The i7 wears 21-inch alloy wheels. (i7 xDrive60 variant pictured)
As expected the dials are fully digital. (i7 xDrive60 variant pictured)
A lot of the 7 Series functions can be controlled through the central multimedia screen. (i7 xDrive60 variant pictured)
Rea passengers get door-mounted control screens. (i7 xDrive60 variant pictured)
The 7 Series has a new face compared to its predecessor. (740i variant pictured)
The 7 Series is almost 5.4 metres long. (740i variant pictured)
The 7 Series is less elegant and more aggressive than previous generations. (i7 xDrive60 variant pictured)
The rear of the 7 Series is uninspiring. (i7 xDrive60 variant pictured)
What we like
Genuinely impressive rear passenger comforts EV drivetrain is smooth and flexible Magnificently quiet cabin
What we don’t
Backwards step in tech ease of use Doesn’t feel quite $300K from the driver's seat Design will be divisive
What we like
Genuinely impressive rear passenger comforts EV drivetrain is smooth and flexible Magnificently quiet cabin
What we don’t
Backwards step in tech ease of use Doesn’t feel quite $300K from the driver's seat Design will be divisive
The BMW 7 Series is Munich’s flagship, the car that fans of the blue and white roundel respect as peak plush motoring.
Now, for the seventh 7 Series, BMW has brought electric power to the table in the form of the i7 in order to stay ahead of the curve.
It’s still joined by a petrol-powered variant here in Australia, the 740i, which is a mild hybrid and shares a lot of the luxury specifications of the i7 – including a properly impressive rear seat theatre screen.
But is it forward-thinking enough to fend off the likes of the Mercedes EQS?
| BMW 7 Series 2023: 740i Mhev | |
|---|---|
| Safety rating | |
| Engine Type | 3.0L turbo |
| Fuel Type | — |
| Fuel Efficiency | 7.9L/100km |
| Seating | 5 seats |
| Price from | $268,900 |
Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 8/10
Given we’re in the realm of models where the price difference between two variants could pay for an entire new city car, what value means shifts a little bit.
The BMW 7 Series comes in two variants for the seventh generation, starting at $268,900 for the petrol-powered 740i, and $297,900 for the electric i7.
Previously, it was possible to get into the BMW 740i for $198,900 after BMW lowered the price of the sixth generation car.
However, the new 7 Series is larger and has more packed into it, with both variants highly specified and mostly differing in price due to their drivetrains and some more minor creature comforts.
The 740i starts with an already impressive list of standard features, with 20-inch M alloy wheels, remote start, a tyre pressure monitor, rear-wheel steering, ‘crystal’ headlights and an illuminated grille surround, a panoramic glass roof, heated seats and a massage seat for the driver with Merino leather, a 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system, as well the option to select the M Sport or M Sport Pro pack at no extra cost.
The i7 wears 21-inch alloy wheels. (i7 xDrive60 variant pictured)
As expected the dials are fully digital. (i7 xDrive60 variant pictured)
A lot of the 7 Series functions can be controlled through the central multimedia screen. (i7 xDrive60 variant pictured)
Rea passengers get door-mounted control screens. (i7 xDrive60 variant pictured)
The more expensive i7 xDrive60 gains, on top of that, 21-inch wheels, active roll stabilisation, automatic opening and closing doors, multifunction seats with heating, cooling, and massage in the rear, plus a 39-speaker sound system and the impressive 31.3-inch theatre screen.
The i7 also comes with a BMW third-gen wallbox, home and public charging cables, and a five-year ChargeFox subscription. It also gains a six-year service package over the five included with the 740i.
If the i7’s extra features are tempting, but its drivetrain isn’t, 740i buyers can opt for a ‘Connoisseur Lounge’ pack for $27,900 which adds the auto doors, multifunction seats, rear theatre screen, and a 40-speaker sound system.
Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10
BMW freely calls the new 7 Series “monolithic” in its press material, and it’s hard to argue. The seventh-generation of its luxo limo is bigger in every dimension, and with a higher bonnet and bootlid, the car is convincingly imposing even when parked. Even more so in black.
From the front, the 7 Series clearly has a new face compared to its predecessor, with split headlights now an indicator of BMW’s luxury oriented models – the incoming XM SUV features the same.
Its LED daytime running lights feature Swarovski crystals, while the grille surround illuminates while the vehicle is parked and on. It’s currently unable to be illuminated while driving to comply with Australia’s laws.
