The luxury electric car earthly concern has heated up a whole peck over the past few years . Between models from legacy car maker like Mercedes - Benz and newcomers like Lucid , there ’s passel of choose from . BMW ’s take on a opulence galvanizing sedan is the BMW i7 , a automobile that comes with a immense idiot box for the passengers , depending on the trimming you get .
The BMW i7 is built for a comfortable , tech - threatening drive , permit the driver and rider alike to tailor their i7 experience to their pauperization . But it also costs a hefty $ 105,700 — and that ’s for the BMW i7 eDrive50 , which is the basal model of the car . That is the model of i7 I ’ve been drive for the last calendar week — a cable car that sit under the mid - tier xDrive60 and the top - level M70 .
While it ’s not as expensive as the top - tier trim , it ’s still not cheap by any means — and it faces stiff competition . Does it nonplus out the the like ofthe Lucid AirandMercedes - Benz EQS ?
Design and interior
The design of the BMW i7 is a little controversial . It ’s perhaps not as unequaled as that of the i3 or the i8 , but it still looks unlike most other BMW models . The car is pretty Brobdingnagian , with slim headlights at the front and a huge kidney grille — something that ’s sure to be factious . The car is famously uncommitted in two - tincture color - schemes — but we ’re reviewing a model in the Dravit Gray Metallic vividness , which is a small more subtle .
I ’m a little lacerate on the overall intent of the car . It ’s not the best - looking vehicle out there , but I also do n’t hate it . I do find aspect of it to be a fiddling over the top , but again , it ’s not as wild as some of BMW ’s other late vehicles . That enjoin , our review car did come with the M Sport Package , which mean it had larger 21 - inch cycle .
The interior of the fomite is built for luxury , and that ’s immediately clear when you get inside the fomite . It ’s very grand , with plush cushioning on the seats , which also house heating and cooling . The seats are covered in a soft leather , and there ’s really nothing about the Interior Department that looks or feels chinchy — unlike some of the competitor in this price range .
One of the things I really like about the i7 ’s interior is the fact that it puts a heavy vehemence on passenger - dustup ease . There ’s a small display in the sleeve of the two back doors , which allows exploiter to plant window spectre floor and third - zona temperature . The rear seating area also have warming , cool down , and massaging , which is nice to see . The car is uncommitted with a monumental 31.3 - column inch video display — but our good example did n’t number with that selection .
mostly , the i7 is perhaps the most comfortable car out there , at least as it pertains to comfort foreveryonein the automobile , and not just those in the front seat .
Tech, infotainment, and driver assist
The motorcar is very technical school - heavy too . We already went over the displays in the rear seats , which are genuinely helpful — though slimly tedious at meter . There are other screenland around the gondola , too , though . Notably , the i7 offers a large curving showing at the front of the car , which is made up of a 12.3 - inch cat’s-paw display and a 14.9 - column inch infotainment display .
They ’re both fantabulous - calculate blind , with brilliant colors and crisp item . The car derive with BMW ’s iDrive 8.5 , which is n’t bad . It ’s still not the fastest infotainment organization out there , and can be a short puzzling to voyage . I also found it freeze up a little more than I would have liked . However , I do like the contrivance layout — and you may even have CarPlay or Android Auto exist as a widget , if you want to show other information from the car . I mostly kept CarPlay at full - screen though .
The BMW i7 put up some helpful driver - assist features , though do n’t expect feature on the same level as some more tech - focalise railway car out there . The machine does have an adaptive cruise control feature article and a lane supporter — so it can feel almost like it ’s ego - driving on the highway . It also has things like a 3D view of the dealings around you on the pawn display , for instance . And , as an choice , our car come with a parking assistant , which is a lineament I usually have to call up to use on test car , as it ’s still not my first inherent aptitude . Presumably , if Iownedone of these trial cars , I ’d get into the routine of using it . Regardless , the car has a helpful set of features overall .
Driving experience
Actually repel the BMW i7 is an excellent experience . The humble model of the fomite has a single motor that powers the rear wheel , while the xDrive60 and M70 have two motor that power an all - wheel drive organisation . Our car was able to hit 60 miles per hr in 5.3 second .
Sure , that ’s not as quick as many of the other electrical vehicles out there — even some much chintzy ace . But it ’s still decent fast and draw it easy to quick overtake other cars on the main road , for example . Remember , this vehicle is built for comfort and sumptuousness — notnecessarilytop public presentation . That say , of course , if you pass enough for the M70 , you ’ll get both ( the M70 has an acceleration from 0 to 60 miles per time of day of 3.5 seconds ) .
The i7 is heavy and dense , but I detect the steering to be comparatively responsive and the car in cosmopolitan to be a little more agile than I expected . The car ’s cabin is very restrained , even at degraded speeds , and the suspension system helps make it feel very smooth . That ’s what you would desire for a car like this — you wo n’t finger every trivial bump in the route , which you would desire on a more carrying out - focalize fomite , but that ’s a beneficial affair here .
Range and charging
The BMW i7 has offers between 274 and 321 international nautical mile of range , calculate on the passementerie and options you go for . The eDrive50 has the highest range , presumably because the barrage fire only has to power one motor , and the orbit varies from 301 to 321 miles look on thing like the wheel case and other options .
It ’s a respectable range , and we ’re beaming that the base model of the car hits 300 miles . And in my experience , the estimation seemed about right-hand . However , there ’s another sumptuousness electrical vehicle that kind of blow the i7 out of the water — the Lucid Air . Even the base mannequin ofthe Lucid Air , which is $ 69,900 , has 419 statute mile of range . If range is your top fear , then the Lucid Air is the sumptuousness electric sedan to corrupt .
The BMW i7 charges at up to 250 kilowatts , which BMW says will give the car 100 miles of range in 12 instant . It ’s a tight - enough charging velocity — but not as fast as the fastest - charging car out there , likethe Kia EV6andHyundai Ioniq 5 .
How DT would configure this car
The BMW i7 has a lot go for it — even if you go for the base model . The car does what it set out to do by offering a corking EV experience with an incredibly luxuriant Interior Department . Really , the i7 might well set the bar for a comfortable ride , so if that ’s a priority to you , then it ’s easy worth considering this automobile .
The i7 is n’t necessarily built for operation , but if you do want to get one , we recommend upgrading to the all - wheel - driveway i7 xDrive60 . You probably do n’t demand the much more expensive M70 , but having at least two motor really will make for a more nimble drive .
That said , of course , it ’s also worth considering other vehicles . If you need a sumptuosity car that prioritizes “ electric railcar thing , ” like range , institutionalise , and that superfast acceleration , then the Lucid Air is still a much better pick , and for a lower cost . If you ’re unforced to spend i7 - character money on an aura , you’re able to upgrade tothe Lucid Air Grand Touring , which has options for a 500plus mile chain , and an incredible acceleration time of 0 to 60 statute mile per hour in 3 seconds .
