Used BMW i7 2022-present review
Category: Luxury car
The BMW i7 is a very luxurious electric car, with a stunning interior that pampers its occupants. It's also brilliant to drive
What's the used BMW I7 saloon like?
What defines luxury in a modern car? Is it rich wood and soft leather, or a dazzling array of high-tech screens? If the BMW i7 is any indication, it’s a blend of all three.
Along with offering those features, the i7 is whisper-quiet to drive – as you’d expect from a luxury car. However, in this instance it’s even quieter than you would imagine a BMW 7 Series or Mercedes S-Class to be, because it doesn’t have an engine. Instead, it’s an electric car and a close competitor for the Mercedes EQS.
Motors and batteries: The i7 is closely related to the 7 Series, but instead of getting petrol or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power, it has a line-up of single or dual motor power options. The entry-level version, called eDrive50, is rear-wheel drive and produces 449bhp from its single electric motor. Performance is very strong, with 0-62mph taking just 5.5sec.
All of the other i7s have dual motors and four-wheel drive, starting with the 536bhp eDrive60 xDrive. It can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 4.7 seconds, which is faster than most versions of the EQS.
The range-topping i7 is the M70 xDrive, which produces a mighty 650bhp. It darts from 0-62mph in just 3.7 seconds, which is crazy fast for a luxury car of this size. And yet, the acceleration never feels savage or uncomfortable, with a linear delivery of power.
As with all luxury cars, you’d expect the i7 to be capable of long distance travel, and thanks to its large 101.7kWh (usable) capacity battery, it is. The eDrive50 and eDrive60 versions can do 379 and 387 miles respectively between charges officially, while the M70 can do 343 miles. While these figures are good, the EQS is better still when it comes to official range; the 450+ version can do a whopping 480 miles between charges.
Ride and handling: As mentioned previously, the i7 is an incredibly quiet car to travel around in, making it a joy to drive on long journeys. You can talk quietly and your passengers will hear you very clearly; there's hardly any wind or road noise.
As for ride quality, the suspension cushions occupants from the road surface far better than the EQS. The i7 M70 has slightly firmer suspension than the other versions but it doesn't compromise comfort. If anything, it’s slightly less floaty over undulations.
Amazingly, this big barge is quite agile in the corners. It leans less than an Audi A8 or S-Class through tight twists, and the steering gives you a good enough sense of connection with the front wheels to make you feel confident about pushing on. The M70 is the most nimble version, thanks to its tweaked suspension and active anti-roll bars.
Rear-wheel steering is standard on the M70 (and optional on others), helping to sharpen up the response when turning into corners. It also makes it more manoeuvrable when driving in town or a city.
Interior and practicality: No matter your size or stature, it’s very easy to get comfortable behind the wheel of the i7. There's loads of electric seat and steering wheel adjustment to help you fine-tune your driving position. All-round visibility is very good too, aided by a 360-degree reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors.
The design of the interior is very striking, with a clear focus on the tech. All i7s come with what appears to be one giant display, but it’s actually a combination of two screens: a 14.9in screen for the iDrive infotainment system and a 12.3in screen for the digital driver's display. The whole arrangement is curved slightly towards the driver to make it easier to see.
The touchscreen features pin-sharp graphics and lightning-quick responses, plus there’s Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring. While there are a lot of menus to delve through (some features are quite difficult to find), it’s better than the EQS system. That’s largely because BMW has retained some physical controls (even if most of them are touch-sensitive).
While the i7’s interior is filled with some traditional materials, such as leather and wood trim, there are also lots of gloss black and crystal-effect finishes. Everything feels expensive and very well-built, which can’t be said for the EQS.
In the back, the i7 is available with an optional 31in Theatre Screen from new. It folds down from the ceiling at the touch of a button to give rear passengers a cinema-style experience, almost like a gadget from a James Bond film. It’s an impressive set-up that lends a very luxurious feel. The display is ultra sharp too, with 8k resolution.
With the i7 being the size that it is, space inside is suitably generous for those in the front – and especially so for those in the back. If you’re sitting behind a really tall driver, you’ll have several inches between your knees and the back of the front seat. Head room is impressive too, despite all versions coming with a panoramic glass roof as standard.
The i7 has 500 litres of boot space. That’s pretty good, but it’s not quite as spacious as the EQS with its 610-litre boot. The EQS also has a hatchback opening for more convenient loading; the i7 has a smaller saloon opening.
Trims and equipment: The i7 has just three trim levels to choose from, but a long list of options to keep an eye out for.
