Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

BMW 7 Series review

Divisive styling doesn’t change the fact that the BMW 7 Series is one of the most impressive luxury vehicles on sale today

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Price
£106,100 - £144,775
  • Ride quality
  • Performance
  • Handling
  • Build quality
  • Divisive looks
  • Steeper depreciation than S-Class
  • Pricey extras
Find your BMW 7 Series
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car
Advertisement

Whether you like the looks or not, the BMW 7 Series and its derivatives are amongst the best luxury vehicles you can buy today. It retains the key ability to waft very important people around in supreme comfort and quietness, and follows the latest advanced technology trends and the need to move toward electrification.  BMW’s decision to offer both hybrid and pure EV versions of the 7 Series is a canny one because it means there’s a version for all tastes and business needs. The styling is undoubtedly bold and might be too aggressive for some, yet there’s no denying that the BMW 7 Series is a supremely luxurious car. 

About the BMW 7 Series

Much like its most direct competition, the Mercedes S-Class, the latest BMW 7 Series is also in its seventh generation, with a heritage that dates back to the late ‘70s. In that time, the 7 Series has seen off numerous challengers in the luxury saloon car market, with today’s pool reduced down to the S-Class mentioned above, the Audi A8, Lexus LS, or the Porsche Panamera. If money is no object, you can also look at the Bentley Flying Spur and Rolls-Royce Ghost.

Buyers in this area of the market are also leaning towards far more versatile luxury SUVs such as the Audi Q7, Bentley Bentayga, BMW X7, Range Rover, and Range Rover Sport, as well as all-electric alternatives including the Mercedes EQS and BMW’s own i7 - the EV version of the 7 Series.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Important people often travel in large luxury saloon cars, and it wouldn’t send out the right sort of message to arrive at a summit or highly publicised movie premier in something sporting a diesel engine, so those have been ditched for the latest 7 Series in favour of a range of plug-in hybrids. The range starts with a 750e xDrive that has nearly 50 miles of electric range, followed by a more potent M760e xDrive with a massive 571bhp on tap.

In the UK, there are two main trim levels: Excellence is the more comfort-orientated trim, and the familiar M Sport, which, as the name suggests, is on the sportier side and features bigger wheels and racier styling. Both trims can be upgraded to ‘Executive’ specification, with the latter trim gaining the option to go even further with an ‘Ultimate’ pack. It costs more than a Volkswagen Golf, but will give you the, erm, ultimate luxury experience.

Frequently Asked Questions
The BMW 7 Series has often existed in the shadow of the Mercedes S-Class, but we feel that the latest version is such a huge step on in terms of technology, electrification and quality that it has now eclipsed the S-Class, and in all-electric i7 form, is the best luxury car you can buy.
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Have you considered?

BMW i7 review
BMW i7 - front tracking

BMW i7 review

In-depth reviews
14 Aug 2024
New BMW i7 eDrive50 M Sport review: RWD luxury EV with a sporty twist
BMW i7 - front

New BMW i7 eDrive50 M Sport review: RWD luxury EV with a sporty twist

Road tests
9 Aug 2024
Range Rover D350 HSE: long-term test review
Auto Express editor-in-chief Steve Fowler standing with multiple generations of Range Rover

Range Rover D350 HSE: long-term test review

Long-term tests
12 Oct 2023

More on 7 Series

Best saloon cars to buy in 2024
Best saloon cars

Best saloon cars to buy in 2024

Saloon cars may be less popular than they used to be, but there are still plenty of fantastic models to choose from
Best cars & vans
31 Oct 2024
Best long-distance cars
Best long distance cars - header image

Best long-distance cars

From long-distance road trips to mile-munching motorway commutes, these are the best long distance cars money can buy
Best cars & vans
17 Sep 2024
Top 10 best luxury cars to buy 2024
Best luxury cars - header image

Top 10 best luxury cars to buy 2024

Indulge yourself with our list of the best luxury cars on sale today
Best cars & vans
15 Jul 2024
Luxury Car of the Year 2024: BMW 7 Series
BMW 7 Series - Luxury Car of the Year 2024

Luxury Car of the Year 2024: BMW 7 Series

The BMW 7 Series is the 2024 Auto Express Luxury Car of the Year, with the Range Rover and Rolls-Royce Spectre commended
Awards
3 Jul 2024
Best used luxury cars 2024
Best used luxury cars - header image

Best used luxury cars 2024

An ultra-comfortable ride and a premium driving experience can be yours with the best used luxury cars
Best cars & vans
10 Jan 2024
Hands off: BMW 7 Series to gain Level 3 autonomous driving
BMW 7 Series front cornering roundabout

