BMW X7 Review

It’s the biggest BMW ever built! It’s spacious, luxurious, and is packed with hi-tech safety features. The BMW X7 is also highly capable, with the ability to effortlessly conquer the trails or racetrack.

The 2019 X7 is the fifth BMW model to be produced at the BMW Group’s Spartanburg plant in South Carolina. To date, the BMW Group has invested eight billion dollars in that plant. BMW says the X7 builds on the class leading comfort, handling, safety, and technology of all the previous BMW X Sport Activity Vehicle model lines.

Being that the X7 is BMW’s largest and most luxurious vehicle, you can expect to pay a pretty penny for it. The X7 xDrive40i has a starting price of $73,900. You’ll need to shell out close to $20,000 more for the xDrive50i. The range-topper has a starting price of $92,600.

If you opt for any of the additional packages, that would bring the cost up even further. A fully loaded X7 can easily top $110,000!

You could always keep the smaller three-row BMW X5 in mind, though, if the X7’s price point is too prohibitive.

You have the choice between two updated gasoline engines with the new BMW X7. Heading up the range is the BMW X7 xDrive50i, with an extensively updated 4.4-liter V8 engine. It’s good for 456 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. The BMX X7 xDrive40i, meanwhile, has a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine. It offers 335 hp and 330 lb.-ft. of torque. Both channel their power though BMW’s eight-speed Steptronic transmission. They also feature the BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive system. When all-wheel drive is not needed, all power is sent to the rear wheels to help improve efficiency.

The X7’s standard two-axle air suspension system comes with sport and comfort settings. The electronically controlled dampers sharpen the vehicle’s handling while also increasing ride comfort. When in sport driving mode, the vehicle’s ride height is automatically lowered by 0.8 inches. The driver can also simply push a button in the cockpit to adjust the body’s ground clearance for off-roading. The vehicle can be raised in two stages up to a maximum of 1.6 inches above the standard setting. The system can also be helpful when loading cargo as there’s another button in the luggage compartment that activates a loading mode. It lowers the vehicle by 1.6 inches, making it even easier for you to stow your gear.

If you need to get even more performance out of your X7, you can always tack on the Dynamic Handling Package. It adds more options for customization, including the Active Comfort Drive system.

As for fuel economy, the xDrive40i is the more efficient of the two offerings. It has EPA fuel economy ratings of 20 miles per gallon city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. Upgrading to the xDrive50i will set you back to 15 mpg city, 21 mpg highway, and 17 mpg combined. While we bet customers who choose a vehicle this large and luxurious wouldn’t fret too much over having to pay for fuel more often, fuel costs are always important to consider.

There’s plenty to marvel at inside the new BMW X7. What helps make it feel even more spacious is the gorgeous three-panel electronically controlled panoramic glass sunroof. It comes standard on the X7 and, along with the large windows, floods the interior with light. But, if that isn’t enough to set the right mood, know you could also tack on the Panorama Sky Lounge LED Roof. It embeds light in the panoramic glass sunroof to generate a display reminiscent of a starlit sky. The LED light spreads evenly across the glass surfaces to illuminate more than 15,000 graphic patterns. The color scheme can even be adjusted to your liking.

There are three rows in the X7, but you can swap out the second-row bench for Captain’s Chairs if desired. That’d bring the capacity down to six, but opens up even more space in the sport activity vehicle and makes for easier access to the third row. If you choose to stick with the bench in the second row, know it tilts fully forward to help passengers access that rear bench. The second-row seats can then be returned upright with the push of a button.

When the third-row seats are not in use, the new BMW X7 offers 48.6 cubic feet of load capacity. That increases to a maximum of 90.4 cubic feet when both benches are folded down. They can be easily folded from the cargo area. There’s also a button in the trunk that allows you to lower the vehicle, to make loading cargo even easier. The X7 also features a split tailgate, which helps prevent items from falling out when opening the rear.

As for technology, there’s a 12.3-inch instrument cluster display behind the steering wheel and another 12.3-inch center display diagonally across. The iDrive system offers many hardware upgrades and can be controlled by touchscreen, cloud based voice control, gesture control, and a touch pad. The Navigation Professional system is helpful, as is the hard-drive-based multimedia system with 20 GB of memory, six USB ports, and Bluetooth interfaces. Wireless charging and a WiFi hotspot are standard for both models. And as for playing your favorite music while on the road, the standard audio system in the xDrive40i features 10 speakers and 205 watts of power. You can upgrade to a Harman Kardon Surround Sound Audio system, though, which comes standard with the xDrive50i. There’s even a more extensive surround sound system than that available for both models, if desired.

The X7 represents the next stage in BMW’s ongoing model offensive in the luxury segment. At 203.3 inches long, 78.7 inches wide, and 71.1 inches tall, and with a wheelbase of 122.2 inches, there’s no doubt this is BMW’s largest vehicle! So, it’s quite fitting that it has the largest kidney grille every designed for a BMW model. Some auto critics joked that the grille is even bigger than their BBQ pit at home!

The X7’s exterior was specifically designed to emphasize the spaciousness of the vehicle. When you look at it from the side, for example, the large windows and long, flowing roofline hint at the large size of the interior. The rear doors are also longer than the front doors, emphasizing the spaciousness of the rear compartment. It also makes for easier entry and exit for those second- and third-row passengers. The versatile functionality of the new X7, meanwhile, is highlighted by its 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

With a vehicle this large and luxurious, you can expect plenty of standard safety features. A rear-view camera, blind spot detection, lane departure warning, rear collision warning, front collision warning, pedestrian warning with city collision mitigation, speed limit information, and more all come standard on the new X7.

The xDrive50i model adds standard Parking Assist Plus, which provides Top View, Panorama View, and 3D View.

If you spend a lot of time in stop-and-go traffic on the highway, you could opt to add the Driving Assistant Professional package with Extended Traffic Jam Assist. It comes standard on the xDrive50i model and is optional with the xDrive40i. The system can be used on limited access highways up to a speed of 37 mph. It uses a driver-facing optical/infrared camera to monitor the driver’s eye and nose position to determine if they’re monitoring the road ahead. As long as the driver is found to be attentive, the need for the driver to place their hands on the wheel every 30-50 seconds is not required. That interior camera, which is located in the digital instrument cluster, is also used to support the new standard driver alertness monitoring system. If it determines the driver is becoming less alert, the system will suggest they pull over and take a break.

There are also other, additional systems to help you with parallel parking, backing up into confined areas, navigating the vehicle to safety during a medical emergency, and more.

As for competitors, the new BMW X7 is up against the likes of the Cadillac Escalade, Mercedes-Benz GLS, Infiniti QX80, Lincoln Navigator, Volkswagen Atlas, and others. While the X7 is spacious, some of those rivals still offer more legroom than BMW’s largest vehicle. That might be something you want to consider. Fuel economy ratings, and especially with the xDrive50i model, may also be worth comparing to competitor vehicles.

The BMW X7 is no doubt a beautiful and luxurious vehicle, with a hefty price tag to match. We love all the hi-tech features inside, as well as all of the light that fills the cabin. It’s another great option for BMW lovers, and especially those who have been looking for more space than what’s offered with the X5!