BMW X7 review

Sitting in the X7 feels like travelling in first class – probably because you are.

All around you are the finest materials and leather seats come as standard.

Some X7s even have a cut-glass gear lever and you really can’t get much more luxurious than that.

Driving position

The driving position is just as perfect as we’ve come to expect from BMW and the driver’s seat is not just electrically adjusted, it can also memorise a number of different settings.

The huge areas of glass all round make visibility excellent, although the car is so large that the many cameras and parking sensors are invaluable for anyone not wanting to create a very expensive dent by hitting a bollard that’s too low down to see.

Tech and features

In terms of tech, there’s everything and more that you’d expect from a BMW 7 Series.

The only shortcoming is that the infotainment system is not compatible with Android Auto, although it is with Apple CarPlay.

BMW has managed to pull off a very special type of magic trick with the X7.

Handling and ride comfort

It may be a heavyweight in every single respect but it’s unbelievably light and responsive to drive.

You might not go as far as to call it sporty – though we consider it a Muhammed Ali of a car - floating like a butterfly.

Its great bulk combined with finely-tuned air suspension means that even the worst road surfaces barely make it miss a beat and the automatic gearbox is so smooth that gear changes go almost unnoticed.

Guess what? There is a simply huge amount of space in the X7, even with all seven seats in use.

There’s going to be no worries about getting everyone’s luggage on board when you head off on holiday.

Boot space

The tailgate is split in two for extra convenience. Another very handy feature is that the air suspension can drop the rear of the car by 40mm if needed for even easier loading.

With all the seats folded down, which they do flat, the space is positively van-like and ready for some serious furniture moving.

Storage solutions

Inside the car itself, there are plenty of cubby holes and corners to store all those travel essentials that you just can’t leave home without, like your driving glasses or your chewing gum.

Rear seats

The X7 comes with either six or seven seats. In the former version, the middle row has a couple of captain-style seats complete with full adjustment and even their own cup holders.

There’s even enough room between them to get through to the back two seats.

In the seven-seat version, it can be quite a squeeze getting to them through the back door. Once installed you’ll be very comfortable indeed.

Fuel economy

Considering that the engine has to shift 2.5 tonnes of metal, plus occupants, it’s never going to be a cheap car to run.

You won’t be too surprised to discover that the most economical diesel engine will only manage an average of 36.2mpg with the petrol version delivering just 25.7mpg.