Excellence is the entry-level trim and includes 19in alloy wheels, ambient lighting, an illuminated front grille, heated front and rear seats, wireless phone-charging and a head-up display. M Sport comes with a similar level of kit, but adds black exterior highlights and 20in wheels for a sportier appearance.
The M70 is the range-topping version. It gets a few visual differences, including blue brake calipers, M logos and a different 21in wheel design. It also has a firmer suspension set-up for improved handling, as mentioned previously.
If you want the full cinema experience, it’s worth keeping out for cars with the optional Executive Pack fitted, which adds the Theatre Screen and lounge-style rear seats with massage functionality. There are plenty of other option packs too, including a Front Comfort Pack, a Rear Comfort Pack and a Technology Plus Pack.
"The i7 really is a tech fest. To control the optional Theatre Screen, you can use either an iPad-style tablet or screens built into the rear doors. I think it pips the 'Hyperscreen' in the Mercedes EQS for sheer wow factor." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer
If you're interested in finding a used i7, or any of the other electric cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.
Ownership cost
What used BMW I7 saloon will I get for my budget?
The i7 is good value for an electric luxury car. Used prices start from around £60,000, which gets you a 2022 or 2023 car in Excellence or M Sport trim. Newer 2024 cars cost upwards of £70,000, while 2025 cars jump up to £80,000. M70 models are the most expensive, with prices starting from around £95,000.
To keep up to date with used i7 prices, use our free valuation tool to make sure you are getting the best deal.
Check the value of a used BMW i7 with What Car? Valuations
How much does it cost to run a BMW I7 saloon?
Charging
The i7 has a maximum charging rate of 195kW, which means a 10-80% charge should take about 34 minutes (assuming you can find a public charger that’s powerful enough). Alternatively, charging from zero to full using a 7kW home charger is predicted to take 14 hours and 17 minutes.
Insurance and servicing
The i7 sits in insurance group 50 (the highest group), which means insurance costs will be expensive. This isn’t unusual for a luxury car, with the 7 Series, EQS and S-Class all in the same group.
Likewise, servicing costs will be high for the i7. BMW does offer a Service Inclusive Package to help with this, though; it covers the cost of servicing for up to four years and unlimited miles. Prices start from £785.
Safety
Despite being launched in 2022, the i7 and closely-related 7 Series still haven’t been appraised for safety by Euro NCAP. Even so, the i7 comes with loads of active and passive safety equipment. Meanwhile, semi-autonomous driving aids that are part of the Driving Assistant Professional Pack include adaptive cruise control and a self-steering system.
Warranty
From new, the i7 comes with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty. That’s the same cover as Mercedes but more than Audi’s three-year, 60,000-mile cover. The battery also gets a separate warranty for eight years or 100,000 miles.
Reliability
The i7 is too new to have featured in the What Car? Reliability Survey, and with the latest 7 Series sharing the same underpinnings, we can’t yet comment on that car’s dependability, either.
However, BMW as a brand placed eighth out of 31 brands in our car manufacturer reliability league table. That puts it behind Lexus (second place), but ahead of key rivals including Mercedes (22nd), Audi (24th) and Land Rover (27th).
Find out more about BMW i7 reliability, including updates as owner data becomes available, on our dedicated reliability page.
Our recommendations
Which used BMW I7 saloon should I buy?
Motor and battery
While the eDrive50 version makes a lot of sense, there aren’t many of these available on the used market. As such, we’d recommend going for the four-wheel drive eDrive60 model instead. It’s by far the most popular version, so there are loads out there. It’s also the cheapest version when buying used.
Specification
Excellence trim gives you all the kit you really need. It’s also cheaper than M Sport trim when buying used (the only main difference between the trims is styling).
Our favourite BMW i7: eDrive60 xDrive Excellence
Alternatives
What alternatives should I consider to a used BMW I7 saloon?
The BMW i5 is certainly worth a look. It’s slightly smaller than the i7 (although it’s still a very big car), plus it’s good to drive. The ride is comfortable and refinement is impressive, while space in the back is very good. Used prices are less than the i7, too.
The Mercedes EQS isn’t as comfortable to drive or to sit in as the i7, but it’s cheaper to buy used. The range is excellent too; the 450+ version has one of the longest official ranges of any electric car – new or used. It’s also a bit more practical, thanks to its larger hatchback boot opening.
If you don’t want an electric car, consider the BMW 7 Series. It’s a PHEV, meaning it uses an engine and electric motor to power the wheels, but otherwise it’s very similar to the i7. Used prices are more expensive.
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