The 7 Series has a new face compared to its predecessor. (740i variant pictured)
The 7 Series is almost 5.4 metres long. (740i variant pictured)
It’s perhaps less elegant and more aggressive than previous generations, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be those who approve. It’s certainly emotive, especially when compared to the side and rear of the car.
The side profile of the 7 requires quite a few steps back from the car to really take in – it’s almost 5.4 metres long – though it’s hard to hide the size of a car that allows its rear passengers to almost lay down.
The 7 Series is less elegant and more aggressive than previous generations. (i7 xDrive60 variant pictured)
The rear of the 7 Series is uninspiring. (i7 xDrive60 variant pictured)
From the rear, the 7 Series is probably at its most uninspiring, which is a reverse from the interior where the front feels more minimalistic than some of its rivals like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
BMW has used crystalline geometric shapes throughout the cabin, and the front ‘interaction bar’ is perhaps the best example.
In keeping with the minimalism, its screen sits in an almost freestanding style out from the dash, with no physical buttons seen around it.
How practical is the space inside? 9/10
If the word ‘practicality’ brings to mind simplicity, the 7 Series might require you to have a bit of a mental reset. If it means plenty of space and a long list of elements to keep you comfortable, you’d be closer to the money.
While it’s visually restrained in some ways, the space accessible to the driver is thought out reasonably well, as you’d expect from a car costing more than a quarter-million.
The front seats certainly aren’t the main event, but the Merino leather and cashmere wool combination seats are far from uncomfortable, with the heating, cooling, and massage functions accessible from the central multimedia screen.
The controls for those, as well as functions like the climate control, are easily accessible, though could probably be even easier with a physical climate control panel.
Controls for the individual vents, and even the glovebox are found along the BMW interaction bar, which can (frustratingly) reflect light thanks to its crystalline design, meaning it’s hard to see while driving on a sunny day.
Similarly, while the centre console where the main control dial for BMW’s ‘iDrive’ isn’t far removed from previous versions, it’s less tactile and requires a look sometimes to see what’s being pressed. Here, too, sunlight can reflect (this time off the dial) and make it more distracting.
Fortunately, the steering wheel controls remain physical buttons, and they’re laid out in a way that previous BMW owners or drivers will find familiar.
The 7 Series also now leans more heavily on voice activation, so if the lack of physical climate controls or the multimedia screen is a little distracting, much can be achieved by actually asking the car with a “hey, BMW… ”.
There’s a large storage unit in the centre console, as well as two cupholders and a phone charging platform in front of the multimedia controls.
The rear seats, especially the one behind the front passenger, are where the 7 Series begins to feel its worth. If you’re buying one with the intention of being the driver 100 per cent of the time, you’re missing a trick.
The ability for the front passenger seat to shift forward and maximise legroom while the rear seat reclines into a lounge position is nothing new, limousine sedans have been able to do this for years, but the 7 Series takes it to another level.
Not only is there plenty of space for even the tallest of humans to stretch out, but the positioning and angle of the huge 31.3-inch theatre screen is great, even if it impedes the driver’s rear view, and the ability to use it as a touchscreen for some functions means less need for the handy but sometimes fiddly door-mounted control screen.
If you plan on playing games, the controls (and the fact you’re likely in a moving car) can make it a little difficult, but the small control panel is overall easy to use and well-placed.
The cushioned armrest that folds down in place of a middle passenger is comfortable, features a phone charging pad and pop-out cupholders, as well as a storage space under the armrest.
Finally, the boot space in the BMW 7 Series is far from small, with the electric i7 offering 500 litres (VDA) of space, while the 740i boasts 540 litres thanks to its lack of battery.
What are the key stats for the engine and transmission? 9/10
The BMW 740i is powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder petrol engine, as is the way with many of BMW’s larger cars. It’s also a mild hybrid, incorporating a 48-volt electric starter/motor combination.
The 740i makes 280kW between 5200-6250rpm, and 520Nm between 1850-5000rpm, which is transferred to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The electric i7 xDrive60 is the flagship model, with its dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain good for 400kW and 745Nm, allowing for a claimed 0-100km/h time of 4.7 seconds – 0.7s faster than the 740i.
How much fuel does it consume? 8/10
BMW Australia hasn’t yet specified local figures for fuel consumption or energy efficiency for either variant of the 7 Series at the time of our review, but the international specifications for both i7 xDrive60 and 740i give a relatively accurate guide.
