes Centre-lock Wheels

Watch A Pristine BMW E30 Go Up In Flames After It Springs A Leak

This Nurburgring Compilation Video Is Filled With Out-Of-Control BMWs

Gusheshe BMW E30 Spontaneously Combusts in Mzansi Street

What is the BMW X3 top speed?

This Awkward Looking SUV Will Replace The BMW iX3 In 2025

Listening To This V10-Swapped BMW M3 Will Be The Best Thing You Do Today

The 2024 BMW 5 Series Is Still Great With A Gas Engine: First Drive Review

BMW, Mercedes Saw EVs Make Up 15% Of Their Total U.S. Sales In Q3 2023

After 32 Years, Esther Mahlangu’s Iconic BMW Will Return to SA

Here’s how much you’ve gotta pay for the new BMW i5 monthly

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel