two thousand seventeen BMW 7-Series Review
See special deals in your area
The Car Connection Accomplished Review
- A (relatively) lightweight big sedan
- Spacious, isolated cabin
- Responsive driving practice
- iDrive goes touchscreen (and gesture-based)
- Only an evolutionary design
- Overcharge of active/anticipatory systems
- Even pricier than before
You can count on the BMW 7-Series to make a technological leap with each of its generations. And with the latest sixth-generation models that made their debut last year, the 7-Series is certainly no exception, as it benefits from some engineering lessons learned, inwards and underneath, with the automaker’s “i” electrified cars.
The 7-Series earned an 8.6 overall rating out of Ten, which is an exceptional score for an exceptional car. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
On the outside, you might mistake the two thousand seventeen BMW 7-Series for a vehicle not significantly different from that of a duo model years ago; yet this one is radically different within, with a fresh Carbon Core platform that uses a combination of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP), ultra-tensile steels, and aluminum to cut up to ninety pounds there alone.
Lighter doors made of aluminum and lighter-weight suspension components are just a duo of the other switches; and they’ve managed to maintain a ideal 50/50 weight distribution.
After a decade or more of pushing boundaries with exterior designs, BMW seems committed to restoring some of its classic sport-sedan proportions. What it set in maneuverability with the latest versions of the 3-Series and 5-Series sedans, it resumes with the latest 7-Series—including more window glass, an upright, formal profile, and clean sheet metal. An especially upright version of the BMW family grille (an Active Kidney Grille that manages airflow) gives the look a somewhat more blunt nose, while otherwise the look is remarkably even-keeled—without the wedge-like upkick near the rear that’s added to other sedan designs.
Inwards, we’d call it a dose of retro-futurism, as the 7-Series incorporates an exaggerated horizontal look for the dash, combined with some up-close details that look to us to be borrowed from the i8 sports car—but then finished off with the formality of extra brightwork, including satin-finish tones for the climate and audio controls.
The 740i is motivated by a TwinPower turbocharged Three.0-liter inline-6 making three hundred twenty horsepower, with the 750i packing a Four.4-liter TwinPower turbocharged V-8 that produces four hundred forty five hp. For 2017, the 7-Series offers all-wheel drive for the 740i as well (it was only available in 750i form for 2016); and the BMW M760i xDrive now gets a twin-turbo V-12, making six hundred hp and five hundred ninety lb-ft and capable of getting to sixty mph in Three.9 seconds. For spectacle enthusiasts, there’s also the two thousand seventeen BMW ALPINA B7 xDrive, which includes Integral Active Steering, combining variable ratio electrical steering system at the front axle with active steering on the rear axle. It can get to sixty in just Trio.6 seconds and has various other spectacle upgrades.
At the other end of the spectrum is the fresh 740e xDrive iPerformance plug-in hybrid. It teams a 255-hp Two.0-liter turbocharged gasoline inline-4 engine, with a 111-horsepower electrified motor that’s integrated within an 8-speed automatic transmission, and a lithium-ion battery pack. It can drive fourteen miles on tens unit alone at up to eighty seven mph and carries EPA ratings of twenty seven mpg combined and sixty four MPGe.
The 740e is meant mostly to be used as a hybrid as the 111-hp motor can indeed only treat low-speed city driving duties. Use it as a hybrid or drive it in Sport mode, however, and it can use all of its three hundred thirty two horsepower and three hundred sixty nine lb-ft of torque. That’s good for a Five.1-second zero to sixty mph time.
The twin-turbocharged Four.4-liter V-8 in 750i models works with the 8-speed automatic transmission to provide four hundred forty five silky slick horses with little fuss. BMW says the 750i is capable of a 0-60 mph sprint in an incredible Four.Trio seconds; that’s the only model we’ve driven so far, but we don’t anticipate the 740i feeling brief on power in any way.
Underneath the 7-Series, a series of electronic chassis controls have become far more elaborate. An air suspension and electronically managed dampers are standard on all models. An optional Autobahn package comes with a system called Active Convenience Drive with Road Preview, which adds anticipatory functions to the dampers, air suspension, and the included active roll bars. It also includes the Integral Active Steering (variable-ratio front and rear-wheel steering), which is engineered so it can work in combination with all-wheel drive.
