BMW 7 Series Saloon full 9 point review
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Performance
The 3.0-litre diesel is delightfully quick, smooth and quiet, as well as being the most economical engine in any luxury saloon. There are also the twin-turbo 3.0 straight-six, super-fast 4.4 V8 and the wonderful – yet entirely superfluous – 6.0 V12 petrol options, the V12 mated to an eight-speed auto gearbox.
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Ride & Handling
No doubt about it: the 7 Series is great fun to drive, but it’s less impressive in the role of limo. All versions let you adjust the firmness of the suspension at the flick of a switch, but the 7 Series always feels rather fidgety and unsettled over bumpy stretches of Tarmac. Long-wheelbase models have air-sprung rear suspension, which makes things worse.
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Refinement
There are quieter luxury saloons because the 7 Series lets in some wind, road and traffic noise at outside-lane pace. However, these intrusions aren’t loud enough to distract a passenger from the pages of their broadsheet. The engines sound polished at all times.
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Buying & Owning
The value of any luxury limo will fall quickly, and rising fuel costs will make things worse in the future. All of the 7-Series’ petrol engines are respectably efficient given their power, however, and the diesels are particularly good: the 730d averages 41.5mpg in standard-wheelbase form, and the 740d 40.9mpg, both with correspondingly low tax ratings.
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Quality & Reliability
The classy cabin is beautifully done, using fine-textured materials; the V12 gets a soft Alcantara roof-lining and leather-topped dash. V12 apart, it isn’t very different from lesser BMWs, however, and not as special-feeling as an S-Class. Although electronically complex, the 7 Series should be reliable because BMW has a decent record.
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Safety & Security
The 7 Series has a traction and stability control system that contains every card in the pack. If you can't avoid an accident, though, there are eight airbags to protect you, including rear side curtains. The raised bonnet is said to offer good pedestrian protection, too. Traditionally BMWs are good at fending off thieves, and this one should be no exception.
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Behind The Wheel
BMW has learned lessons from the past. Its initially unfathomable iDrive central controller is now as easy to use as a mobile phone because there are short-cut buttons for commonly used systems such as the stereo and sat-nav. Drivers of all sizes will be comfortable for hundreds of miles thanks to well-shaped seats that offer a huge range of adjustment.
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Space & Practicality
The standard car is comfortable enough, and the long-wheelbase models – with a 140mm stretch – offer presidential levels of rear legroom and plenty of head- and shoulder-space. The 760Li has two fully electrically adjustable, reclining rear seats. The boot has a good 500 litres capacity, but is a bit narrow.
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Equipment
You’d expect this sort of money to secure a host of goodies and, on the whole, you’d be right. Every 7 Series comes with satellite-navigation, four-zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity and electrically adjustable leather seats. The V8 also gets a sunroof, a lane-departure warning system and a head-up display that projects navigation instructions and speed limits onto the windscreen.
7 Series rivals
7 Series used car reviews
BMW 7 Series Saloon 730d SE 4dr
The least-pricey way into 7-Series ownership is also one of the best, and it holds its value a shade better than the petrol-engined cars.
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