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
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.
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.
