Review of the BMW X7

The BMW X7 is one of the biggest luxury SUVs on the market, coming with either six or seven seats. Although practicality comes in abundance, the X7 doesn't stop there. It features a well-built interior, market-leading technology, and a range of powerful engines.

Rivals to the BMW X7 include the Range Rover, Audi Q7, and Mercedes GLS.

Our BMW X7 review covers:

• Large exterior with a big front grille
• Well-built interior featuring an integrated digital cluster
• 326-litre boot, but varies depending on the setup choice 
• A range of petrol and diesel engines
• Three trim levels: Excellence, M Sport, and M60i

Pros:

• Great levels of practicality
• Mild-hybrid technology used
• High-quality interior

Cons:

• May be too big for British roads
• Engines have poor fuel economy
• No electric or plug-in hybrid option

The first thing you'll notice about the BMW X7 is its size. It measures in at a whopping 5.2 metres long, two metres wide and more than 1.8 metres tall. The style is what you'd expect for an SUV of its size; it's square and features a large and dominating front grille. 

Because of its size, the X7 comes with exceptional levels of practicality. There's a load of interior space throughout the cabin, with head and leg room coming in abundance. This even extends to anyone sitting on the third row, where anyone over six feet tall should have no issues. 

Boot space for the BMW X7 is 326 litres in the seven-seater version and a mammoth 750 litres in the two-row setup. If you want even more space, you can fold the rear seats 40:20:40 to increase the space to 2,120 litres.

The interior of the BMW X7 is one of the best on the market. Every inch of the cabin has been crafted with care, ensuring that the equipment is built to last whilst adding to the car's luxurious feel. This beats the interior of the Range Rover and the Mercedes GLS.

In terms of technology, BMW has fitted an all-in-one display that accommodates the 12.3-inch digital cockpit and the 14.9-inch infotainment system. The latter features Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and a DAB radio. Although the display is touchscreen, it can be controlled through the rotary controller by the centre armrest.

Three trim levels are available for the BMW X7, including Excellence, M Sport, and M60i.

The entry-level Excellence comes with 21-inch alloy wheels, air suspension, a panoramic sunroof, four-zone air conditioning, and ambient lighting.

M Sport has 21-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, front and rear seat heating, a more aerodynamic body, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers.

The top-of-the-range M60i comes with 22-inch alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlights with high beam assist, and its exclusive xDrive M60i engine.

Three engines are available for the X7, and unless you pick the M60i, you'll have a choice of either the 40d or 40i. The 40d is our pick of the bunch, coming with 347bhp and achieving 0-60mph in just 5.9 seconds.

The petrol unit is pretty similar to the diesel, although it offers a slightly quicker performance achieving 0-60mph in 5.8 seconds. However, this is a small difference, and for it, you sacrifice a good amount of fuel economy, dropping to a combined economy of 26.4-29.4mpg.

If you want pure power, the top-of-the-range M60i certainly won't let you down. It's a 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine with a whopping 523bhp which can achieve 0-62mph in just 4.7 seconds. Pretty sharp for a car of the X7's size.

As expected for a car of its size, the X7 doesn't feel as nippy as some of its rivals, such as the Porsche Cayenne, but it's still good enough if you keep the suspension in its Sport setting. The steering is also accurate and well-weighted, bringing some sense of enjoyment when cruising down country roads.

If you plan on doing lots of urban driving, adding the optional four-wheel steering to your package would be wise. It massively helps the X7 manoeuvre at low speeds by switching the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the front wheels.

Prices for the new BMW X7 start from £83,945.00 OTR* or to lease from £1,005.71 per month.

Looking to lease the BMW X7? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has a range of leasing deals available to suit your every need.

Leasing may also prove cheaper than an outright purchase thanks to a low initial investment, a range of benefits included in the lease deal such as breakdown cover and road tax, and fixed monthly payments.

*'On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change, always check with your nearest retailer.