Review - BMW X7

This is the segment of the market that today’s subject, the BMW X7, competes against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLS, Audi Q7, Volvo XC90, trying to win over buyers with its family-friendly practicality, luxurious features and comfortable platform.

The question remaining, though, is just how well does the BMW X7 perform in its own right, and how does it stand up to its competitors in terms of pricing, features, safety, comfort and practicality? Let’s find out. 

Starting Price: $135,900

OnlineAuto Savings: Enquire now

BMW X7 (G07) Specifications

How Much Does It Cost?

The BMW X7 range is available in two major variants, with the entry-level X7 xDrive30d priced at $135,900, and the range-topping M50i xDrive priced at $181,900. 

These prices do not include on-road costs. 

BMW offers a number of optional extras and packages for the X7 range, including the $16,000 Pure Excellence Design package, and the $16,000 M Sport package. 

How Much Can OnlineAuto Save You? 

Using OnlineAuto’s car buying service, you could save by sourcing one of our car specialists to help you find the best value model for you. 

What Features Does the BMW X7 Have?

BMW’s entry-level X7 xDrive30d comes riding on a set of 20-inch alloy wheels, and receives adaptive LED headlights, tail lights and LED fog lights, an adaptive air suspension system, panoramic sunroof, surround-view camera, keyless entry & start, heated front seats, Vernasca leather upholstery, four-zone climate control, a heads-up display, adaptive cruise control, a 3D surround-view camera with front and rear-mounted parking sensors, a 12.3-inch digital driving display and a 12.3-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, DAB+ radio, and BMW ConnectedDrive services which is paired with a 10-speaker sound system. 

Stepping up to the BMW X7 M50i xDrive adds a twin-turbo V8 engine, as well as V822-inch M Sport alloys and brakes, BMW Laserlight headlights, M Sport exterior aerodynamic styling package, Merino leather upholstery, five-zone climate control, and an alcantara headliner.   

Range Features: 

• 20-inch alloys

• Adaptive LED headlights, fog lights and tail lights 

• Adaptive air suspension 

• 3D Surround-view camera 

• Front and rear parking sensors 

• Vernasca leather upholstery 

• 12.3-inch digital driver’s display 

• Head-up display 

• Heated front seats 

• Panoramic sunroof

• Four-zone climate control 

• 12.3-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and DAB+ 

• BMW ConnectedDrive 

• Ambient interior lighting package

• 22-inch M Sport alloys (M50i xDrive)

• Twin-turbo V8 powertrain (M50i xDrive)

• M Sport brakes (M50i xDrive)

• BMW Laserlight headlights (M50i xDrive)

• M Sport exterior styling package (M50i xDrive)

• Merino leather upholstery (M50i xDrive)

• Five-zone climate control (M50i xDrive)

BMW X7 Colours

Is it Comfortable to Drive? 

The BMW X7 is a phenomenally comfortable vehicle to drive, very much fitting of its BMW badge, and it’s premium price tag. The X7’s ride quality, as well as the engine and transmission combination offer a silky-smooth driving dynamic, backed with a heap of power when you need it. 

The xDrive30d receives a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel unit, while the M50i xDrive is powered by a powerful 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, with both variants sending power to all four wheels via an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. The base model offers a significant amount of power to deal with the X7’s sheer size, while the M50i raises its performance potential to something truly special. 

Regardless of which engine you’re opting for, power delivery and acceleration is silky-smooth thanks to the eight-speed ZF transmission, offering quick shifts that are barely noticeable while accelerating. 

Around town, the ride quality is extremely comfortable, thanks in part to the chassis, but most notably, BMW’s adaptive suspension system that is constantly working in the background to iron out small bumps and soak up larger potholes without transmitting disturbances back into the cabin. 

Far from a dumbed-down 7 Series, the X7 has retained a steering feel that makes the driver feel engaged, offering a decent amount of feedback in the process. It remains lightweight while navigating low-speed turns, but adds some weight as you pick up speed, which makes driving far more engaging than a number of large SUVs. 

One area that you should take note of, however, is the size and the bulky turning circle of the X7, which requires some added attention while squeezing into tight car parks and navigating the close-quarters of the city streets. 

