Back in the day, if you wanted to transport more than five grown-ups around in comfort you would require a luxury minibus; now you just need a big SUV … a really big SUV. And the BMW X7 is one. There’s no attempt to hide the mass, and at over five metres long and two metres wide it would be a futile mission anyway. It’s BMW’s flagship SUV and positioned as an elevated, 4×4 alternative to the 7 Series saloon, although you will mostly see these on the roads and not on the side of a mountain.
The X7 looks big from the outside, yet from behind the wheel the engineering wizards at BMW have managed to shrink the car around you, at least in the way it feels on the road. The ride quality and handling are excellent for a vehicle of this size and weight, helped by adaptive air suspension and rear-wheel steering (optional except for on the M60i), which effectively shrinks the length of this car by aiding with slow-speed manoeuvring.
Engine choices are diesel or petrol, and all have a mild hybrid system, which at least makes a dent in the fuel economy and emissions. The performance M60i model has no business being as fast and agile as it is, seemingly defying the laws of physics as you hustle this vast SUV to 60 miles an hour in under 5 seconds. The M Sport model also gets some cosmetic touches to take the X7 in a more sporty direction, including huge 23in wheels. There is nothing small about this car. Press Sport + mode and everything gets turned up, including the exhaust note. However, this is probably not the look you want to project on the school run or when transporting the five-a-side team plus one substitute to the nearby playing fields.
Sensible driving is aided by the Driving Assistant Professional package, and the X7’s cruise control with adaptive distance control is among the best and smoothest out there. You can also set it to adopt the detected speed limit, which adds to the relaxation on a long journey. Even critics of nannying interventions may like the traffic light recognition system, which gives a polite bong when the lights have turned green and you have not moved. Helpful when you’re trying to find something in the glove box … and preferable to a chorus of aggressive car horns from impatient cars behind you.
The X7 interior is airy and spacious, which is unsurprising given its size. It comfortably seats seven adults, but the seating layout can be specced with only six seats, meaning the second row gets two armchairs instead of a bench, with a central gap through to the rear seats. Fold all of the rear seats down — electronically, of course — and you have a cavernous luxury van. The electric split tailgate works well, as the smaller lower door stays shut until pushed, acting as a ledge to stop cargo from falling out.
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An Ambient Air package is offered on premium BMWs and is available in the X7. It’s an ionisation and scent system for the interior of the car. The intensity can be controlled via the iDrive controller. You can have two different scent cartridges in the glove compartment, which last about six months. Other niceties include a heated and cooled cupholder, front seats with excellent massage functions and eight programmes to target different parts of the body. You can also have an optional Sky Lounge panoramic glass sunroof, which features integrated LED light graphics linked to the ambient lighting system. If you want to splash out on the Ultimate Pack, you also get the impressive Bowers & Wilkins Diamond audio system with 20 speakers and over 1500 watts of 3D surround sound.
It’s all very big and very nice. If there is a large animal in the room of the elephant-sized car, it’s the exterior looks. The X7 has faced a bit of criticism, with some unkindly comparing the front to an angry beaver. BMW listened to the comments that the grille was a bit big, and the new facelifted version now has … an even bigger grille. And just in case you were trying to avoid looking at it, they have given it an Iconic Glow lighting treatment. You can never say BMW shy away from a design statement. Yet this car will not be bought on looks alone. It seems a strange thing to say of an opulent SUV costing over £100,000 that this car will be purchased mainly for practicality when a smaller car simply won’t do.
bmw.co.uk