BMW claims the electric i7 has a power consumption of between 19.6 and 18.4kWh/100km, which means its 101.7kWh battery allows a range of between 591 and 625km according to the brand.
It’s claimed to charge from 10 per cent to full in less than 5.5 hours with a 22kW AC wallbox, or in 34 minutes to reach 80 per cent using DC fast charging at 195kW.
The petrol powered 740i will use between 7.0 and 8.0 litres per 100km, according to BMW, which equates to between 183 and 159g/km of CO2.
What safety equipment is fitted? What safety rating? 9/10
The new BMW 7 Series hasn’t been crash tested by ANCAP, nor does it seem likely it will be, given the small number that are likely to be sold here.
But the car itself isn’t short on safety features, and BMW has a good recent history of scoring the maximum five stars for its cars.
The 7 Series features front and side airbags for driver and front passenger, curtain airbags for both front and rear seats, crash sensors, and a tyre pressure indicator.
Of course, the standards like active cruise, AEB, and sensors for collision warnings are all standard, plus BMW also offers active roll stabilisation as an option, which uses 48-volt motors to steady the car and account for the road surface and body roll through corners.
What does it cost to own? What warranty is offered? 7/10
BMW offers a five year, unlimited kilometre warranty and that extends to both variants of the 7 Series.
BMW also offers servicing packs for its new cars, though the pricing for each group of models excluded the 7 and 8 Series and its M cars.
Given the most expensive servicing pack listed is the BMW X7’s $2800 five-year, 80,000km pack, expect anything similar for the 7 Series to cost more.
In terms of when servicing is required, BMWs are condition-based, meaning the car’s own systems detect whether something like an oil change or part replacement is required, and provides that data to your BMW service centre to help calculate an estimate for work needed, ahead of time.
What’s it like to drive? 8/10
BMW hopes for two things for the new 7 Series: one, that it’s the best car to be driven in, and two, that it’s the best car to drive.
While one of those things could be argued to be true, we suspect there are some engineers in BMW’s M department who would be frustrated at the thought of a more-than 2.6-tonne limo being called better to drive than a car half that size with a manual gearbox.
But, perhaps unsurprisingly, the BMW 7 Series is rather refined from the driver’s seat, especially on roads where the speed limit is high and the corners are long.
The two variants Australia has available, the i7 xDrive60 and the 740i, differ in their drivetrains as mentioned above, and the dynamics of each are slightly different.
The all-wheel drive electric i7, despite its extra heft (the 740i is almost 600kg lighter) the EV feels more nimble thanks to its immediate torque delivery and higher outputs give it more flexibility in dynamic driving.
The lower centre of gravity, even with the extra weight, helps the electric i7 hold its own against the turbo six-powered 740i.
Both variants come standard with BMW’s rear-wheel steer system, or ‘Integral Active Steering’, which is vital to providing the agility needed for keeping the 7 Series in shape on tight roads, where it tightens the turning circle below 60km/h, though its 3215mm wheelbase does a lot to keep it feeling stable.
Above 60km/h, the rear-wheel steering improves stability further by turning slightly with the front wheels as opposed to against them, allowing for smoother flowing cornering and highway lane changes.
In either case, the 7 Series is easy to drive, with the steering able to be set to Comfort regardless of the drivetrain’s intensity (Sport and Comfort are the only options), which leaves the wheel feeling lighter.
The ride, whether from the front or the back, is impressive, even when being chauffeured through rough backroads.
The 7 Series, despite not being engineered specifically for Australia’s sometimes shockingly pockmarked roads, manages to soak up impacts before they transfer from the tyre into the seats, and that goes for the sound and road noise, too.
Unfortunately, our launch test drive was hampered by some roadworks out of BMW’s control, so stay tuned for a more in-depth drive soon.
Verdict
While the new 7 Series won’t visually appeal to everyone, nor is it at the forefront of spirited driving dynamics, it’s hard to argue that it isn’t fit for purpose.
Its rear theatre screen and lounge layout might seem gimmicky at first, but it’s difficult to think of a more comfortable way to be transported on wheels short of putting a chassis under your loungeroom. Even then, you’d have to ask someone for a massage.
This is one of those cases where a car becoming larger isn’t such a bad thing, and BMW should feel like it’s achieved, seemingly, what it set out to do in building an electric limousine that doesn’t fall short in range or dynamics.
If BMW can bring this level of refinement down to its more affordable models, its electric future is looking promising.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.
Keyword: BMW 7 Series 2023 review