Hands off: BMW 7 Series to gain Level 3 autonomous driving

Next level of autonomous driving will allow 7 Series drivers to edit emails and stream videos
News
10 Nov 2023
BMW 7 Series vs Mercedes S-Class: 2023 twin test review
BMW 7 Series vs Mercedes S-Class - header

BMW 7 Series vs Mercedes S-Class: 2023 twin test review

We stretch out in the new BMW 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class to find a luxury champ
Car group tests
30 Sep 2023
New BMW 760i 2022 review
BMW 760i - front

New BMW 760i 2022 review

We try out the all-new BMW 7 Series in 760i xDrive form to see if the luxury limo is now better than ever
Road tests
5 Nov 2022
“The new BMW 7 Series is possibly one of the ugliest cars I’ve seen”
BMW 7 Series - opinion

“The new BMW 7 Series is possibly one of the ugliest cars I’ve seen”

While editor-in-chief Steve Fowler is not a fan of how the new BMW 7 Series looks from the outside, he thinks it’s a different story once you sit insi…
Opinion
27 Apr 2022
New BMW i7 revealed with 388-mile range and prices from £107k
BMW i7 - front action

New BMW i7 revealed with 388-mile range and prices from £107k

BMW has revealed the i7, which will be the only version of the new BMW 7 Series available in the UK initially
News
20 Apr 2022
New 2023 BMW 7 Series takes aim at the Mercedes S-Class with bold look
BMW 7 Series - front

New 2023 BMW 7 Series takes aim at the Mercedes S-Class with bold look

The feature-packed BMW 7 Series range has been revealed, but it’ll only be available in ‘i7’ all-electric form initially
News
20 Apr 2022
Skip advert
Advertisement
BMW 7 Series (2015-2022) review
BMW 7 Series

BMW 7 Series (2015-2022) review

BMW’s latest luxury limo gets a bold look, better plug-in hybrid tech and is closer to the Mercedes S-Class than ever
In-depth reviews
11 Apr 2022
New BMW 7 Series prototype review
BMW i7 prototype - front

New BMW 7 Series prototype review

We drive prototype versions of the new V8-powered BMW 7 Series and the new all-electric BMW i7
Road tests
4 Apr 2022
Used BMW 7 Series review

Used BMW 7 Series review

A full used buyer’s guide on the BMW 7 Series covering the 7 Series Mk6 (2015-date)
Used car tests
21 Sep 2020
BMW 7 Series vs Range Rover
BMW 7 Series vs Range Rover - header

BMW 7 Series vs Range Rover

We pitch the new BMW 745Le xDrive against the Range Rover P400e in a luxury hybrid showdown
Car group tests
6 Jul 2019
New BMW 745Le xDrive plug-in hybrid 2019 review
BMW 7 Series

New BMW 745Le xDrive plug-in hybrid 2019 review

The new facelifted BMW 7 Series has arrived in the UK, and we drive the plug-in hybrid 745Le xDrive to see if it's the pick of the range
Road tests
22 May 2019
New BMW 7 Series facelift 2019 review
BMW 750i - front

New BMW 7 Series facelift 2019 review

How does the facelifted BMW 7 Series limo compare with its Mercedes S-Class and Audi A8 rivals?
Road tests
2 Apr 2019
BMW 7 Series facelift arrives with huge grille and new tech
BMW 7 Series facelift - Geneva front

BMW 7 Series facelift arrives with huge grille and new tech

The updated BMW 7 Series flagship gets a bold new look with a huge grille, plus new hybrid and engine options
News
6 Mar 2019
Alpina reveals new B7 super saloon

Alpina reveals new B7 super saloon

German tuner creates BMW 7 Series-based limousine with 205mph top speed
News
11 Feb 2019
Mercedes S-Class vs BMW 7 Series
Mercedes S-Class vs BMW 7 Series - header

Mercedes S-Class vs BMW 7 Series

The latest Mercedes S-Class meets the BMW 7 Series in a limo battle that’s raged for decades
Car group tests
3 Feb 2018
BMW reveals 7 Series 40 Jahre editions for Frankfurt
BMW 7 Series 40 Jahre

BMW reveals 7 Series 40 Jahre editions for Frankfurt

Special edition versions of BMW's 7 Series will be limited to 200 examples
News
24 Jul 2017
BMW M760Li xDrive 2017 review
BMW 7 Series 760Li - front tracking

BMW M760Li xDrive 2017 review

Luxury BMW M760Li xDrive flagship is the brand’s fastest ever car, but does it feel it?
Road tests
16 Feb 2017
BMW 740e plug-in hybrid 2016 review
BMW 740e - front

BMW 740e plug-in hybrid 2016 review

The new BMW 740e plug-in hybrid boasts an impressive set of figures, but what's it like to drive?
Road tests
20 Jul 2016