BMW 7 Series review - MPG, CO2 and running costs
An entirely plug-in hybrid range means good emissions for company car drivers, but costly insurance and heavy depreciation will be expensive
Any individual or company looking to purchase a £100,000 luxury car isn’t likely to be too concerned about the day-to-day running costs of running such a car.
However, those getting a BMW 7 Series as a company car purchase can take advantage of its low plug-in hybrid emissions compared with the pure petrol and diesel alternatives of the Mercedes S-Class. And while its smaller 18.7kWh (useable) battery pack means it won’t be able to travel as far on a charge compared with the 21.5kWh (useable) pack in an S-Class, both currently sit in the same benefit-in-kind (BIK) taxation band. If you need something with a lower rate, then there is always the option of the all-electric BMW i7 to consider.
Fuel consumption (provided you regularly charge up) should be low. The best version is the 750e with an official figure of 282.5mpg, followed by the M760e with 256.8mpg. During our test of the M760e we pitched against the Mercedes S 580 e, the BMW managed 34.1mpg with a depleted battery, whereas the Mercedes achieved 36.3mpg.
The 750e and M760e can be charged up from flat to full from a 7.4kW wallbox charger at home in three hours, which is similar to how long it’ll take an S 580 e S-Class to charge up. The Mercedes can be rapid charged in 20 minutes, though.
Insurance groups
All versions of the 7 Series sit in the highest insurance group of 50, which is typical of luxury cars in this price range. You’ll have to shop around or look into a multi-car policy to find ways of reducing your insurance bill.
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Depreciation
This is an area of contention, but unfortunately, expensive luxury cars tend to lose value particularly quickly. The 7 Series is no exception because it’ll be worth 44-46% of its original value after three years or 36,000 miles.
The S-Class will be worth more over the same period, but if you can, try the all-electric i7. The least expensive xDrive50 Excellence or M Sport versions are predicted to retain 51% of their value.
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