• Car Dealer Plus
No Result
View All Result
  • Latest
  • Used Cars
  • Live
  • Forum
  • Power 2020
  • UCA 2020
  • UCA 2021
  • CDX
  • Knowledge
  • Suppliers Guide
  • About Us
  • Latest Issue
  • Top 100
  • CD Plus
  • Latest
  • Used Cars
  • Live
  • Forum
  • Power 2020
  • UCA 2020
  • UCA 2021
  • CDX
  • Knowledge
  • Suppliers Guide
  • About Us
  • Latest Issue
  • Top 100
  • CD Plus
No Result
View All Result

First Drive: BMW X7, an involving and agile luxury cruiser

Car Dealer Magazine by Car Dealer Magazine
June 24, 2019
0
Home Road Tests

What is it?

BMW has long been an established contender in the SUV market. Since the X5 debuted in 1999, it’s gone on to become one of the most recognisable faces in the premium large car segment which has gone on to spawn a series of niche-busting X cars. There is one part of the SUV market it has been notably absent from, however – and that’s the very top end of it. Until now.

What’s new?

Now, BMW is keen to point out this isn’t just a bigger X5 — think more a 7 Series that can also cover the muddy stuff if need be.

That it can do, in no small part thanks its standard all-wheel-drive system, but this is first and foremost a luxury cruiser — as well as the first seven-seater SUV from BMW. Plus, being just over five metres long, two metres wide and 1.8m tall, it’s comfortably the biggest car the brand has ever marketed.


What’s under the bonnet?

From launch, two diesels and a petrol are on offer for the BMW X7, and it’s the latter we’ve got behind the wheel of. It’s the firm’s tried-and-tested ‘40i’ offering — a 3.0-litre, turbocharged straight-six engine.

It produces 335bhp and 450Nm of torque, delivered to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The result is 0-60mph in 5.9 seconds, with a top speed of 152mph possible. As for efficiency, BMW says it’ll manage 24.6-24.8mpg on the combined WLTP cycle, with emissions weighing in at 198g/km.

It’s a unit that’s remarkably smooth in smaller cars – and that remains the case here.

What’s it like to drive?

The X7 does a remarkable job of hiding its weight. It offers a more involving drive than its key rival in the Range Rover, and certainly feels more agile in all scenarios too.


It’s when covering motorway miles the X7 really shines, though. With a supple ride, and a near enough silent and very comfortable cabin, it makes the prospect of a multi-100-mile journey quite pleasing – although we’d opt for the 30d in that scenario so less time is spent at the pump.

We’ll be honest, the styling of the BMW X7 is something of an acquired taste. Up front, there’s the unmissable – and most divisive – huge front grille, flanked by thin LED headlights, while taking the long walk around to the rear reveals a taillight assembly that almost mimics that of the 7 Series saloon.

It’s definitely more appreciable 
in the flesh.

What’s it like inside?

When forking out £70k+ out for a luxury SUV, you’d expect a plush cabin, right? Well, that’s certainly the case with the X7. It’s emblazoned in leather and real wood trimming, with supremely comfortable seats and bags of room for all seven occupants. Yep, that third row is actually liveable with – even for a full-sized adult.

The thing with the interior, though, is that it’s still missing that sense of occasion that the Range Rover delivers.

What’s the spec like?

Standard equipment is generous on the BMW X7. Its £74,195 starting price in 40i guise brings with it luxury highlights such as adaptive LED headlights, 21-inch alloy wheels, four-zone climate control, ambient interior lighting, an electrically-adjustable steering wheel and seats, plus BMW’s Digital Live Cockpit that features its iDrive system and 12.3-inch digital instrument display.

There’s also a plethora of safety and assistance gear thrown in like cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, BMW’s Parking Assistant Plus package and rain-sensing wipers. Buyers could comfortably knock the price of the car into the £100k ballpark with a generous ticking of the options list but it offers a respectable amount of kit at a price that means it undercuts the Range Rover.

What do the press think?

Autocar said: ‘It’s far from the most elegant or imaginatively designed BMW and it’s really too big for many British roads (and car parks).’ The Sun said: ‘Someone needs to tell the person who designed the X7 grille that size doesn’t matter.’

What do we think?

BMW knows how to build a good and proper SUV, and it’s showcased that in the X7. It’s presented a genuine Range Rover alternative that undercuts its British rival just enough on price to be noteworthy, while presenting a more engaging driving experience and some actual off-road ability too. That said, there’s a desire for a bit more flair from the X7 and its looks are not what most people would describe as ‘elegant’.

Get more from Car Dealer

  • Premium stories
  • Used car data
  • Magazine early access
Register

Or Sign in

Related Posts

What is Nissan’s new e-Power hybrid system destined for Qashqai actually like to drive?
Car News

What is Nissan’s new e-Power hybrid system destined for Qashqai actually like to drive?

February 23, 2021
These were the UK’s best-selling cars in 2020
Car News

Road Test of the Year 2020: Ford Puma

January 19, 2021
Car News

Road Test of the Year 2020: Honda e

January 19, 2021
Road Test of the Year 2020: The Verdict
Car News

Road Test of the Year 2020: Polestar 2

January 19, 2021
Road Test of the Year 2020: The Verdict
Car News

Road Test of the Year 2020: Mercedes-AMG A 45 S

January 19, 2021
Car News

Road Test of the Year 2020: Porsche Taycan Turbo

January 19, 2021

Want the latest news?

Sign up to Car Dealer's daily news email updates

Subscribe
Electrified vehicle registrations overtake diesels for the first time in Europe
News

What is stopping car buyers from switching to EV? Our exclusive white paper reveals all

April 8, 2021
How many car dealerships does each manufacturer have in the UK? Car Dealerships Locations List 2021 revealed
News

How many car dealerships does each manufacturer have in the UK? Car Dealerships Locations List 2021 revealed

March 12, 2021
Used Car Awards with Mike Brewer and James Baggott graphi
News

Who won what at the Used Car Awards 2020? Mike Brewer reveals our winning car dealers

March 12, 2021
Used Car Awards 2021 logo
Used Car Awards

Used Car Awards 2021 will be back in all their glory on November 29 hosted by Mike Brewer

March 17, 2021
The Newcomers: Here are the 10 electric car brands coming to a forecourt near you soon
News

The Newcomers: Here are the 10 electric car brands coming to a forecourt near you soon

March 30, 2021
Trophy Cars forecourt
News

Investigation: Meet the hyper-specialist car dealers making their money from weird and wonderful motors

March 12, 2021
Car Dealer Top 100 – The list in full of the most profitable car dealers in the UK
Car Dealer Top 100

Car Dealer Top 100 – The list in full of the most profitable car dealers in the UK

February 10, 2021
BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Volvo, could they be sold under one roof?
News

Multi franchising: Premium brands rule out selling cars alongside rivals in same dealer – as others remain tight-lipped

March 11, 2021
  • Latest
  • Used Cars
  • Live
  • Forum
  • Power 2020
  • UCA 2020
  • UCA 2021
  • CDX
  • Knowledge
  • Suppliers Guide
  • About Us
  • Latest Issue
  • Top 100
  • CD Plus
Call us: 020 8125 3880

© 2020 Blackball Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Car Dealer Plus
  • Latest
  • Used Cars
  • Live
  • Forum
  • Power 2020
  • Used Car Awards 2020
  • Used Car Awards 2021
  • CDX
  • Knowledge
  • Suppliers Guide
  • About Us
  • Latest Issue
  • Top 100

© 2020 Blackball Media

Log In
Register
Register
Server 2