The dampers, steering, throttle, and transmission are all adjustable in the standard Driving Dynamics Control system, which has Sport, Convenience and Convenience+ settings. In Sport mode, the available active roll bars help keep the car relatively vapid through corners and wrestle its Four,600-pound curb weight around like a smaller, lighter car. We did notice, however, that the treating suffers without those roll bars and the Integral Active Steering, tending to thrust in corners instead of rotate. The Sport mode also makes the power more readily accessible, adds a little more heft and responsiveness to the steering, and provides more road feel without creating a hard rail. Overall we’ve found all these chassis systems, plus the weight savings of the fresh structure, to bring a far lighter, leaner driving practice than you’d expect from a sedan this large.
Convenience, safety, and features
BMW has shoved the corners of the 7-Series cabin outward as part of the revamped instrument-panel design; and it at least visually frees up a little more cabin space for those in front. For the U.S. market you’ll only find long-wheelbase versions, with a (meaningful) extra inch of rear gam room. The back seat area, as it always has for the 7-Series, can be tooled for typical luxury-sedan accommodations or something far greater and chauffeur-worthy. Fresh ambient lighting and a fragrance option help personalize the interior, while there’s a panoramic LED roof available. And all doors now have a soft-close feature.
Now that heated rear seats are more common, the 7-Series takes it a step further, with heated armrests, front and rear. A Luxury Rear Seating Package adds those plus rear ventilated and convenience seats, and a removable Touch Directive Tablet, with a wireless hotspot, for those in back. There’s also a rubdown function, and rear-seat passengers get a “Vitality Program” so that “passengers can engage in active training to revitalize the bod on longer journeys,” according to BMW. Separately, there’s a Rear Executive Lounge Seating Package that gives the right rear passenger an extra Three.Five inches of gam room and a footrest. That package also includes a fold-out table, two cupholders, and a separate storage compartment.
Interface plays a big part in making the 7-Series’ vast array of technology features useful and accessible. To that, there’s a fresh Gesture Control feature for the iDrive interface, as well as a freshly available wireless charging system. The head-up display covers a larger area, and a second-generation Night Vision two system adds pedestrian detection, while fresh Adaptive Headlamps now take into account speed, steering angle and yaw.
BMW has ultimately caved to touchscreen technology. With iDrive Five.0, the 7-Series includes a big 12.3-inch landscape-oriented touchscreen. Bowers & Wilkins surround sound with 1,400 watts and sixteen speakers should help take care of your entertainment needs, too.
2017 BMW 7-Series Review, Ratings, Specs, Prices, and Photos – The Car Connection
two thousand seventeen BMW 7-Series Review
See special deals in your area
The Car Connection Accomplished Review
- A (relatively) lightweight big sedan
- Spacious, isolated cabin
- Responsive driving practice
- iDrive goes touchscreen (and gesture-based)
- Only an evolutionary design
- Overcharge of active/anticipatory systems
- Even pricier than before
You can count on the BMW 7-Series to make a technological leap with each of its generations. And with the latest sixth-generation models that made their debut last year, the 7-Series is certainly no exception, as it benefits from some engineering lessons learned, inwards and underneath, with the automaker’s “i” electrified cars.
The 7-Series earned an 8.6 overall rating out of Ten, which is an exceptional score for an exceptional car. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
On the outside, you might mistake the two thousand seventeen BMW 7-Series for a vehicle not significantly different from that of a duo model years ago; yet this one is radically different within, with a fresh Carbon Core platform that uses a combination of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP), ultra-tensile steels, and aluminum to cut up to ninety pounds there alone.
Lighter doors made of aluminum and lighter-weight suspension components are just a duo of the other switches; and they’ve managed to maintain a ideal 50/50 weight distribution.
After a decade or more of pushing boundaries with exterior designs, BMW seems committed to restoring some of its classic sport-sedan proportions. What it set in mobility with the latest versions of the 3-Series and 5-Series sedans, it proceeds with the latest 7-Series—including more window glass, an upright, formal profile, and clean sheet metal. An especially upright version of the BMW family grille (an Active Kidney Grille that manages airflow) gives the look a somewhat more blunt nose, while otherwise the look is remarkably even-keeled—without the wedge-like upkick near the rear that’s added to other sedan designs.
Inwards, we’d call it a dose of retro-futurism, as the 7-Series incorporates an exaggerated horizontal look for the dash, combined with some up-close details that look to us to be borrowed from the i8 sports car—but then finished off with the formality of extra brightwork, including satin-finish tones for the climate and audio controls.