You might notice the X7’s weight while pushing the car through corners, however, BMW’s suspension system is able to hide the weight, keep the car relatively flat in the corners and simultaneously make rough surfaces more comfortable for you and your family. 

As a complete package, the X7 is an extremely impressive vehicle when it comes to daily driving and long distance road trips, upholding BMW’s reputation for smooth, comfortable driving in one the company’s largest vehicles. 

Is it Practical and Spacious? 

As one of BMW’s largest vehicles in the lineup, it should come as no surprise to hear that the X7 is an absolute beast at accommodating passengers in style and comfort, and swallowing-up their luggage. 

Up front, the cabin receives a sleek, modern design, with BMW happy to throw nearly everything in its feature list in even the entry-point xDrive30d variant. This means you’ll find two large displays up front, a mix of leather and wood stretching across the dash, an extremely comfortable set of seats and, of course, a nice elevated driving position for added confidence behind the wheel. 

There are absolutely no complaints in terms of driver and front passenger space and comfort, with a huge amount of flexibility in the driving position, and a heap of room to stretch out and get comfortable. You’ll also find no shortage of storage options in the door bins, central storage tunnel and a folding storage area behind the gear lever for loose items. 

Moving to the second row of the cabin, passengers are treated to the same leather treatment for the comfortable bench seats, which can slide back and forth, as well as recline for added comfort. In reality, there’s little need to slide the seat back for added space, considering the second row of the X7 has a huge amount of room for passengers of all shapes and sizes. You will hear zero complaints, from adults and tall teenagers alike, about the space on offer in the X7’s second row, making it the ideal companion for long road trips with the family. 

As a seven-seat SUV, the X7 receives a third row of seating for two passengers. While these passengers will generally come in the form of small children, the X7 can surprisingly accommodate adults in the third row, albeit with a lack of legroom, but it is possible. This means that smaller children will absolutely be comfortable in the third row on long journeys. 

In terms of its cargo potential, the X7 range has a boot rated at 326L with the third row standing, which increases to 750L when using a five-seat configuration, which is a huge amount of boot space. With two rows folded, you’ll have up to 2,120L of boot space at your fingertips, making the X7 a truly practical family-friendly seven-seat SUV. 

Is it Safe? 

The BMW X7 is yet to be officially tested by ANCAP, however, a close relative - the BMW X5 - has been awarded a five star safety rating. 

As standard, the X7 range comes packaged with a huge number of clever safety technologies, including autonomous emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, front and rear cross-traffic alerts, steering control for the highway, a 3D surround-view camera, adaptive cruise control system, eight airbags around the cabin, lane-keep assistance as well as traffic sign recognition. 

Is it Fuel Efficient?

For an extremely large family SUV, the entry-level X7 is surprisingly economical. It’s officially rated at 7.3L per 100km on a combined cycle, which is the result of its clever and frugal turbo-diesel engine. 

Stepping up to the range-topping M50i raises this figure to 11.6L per 100km on a combined cycle, which in the real-world can jump to above 13L/100km, depending on your location and driving style. 

Our Verdict: Is the BMW X7 Worth it?

The BMW X7 remains one of the leading offerings in the world of large, luxurious and family-friendly SUVs. In its latest generation, the X7 brings a range of new technology and interior updates, while retaining its huge and practical platform that makes it the perfect companion for transporting your family on a daily commute, as well as long distance road trips. 

If you’re looking at your options for luxurious seven-seat SUVs, ensure that the X7 has a spot on your shortlist. On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925 

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Three-year, unlimited KM warranty

2. Capped price servicing packages available for $2,300

3. No official ANCAP safety rating 

4. Turbo-diesel and Twin-turbo V8 petrol engines available 

5. Fuel economy ranges from 7.3L/100km to 11.6L/100km

Pros 

• Immense amounts of space throughout the cabin 

• Fuel efficiency in the xDrive30d 

• Feature-packed in sleek, luxurious package

Cons

• Limited warranty coverage compared to rivals 

• No official ANCAP safety rating, yet 

• Expensive option lists 

OnlineAuto Rating:

8/10

BMW X7 Competition