Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW 750i

BMW has refreshed its flagship 7 Series, but are the updates enough to keep it competitive with rivals from Audi and Mercedes?

Overall Auto Express rating

3.0

How we review cars
Avg. savings
£14,739 off RRP*
Find your BMW 7 Series
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

With more gadgetry than ever and a wider range of powerful engines, the 7 Series feels like a proper BMW flagship. But it doesn’t really look like one, and the driving experience is rather confused. A Mercedes S-Class is still better to travel in, despite attempts to make the 7 Series more comfortable. And that’s its biggest problem: it’s not as good an all-rounder as the S-Class. The Mercedes is still the best luxury limo on sale, even though an all-new model is due this year.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Gone are the days when the only way to flaunt your wealth was a big, luxurious executive saloon car: now everyone wants an imposing and sumptuous high-riding SUV instead. So, is there still a place for the BMW 7 Series?

UK sales are tiny compared to the popular X5 and X6, but in Russia, China and the US, a traditional saloon flagship still carries kudos. Those markets are the main reason for this updated 7 Series.

Rather than a dramatic new look, the car gets LED headlights, as well as a new grille and front bumper. Even head of BMW Design, Adrian Van Hooydonk, plays the styling down: “The revised 7 Series has a strong character, but is definitely not flashy,” he says.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

7 Series

2022 BMW

7 Series

63,029 milesAutomaticPetrol3.0L

Cash £38,755
View 7 Series
7 Series

2022 BMW

7 Series

33,848 milesAutomaticDiesel3.0L

Cash £38,990
View 7 Series
7 Series

2022 BMW

7 Series

17,310 milesAutomaticPetrol3.0L

Cash £39,970
View 7 Series
7 Series

2022 BMW

7 Series

47,283 milesAutomaticDiesel3.0L

Cash £32,720
View 7 Series

The flashy part happens inside. There’s more soundproofing, a new 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo, on-board Internet and night vision, which can spot pedestrians in the dark.

Other gizmos include 3D sat-nav, a bootlid that opens when you swing your foot under the bumper and dials that change their appearance depending on whether you’re driving in Eco Pro, Comfort or Sport mode.

BMW has re-engineered the rear suspension, too, by adding new dampers, bushes and self-levelling air-suspension. All models get electric power-steering, stop-start and an eight-speed auto as standard.

Advertisement - Article continues below

If money is no object, there’s the £101,805 536bhp 6.0-litre V12 760Li, but the most popular choice in the UK will be the 730d, which has a 254bhp 3.0-litre diesel and emits 148g/km of CO2. There’s also a 740d, 740i and 750i petrols and new 349bhp petrol-electric ActiveHybrid 7. We drove the 750i, with a revised 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol.

Compared to the previous 750i, it has 444bhp (up from 401bhp), 650Nm of torque (up from 599Nm), does 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds (down from 5.2 seconds) and claims 32.8mpg (an 8mpg improvement). CO2 emissions are down to 199g/km from 266g/km. These are very decent figures, and the 750i is an impressive car on the move.

It feels incredibly fast, with a lovely V8 burbling sound under acceleration that fades away almost completely when it settles down to a motorway cruise.

The eight-speed auto shifts quickly and smoothly, too, and if you activate Sport or Sport+ modes, the steering is sharp, the body barely rolls and the car feels much smaller and more agile.

The problem comes when you select Comfort or Comfort+ and realise the suspension isn’t soft enough. It’s better than the old car’s, but still feels too firm on bad roads. A Mercedes S-Class is a much more relaxing drive.

Ultimately, the 750i lacks the style of an Audi A8, the presence and usability of the BMW X5 or the all-round ability of an S-Class.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

BMW 7 Series

BMW 7 Series

RRP £105,710Avg. savings £14,739 off RRP*Used from £17,995
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £3,135 off RRP*
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £4,614 off RRP*Used from £8,595
MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £26,995Avg. savings £7,361 off RRP*Used from £12,495
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Range Rover Sport SV gets massive £35k price drop as it enters series-production
Range Rover Sport SV Black - front

Range Rover Sport SV gets massive £35k price drop as it enters series-production

There’s also a new SV Black trim, and a Range Rover Sport Stealth Package for non SVs
News
1 Jul 2025
Arrivederci Roma: new Ferrari Amalfi slots in as brand’s latest entry-level model
Ferrari Amalfi - front static

Arrivederci Roma: new Ferrari Amalfi slots in as brand’s latest entry-level model

A slick new look and more power are the headlines for Ferrari’s new baby, but it’s probably some simple new buttons that will get customers’ attention
News
1 Jul 2025
Geely is coming to the UK, and its assault will start with EX5 SUV
Geely EX5 - front

Geely is coming to the UK, and its assault will start with EX5 SUV

Geely has looked to Lotus to ensure it's new electric SUV lives up to our driving expectations
News
2 Jul 2025