In this review
Costs & verdict
Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is
If you want to seat seven in comfort, a Land Rover Discovery will do the job for less money. Likewise, if you’re not desperate for the X7’s size but you like the rest of the package, you may well be better off with the cheaper BMW X5, which is still an excellent car, 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.
The X7’s fuel economy and CO2 emissions are a close match for those of its key rivals. Those with one eye on keeping running costs low will want to go for the xDrive30d 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.
As for equipment, there’s a simple choice of two trim levels. Every X7 is positively loaded with kit; air suspension, four-zone climate control, and heated front and rear seats are all standard. As ever, though, there’s an M Sport model that adds sporty cosmetic touches and upgraded brakes, with the M50d standing alone as a trim level in its own right, adding a limited-slip differential on the rear axle to increase cornering traction.
Our advice is to stick with the entry-level trim – simply named X7 – but to consider adding some of the optional extras for a little extra extravagance. You can opt for heated and cooled cupholders, massaging seats and TV screens for the second row, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
The X7 is too new to have proven its reliability, but BMW finished in 21st place out of 31 manufacturers in the 2019 What Car? Reliability Survey, ranking above Mercedes and Land Rover, but below Audi. When it comes to safety, the X7 has yet to be tested by Euro NCAP but should prove to be a very safe car, thanks in part to kit such as automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane-departure warning being fitted as standard.
