Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

BMW 7 Series review - Engines, performance and drive

The performance of the plug-in hybrid line-up stands out against rivals; refinement and comfort are exemplary, as is its agility

Engines, performance and drive rating

4.2

How we review cars
RRP
£106,100 £144,775
Avg. savings
£12,283 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
Advertisement

The best luxury cars have a deft ability to defy their size and weight to give a driver the impression they are behind the wheel of something much smaller, all while cossetting passengers who might be dozing in the back. The BMW 7 Series nails each of those targets arguably much better than what was regarded as the gold standard in this class, the Mercedes S-Class.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Ride comfort is fantastic, smothering shocks from potholes at low speeds as well as gliding over motorway expansion joints at higher speeds. The thudding sound you’d expect to hear is also exceptionally well insulated from the cabin when encountering such an impact.

Around town, where many 7 Series’ will spend their life ferrying around dignitaries and celebrities, you’ll appreciate how quiet it is trundling around in its electric mode. The electric motor used in the M760e’s powertrain is wonderfully smooth and easy to modulate. Another plus is that the brake pedal feels natural and progressive, which helps the driver bring the car to an easy halt, which is much harder to achieve in the equivalent plug-in hybrid S-Class. We’re yet to try the entry-level 750e in the UK, but we expect its electric motor and brakes to perform similarly well.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The impressive level of comfort and refinement of the 7 Series will lead you to take for granted how competent it is in the corners. While the 7 Series isn’t the sort of car to hustle along a B-road, its composure, remarkably flat body control through corners, and high grip level are all very impressive. The optional rear-wheel-steering system helps to make it far more agile than expected, with a noticeable pivoting feeling in tighter turns as the back wheels turn in the opposite direction to the fronts. This drastically reduces the turning circle, making for easier low-speed manoeuvres. At higher speeds, the rear wheels turn in tandem with the fronts to aid stability. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

The steering is light and direct, which also manages to mask the car’s weight. Resist the urge to look over your shoulder and see that enormous cabin behind, and it wouldn’t be hard to mistake the 7 Series for a smaller 5 Series-sized car. The brakes are strong and responsive, which is handy considering models like the M760e have huge straight-line performance

At higher speeds, the ride of the adaptive air suspension remains settled yet controlled. Things become firmer (yet still very forgiving) when you switch to Sport mode, and the ride height drops by 10mm – that also happens at motorway speeds to aid aerodynamic efficiency. Much like it is around town, the cabin remains incredibly quiet.

0-62mph acceleration and top speed 

Only two petrol plug-in hybrid options power the 7 Series. That might be an issue for those who do longer trips and rack up huge mileage. In that case, look at the S-Class instead because that has a choice of two diesel options.

However, the ability to zip around on electricity alone will be a real boon for those mostly driving in the city. The entry-level 750e has nearly 50 miles of electric range and a stout 489bhp. That’ll allow it to nip from 0-62mph in a mere 4.8 seconds. 

The 0-62mph dash in the M760e takes just 4.3 seconds due to its strong 571bhp output. That’s perhaps overkill for a car such as this, but it is nice to know you’ll have the urgency to nip into a gap in the traffic. The hybrid system switches between petrol and electric modes very smoothly and manages nearly 48 miles on electricity alone despite its potent performance.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Our latest car deals

Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £21,210Avg. savings £1,862 off RRP*Compare Offers
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,155Avg. savings £2,485 off RRP*Compare Offers
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £31,535Avg. savings £3,985 off RRP*Compare Offers
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £23,500Avg. savings £4,311 off RRP*Compare Offers
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Have you considered?

BMW i7 review
BMW i7 - front tracking

BMW i7 review

In-depth reviews
14 Aug 2024
New BMW i7 eDrive50 M Sport review: RWD luxury EV with a sporty twist
BMW i7 - front

New BMW i7 eDrive50 M Sport review: RWD luxury EV with a sporty twist

Road tests
9 Aug 2024
Range Rover D350 HSE: long-term test review
Auto Express editor-in-chief Steve Fowler standing with multiple generations of Range Rover

Range Rover D350 HSE: long-term test review

Long-term tests
12 Oct 2023

Most Popular

Skoda Elroq review
Skoda Elroq - front

Skoda Elroq review

The Skoda Elroq is even more appealing than the bigger Skoda Enyaq, and just as brilliant
In-depth reviews
9 Dec 2024
Suicidally, Jaguar is opening the door for Tesla and BYD to pick off the best of its dealerships
Opinion - Jaguar

Suicidally, Jaguar is opening the door for Tesla and BYD to pick off the best of its dealerships

Mike Rutherford thinks it's been a difficult few months for the British car industry
Opinion
8 Dec 2024
ZEV Mandate to spoil Christmas for 1,000s of petrol and diesel car buyers
Nissan Cube

ZEV Mandate to spoil Christmas for 1,000s of petrol and diesel car buyers

Got an ICE car on order? Don’t bet on collecting it before the New Year…
News
10 Dec 2024