BMW X7 review 2020

Model review

The BMW X7 is a large, luxury, lavish SUV that began production in 2018, with sales commencing in March 2019. It’s based off of the Concept X7 iPerformance that was showcased at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. 

The model tops the German firm’s X range of SUVs, sitting above the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6. Essentially, the model acts as an SUV version of BMW’s 7 Series executive, luxury saloon car. 

Because the model was first released only recently, there are no major facelifts or revisions to report just yet. 

Current model

As mentioned before, the X7 is yet to see a major update – which is no bad thing considering its young age. 

So, with that, let’s move onto the driving experience and, as you can imagine, the X7 focuses on comfort over sportiness out on the road. Although, that being said, the model is surprisingly entertaining compared to some rivals such as the Land Rover Discovery and Range Rover. 

The X7’s cabin really does live up to being an SUV version of the 7 Series, as it matches, if not exceeds, what buyers can expect from that luxury saloon. Materials and switchgear all feel very premium and the whole interior is beautifully finished, though not particularly distinct compared with other BMW models.

Value for money

New BMW X7 models start at £72,315, which puts it directly in-line with rivals, such as the £75,040 Mercedes-Benz GLS and £66,710 Audi Q8. There are some more affordable rivals, such as the £57,195 Porsche Cayenne and £56,310 Audi Q7, which are also worth considering. 

On the used market, there is a surprising amount available when its young age is taken into account. In terms of prices, examples go for as low as £64,950 – not a massive change from the asking price new, but something to take into account, as depreciation hits this segment particularly hard. 

Looks and image

The X7’s styling is sure to divide opinion, especially with the massive BMW kidney grille known for causing controversy. Either way, we think a pretty good job has been done in designing the look of the X7. It’s bold, brash, but still BMW – it suits where the model is in the line-up, which is right at the top as the king of the German firm’s range of SUVs. 

Space and practicality

Being a very large SUV, let alone the largest vehicle BMW produces, the X7 excels in this area. The interior is extremely spacious throughout, with lots of headroom and legroom on offer even in the rear-most row – the model is a seven-seater, which should come as a plus for larger families.  

The boot is delightfully huge with 326 litres of luggage space on offer with all seven seats in place. With the third row folded flat, there’s an impressive 750 litres to utilise. Go one step further and fold the middle row flat, and you’ll discover a van-like 2,120 litres.  

Engines

BMW offers a range of petrol and diesel engines with the X7. Towards the entry-level side of the line-up, there are units such as the 261bhp 3.0-litre diesel in the xDrive30d and 335bhp 3.0-litre petrol in the xDrive40i. Despite these being the two cheapest engine choices, they still offer plenty of performance.  

At the other end of the spectrum, there are motors like the 395bhp 3.0-litre diesel in the M50d and the rapid 523bhp 4.4-litre petrol in the range-topping M50i. The latter obviously packs quite a punch, but so does its price at from £90,935. 

Running costs

As the X7 is a large, heavy SUV, it’s bound to be thirsty when it comes to fuel economy. Even the most economical motor – the diesel in the xDrive30d – is said to return up to 33.6mpg, which is not terrible, but not particularly great. CO2 emissions for this unit stand at 171g/km.  

Go for the top-of-the-range M50i and, as well as the asking price, expect running costs to be rather high, with average fuel economy of 22.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 248g/km – 523bhp doesn’t come cheap. 

Things to look out for

The X7 is still a relatively young model, meaning long-term reliability is yet to be known. That being said, we can look at BMW’s reliability as a brand, which is traditionally rather hit and miss. Recently however, according to the driver satisfaction surveys, it seems to be suffering a little. 

Looking specifically at the X7 though, the model does feel well built. On the other hand, it is also a very complex machine with plenty to go wrong, so keep an eye out. Overall, though, there aren’t currently any signs that the X7 is unreliable. 

Rivals

There are no shortage of luxury SUVs on the market trying to take the spotlight off the X7 – models such as the Mercedes-Benz GLS, Audi Q8, Range Rover and Volvo XC90. The X7 is a well-rounded car that manages to stand out amongst the competition just mentioned.  

It’s also worth mentioning that all the models mentioned are excellent luxury SUVs, so what most buyers’ go with will probably mainly come down to badge preference.  

Depreciation

Considering there are 2019 examples – with extremely low mileage as well – on the used market almost £10,000 cheaper than what they go for new, says something about the X7’s depreciation-wise. Like most luxury cars without an ultra-sought-after badge such as Ferrari or Porsche, new car buyers are bound to take quite the hit immediately when their car is driven off the forecourt. The upside of this, however, is that there are some great deals to be had on nearly new vehicles.