The 740i is motivated by a TwinPower turbocharged Three.0-liter inline-6 making three hundred twenty horsepower, with the 750i packing a Four.4-liter TwinPower turbocharged V-8 that produces four hundred forty five hp. For 2017, the 7-Series offers all-wheel drive for the 740i as well (it was only available in 750i form for 2016); and the BMW M760i xDrive now gets a twin-turbo V-12, making six hundred hp and five hundred ninety lb-ft and capable of getting to sixty mph in Three.9 seconds. For spectacle enthusiasts, there’s also the two thousand seventeen BMW ALPINA B7 xDrive, which includes Integral Active Steering, combining variable ratio electrified steering system at the front axle with active steering on the rear axle. It can get to sixty in just Trio.6 seconds and has various other spectacle upgrades.
At the other end of the spectrum is the fresh 740e xDrive iPerformance plug-in hybrid. It teams a 255-hp Two.0-liter turbocharged gasoline inline-4 engine, with a 111-horsepower electrical motor that’s integrated within an 8-speed automatic transmission, and a lithium-ion battery pack. It can drive fourteen miles on electro-therapy alone at up to eighty seven mph and carries EPA ratings of twenty seven mpg combined and sixty four MPGe.
The 740e is meant mostly to be used as a hybrid as the 111-hp motor can truly only treat low-speed city driving duties. Use it as a hybrid or drive it in Sport mode, however, and it can use all of its three hundred thirty two horsepower and three hundred sixty nine lb-ft of torque. That’s good for a Five.1-second zero to sixty mph time.
The twin-turbocharged Four.4-liter V-8 in 750i models works with the 8-speed automatic transmission to provide four hundred forty five silky slick horses with little fuss. BMW says the 750i is capable of a 0-60 mph sprint in an incredible Four.Three seconds; that’s the only model we’ve driven so far, but we don’t anticipate the 740i feeling brief on power in any way.
Underneath the 7-Series, a series of electronic chassis controls have become far more sophisticated. An air suspension and electronically managed dampers are standard on all models. An optional Autobahn package comes with a system called Active Convenience Drive with Road Preview, which adds anticipatory functions to the dampers, air suspension, and the included active roll bars. It also includes the Integral Active Steering (variable-ratio front and rear-wheel steering), which is engineered so it can work in combination with all-wheel drive.
The dampers, steering, throttle, and transmission are all adjustable in the standard Driving Dynamics Control system, which has Sport, Convenience and Convenience+ settings. In Sport mode, the available active roll bars help keep the car relatively vapid through corners and wrestle its Four,600-pound curb weight around like a smaller, lighter car. We did notice, however, that the treating suffers without those roll bars and the Integral Active Steering, tending to thrust in corners instead of rotate. The Sport mode also makes the power more readily accessible, adds a little more heft and responsiveness to the steering, and provides more road feel without creating a rock hard rail. Overall we’ve found all these chassis systems, plus the weight savings of the fresh structure, to bring a far lighter, leaner driving practice than you’d expect from a sedan this large.
Convenience, safety, and features
BMW has shoved the corners of the 7-Series cabin outward as part of the revamped instrument-panel design; and it at least visually frees up a little more cabin space for those in front. For the U.S. market you’ll only find long-wheelbase versions, with a (meaningful) extra inch of rear gam room. The back seat area, as it always has for the 7-Series, can be tooled for typical luxury-sedan accommodations or something far greater and chauffeur-worthy. Fresh ambient lighting and a fragrance option help personalize the interior, while there’s a panoramic LED roof available. And all doors now have a soft-close feature.
Now that heated rear seats are more common, the 7-Series takes it a step further, with heated armrests, front and rear. A Luxury Rear Seating Package adds those plus rear ventilated and convenience seats, and a removable Touch Instruction Tablet, with a wireless hotspot, for those in back. There’s also a rubdown function, and rear-seat passengers get a “Vitality Program” so that “passengers can engage in active training to revitalize the bod on longer journeys,” according to BMW. Separately, there’s a Rear Executive Lounge Seating Package that gives the right rear passenger an extra Three.Five inches of gam room and a footrest. That package also includes a fold-out table, two cupholders, and a separate storage compartment.
Interface plays a big part in making the 7-Series’ vast array of technology features useful and accessible. To that, there’s a fresh Gesture Control feature for the iDrive interface, as well as a freshly available wireless charging system. The head-up display covers a larger area, and a second-generation Night Vision two system adds pedestrian detection, while fresh Adaptive Headlamps now take into account speed, steering angle and yaw.
BMW has ultimately caved to touchscreen technology. With iDrive Five.0, the 7-Series includes a big 12.3-inch landscape-oriented touchscreen. Bowers & Wilkins surround sound with 1,400 watts and sixteen speakers should help take care of your entertainment needs, too.