2019 BMW 7 Series Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byWill KaufmanSenior Editor and Content Strategist, CarMax

　　Will Kaufman has worked in the automotive industry since 2017. He has written hundreds of car-related articles and reviews over the course of his career. Will is a senior editor and content strategist for CarMax at zzdcar. Will has been featured in the Associated Press and a number of major outlets on the topics of infotainment and vehicle data, vehicle subscription services and autonomous vehicles. Will started his career in online publishing by writing and editing standardized test guides, but he has a lot more fun writing about cars.

　　

What's new

No major changes for 2019Part of the sixth 7 Series generation introduced for 2016

　　Big luxury sedans are the ultimate expression of the luxury car ethos, offering every trick in an automaker's bag. You can expect an expansive interior trimmed in high-quality materials, incredible attention to detail, a raft of advanced technology features, and an array of powertrains with immense power. The 2019 BMW 7 Series checks all those boxes. It also has the other defining characteristic of a large luxury sedan: a jaw-dropping price tag. Opt for a higher powertrain and start fiddling with the options list, and the 7 Series can double its base price.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 BMW 7 Series 740i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$192/mo  for 7 Series 740i

　　7 Series 740i

　　740i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $83,650 MSRP740i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $86,650 MSRP740e xDrive iPerformance 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $91,250 MSRP750i 4dr Sedan (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) - $96,950 MSRP750i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) - $99,950 MSRPM760i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (6.6L 12cyl Turbo 8A) - $156,700 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　If you like driving the newest and flashiest hardware around, the 7 Series might not be for you. BMW introduced this generation a scant two years ago, yet since then Lexus has released a new LS and Audi is out with a new A8. The 2019 Mercedes S-Class isn't dramatically different, but it continues to be the most prestigious pick in our opinion. Still, the 7 Series, by virtue of its all-around performance and opulent interior, remains a great choice for a flagship luxury sedan.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

　　The 2019 BMW 7 Series is a large luxury sedan with a great scope for personalization. From a range of powertrains to a true abundance of standard equipment, the 7 Series has a lot to offer the discerning customer — at least, the discerning customer with a sufficiently deep wallet.

　　

Driving

　　The 7 Series is a very competent performer in spite of its size. Even the plug-in hybrid 740e has considerable power, and the transmission response from the eight-speed automatic is fantastic. The biggest drawback is a lack of road feel, which is disappointing for a BMW sedan.

　　

Comfort

　　The 7 Series boasts an impressively smooth ride and exceptionally quiet interior, as well as a number of options for personalizing the climate for each passenger and standard seats that are comfortable and highly adjustable.

　　

Interior

　　The build quality is top-notch and refined, with exceptional-quality materials throughout. There's incredible interior space, and the extra-long doors make it easy to get in and out of this big sedan. The controls are easy to locate and use, and the iDrive technology interface continues to improve.

　　

Utility

　　There's a generous trunk and sufficient small-item storage, but neither is exceptional. The 7 Series certainly isn't a class leader in this area, especially with the 740e, whose battery pack impinges on the trunk.

　　

Technology

　　The 7 Series offers an impressive array of technology, especially once you dip into the options menu. There's plenty of connectivity, but Apple CarPlay is oddly subscription-based and Android Auto isn't available at all. The standard accident avoidance tech is appreciated.

　　

Which 7 Series does zzdcar recommend?

　　Like blinis to caviar, BMW's twin-turbo V8 is the perfect complement to the 7 Series, so we'd start with the 750i. From there, we'd add the Autobahn package for its predictive suspension adjustment, which makes the most of the standard air suspension. To maximize serenity, the Driver Assistance Plus package adds adaptive cruise control with the ability to handle stop-and-go traffic. The Rear Executive Lounge Seating removes some features from the front seats, so unless you're a chauffeur, or being chauffeured, we'd give it a pass.

　　

2019 BMW 7 Series models

　　The 2019 BMW 7 Series is available in four versions: 740i, 750i, 740e xDrive iPerformance and M760i xDrive. There are some slight variations in feature availability among them, but the main difference relates to powertrains.

　　The base 740i sedan comes with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that produces 320 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. Stepping up to the 750i adds a handful of additional standard features and upgrades the engine to a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 good for 443 hp and 479 lb-ft. Both offer standard rear-wheel drive or optional xDrive all-wheel drive. The 740e xDrive iPerformance plug-in hybrid uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor to produce a combined 322 horsepower. At the top of the 7 Series range is the flagship M760i xDrive, which is powered by a massive 6.6-liter turbocharged V12 that produces 601 hp and 590 lb-ft. As their names indicate, the plug-in hybrid and the V12 are only available with all-wheel drive. They are similarly equipped for the most part.

　　Standard equipment on the 740i includes an adaptive air suspension, 19-inch wheels, adaptive LED headlights, automatic high beams, automatic wipers, front and rear parking sensors, power-folding mirrors, a power trunklid, and power-closing doors. Inside, you'll enjoy a standard panoramic sunroof, four-zone climate control, 10-way power-adjustable seats with heating, driver-seat memory settings, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable steering wheel, a power rear sunshade, and auto-dimming rearview mirror.

　　Standard technology features include forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, BMW's latest iDrive interface (with a 10.2-inch infotainment screen, center console knob/touchpad controller, gesture control), integrated navigation, in-car Wi-Fi, two USB ports, a one-year trial subscription to Apple CarPlay, Qi wireless smartphone charging and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.

　　Several packages are available for the 7 Series, so we'll highlight the most notable. The Autobahn package adds variable-ratio steering and a system that analyzes road conditions and automatically adjusts the car's adaptive dampers. The Driving Assistance Plus package adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, lane keeping assist, front cross-traffic warning and Traffic Jam Assistant that uses the adaptive cruise and lane keeping system to steer, brake and accelerate for you in slow highway traffic.

　　Other packages add even more luxury for both the front seats and rear passengers. The Executive package adds 16-way multi-contour front seats with ventilation and massage, as well as rear window sunshades, a head-up display and ceramic control dials. The Luxury Rear Seating package adds heated, ventilated and massaging rear seats, a heated steering wheel, heated armrests, and a 7-inch tablet to control seat and climate functions that can be removed from a dock in the rear center armrest. For true rear-seat luxury, the Rear Executive Lounge Seating package adds a rear-seat entertainment system and reclining rear seats with extendable footrests. This package does limit the luxury options available for those in the front of the car.

　　Some of the above in-package items are available as stand-alone options along with upgraded brakes, a Bowers & Wilkins sound system upgrade, night vision, remote control parking, a spare tire, and multi-color LED lighting projected into the sunroof

　　The 740e iPerformance has the same standard features as the 740i, although it comes with unique interior accents. Upgrading to the 750i gives you the bigger engine, as well as a few extra standard luxuries, such as the multi-contour front seats. The M760i xDrive, meanwhile, adds performance-enhancing elements beyond its V12 engine, along with unique color choices and design elements.

　　

2019 7 Series Highlights

Type: SedanPlug-in HybridM760i xDriveSedan

　　Trim: 740i740i xDrive740e xDrive iPerformance750i750i xDriveM760i xDrive740i

　　

Base MSRP	$83,650
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$192/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	18.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles