BMW 7 Series review - Interior, design and technology

Any discussion regarding the 7 Series will start with its very imposing looks. Not only is it huge (and challenging to fit in a tight car park space), but its distinctive styling may raise a few eyebrows. The front is the most challenging view at an initial glance, but it soon grows on you. If you don’t like the enormous kidney grilles in blingy chrome, go for M Sport trim and add the M Sport Pro pack, because it gets a black alternative that isn’t as noticeable. At least the 7 Series isn’t your typical dull saloon to look at.

There are, however, many variations of grey in the 14-colour pallet, although a rich brown adds some variety. If you’re prepared to spend big, then there’s a two-tone option to really help your 7 Series stand out.

Sit in the driver’s seat, and the contemporary look, superb build quality and hi-tech surroundings are immediately apparent.   

Up front, there’s the ‘BMW Interaction Bar’ spanning the dashboard and onto the inner door panels, which serves three roles. Firstly, it displays fancy ambient lighting graphics based on different themes, such as ‘efficiency’ and ‘sport’. Secondly, it can provide visual feedback for safety reasons (a proximity warning, for example). It also acts as a surface for some controls, including the front and rear window demisting buttons.

You’ll find the hazard light button in the middle, but ideally it would be elsewhere – it requires a surprisingly hard push to engage or disengage, causing the plastic lens of the Interaction Bar to creak. It’s one of the few areas where we can question the quality of the car; in the main, the 7 Series feels like a very well-made and premium offering. 

On the inside of the back doors are two small touchpads that rear-seat passengers can use for myriad functions, including climate control and seating position. While easy enough to navigate, they could be more responsive.

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Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

The biggest infotainment news for the 7 Series is its optional BMW Theatre screen, which is a 31.3-inch 8k touchscreen that smoothly folds out from the headlining (in sync with the electric rear blinds closing for the full cinema experience) and boots up to present a device that runs Amazon’s Fire TV. 

The screen’s resolution is razor sharp, and it can be positioned either close to the occupants in order to easily confirm selections on the touchscreen, or further away to make the most of viewing films and television shows. 

Sound is catered for by UK firm Bowers & Wilkins. There are two systems to choose from; the standard version has 18 speakers and a 655-Watt output, while the uprated system Diamond Surround sound system comes as part of either the Technology Pack Plus or the Ultimate Pack. It doubles the speaker count and lifts power to 1,965 Watts. It’s an awesome system, but you’ll need to be a real connoisseur to warrant its hefty price tag.