Costs & verdict
Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is
If you want to seat seven in comfort, the BMW X7 isn't the cheapest option: a Land Rover Discovery will do the job for less money. Likewise, if you’re not desperate for the X7’s size but like the rest of the package, you may be better off with the cheaper but still excellent BMW X5 or the even better Audi Q7. However, if you’re looking for a fantastic blend of luxury, versatility and space, the X7 is a great buy – far more so than the Mercedes GLS.
According to official tests, the X7’s fuel economy and CO2 emissions are a close match for those of its key rivals. If you tend to have one eye on keeping running costs low, you’ll want to go for the xDrive40d for the best fuel economy, though. If you’re a company car driver, it probably won’t surprise you that the X7 – along with all its rivals – sits in the top benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax bracket.
Our advice is to stick with the entry-level trim – simply named X7 – but to consider adding some of the optional extras for a touch of extravagance. You can add heated and cooled cupholders and TV screens for the second row, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
The X7 wasn’t included in the 2021 What Car? Reliability Survey but BMW as a brand finished 13th out of the 30 manufacturers involved. That puts them above premium rivals Audi, Mercedes and Land Rover.
The X7 has yet to be crash-tested by Euro NCAP but should prove to be a very safe car, due in part to its standard safety technology, including automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane-departure warning.
