2022 BMW ALPINA XB7

　　

2022 BMW Alpina XB7 Review

byMichael CantuCorrespondent

　　Michael Cantu has worked in the automotive industry since 2014. He has written over 800 car-related articles and tested and reviewed over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Michael is a contributor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Digital Trends and InsideEVs. Michael was featured on a few InsideEVs YouTube channel videos on the topic of electric vehicles. Michael was a MotorTrend Car of the Year judge for 2019 and was a driver in MotorTrend's World's Greatest Drag Races 7 & 8.

　　, rating written byMichael CantuVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　Alpina is to BMW what Maybach is to Mercedes-Benz. The company takes a high-end BMW and tunes it for more power, adds more luxury, improves the ride quality, and tweaks exterior components for a more distinctive look. In this case, the X7, BMW's big three-row SUV, gets the Alpina treatment and becomes the XB7. Alpina also doles out the treatment to two other models, the B8 Gran Coupe sedan and the B7 sedan. Unlike BMW M models, Alpinas are more sophisticated and aren't developed for full-blown performance.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 BMW ALPINA XB7 4dr SUV AWD (4.4L 8cyl 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

　　$267/mo  for ALPINA XB7 Base

　　ALPINA XB7 Base

　　4dr SUV AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $141,300 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　In addition to the improved power, luxury and looks, the XB7 includes Brembo brakes, rear-wheel steering and an adaptive air suspension. Not to mention blistering acceleration. When we tested it, the 612-horsepower SUV rocketed to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds, which is on par with many sports cars. As with all Alpina models, there's a significant premium you'll pay over a regular BMW model. But keep in mind that part of that premium includes the exclusivity of the Alpina name.

　　The Alpina XB7's performance, opulence and exclusiveness are matched by only a few SUVs. Its closest rival, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600, is also quite exclusive. For the 2023 model year, Cadillac introduced the Escalade V, a supercharged version of the brand's enormous luxury SUV. The incredibly powerful V8 provides supersonic acceleration. The very posh and recently redesigned Land Rover Range Rover is another compelling alternative. If you aren't sure the Alpina XB7 is right for you, check out the Expert Rating below for our test team's in-depth review.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the ALPINA XB7 drive? BMW doesn't currently build a full M version of its large X7 SUV, but the Alpina-tuned XB7 comes reasonably close to offering that level of performance. The XB7's turbocharged V8 makes more power than anything else in BMW's lineup, save for the bonkers M8 Competition. Acceleration is blazingly quick (0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds in our testing), and the brakes are powerful enough to slow the XB7 down better than most sports cars.

　　The XB7 is reasonably nimble on a winding road, but it feels much more at home in the city or out on the highway. The transmission shifts smoothly, and the quick, light steering makes turning or parking relatively easy. Occasionally the brakes can be too sensitive, making it tricky to stop smoothly, but overall braking performance is on par for the class.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the ALPINA XB7? Disappointingly, the XB7 isn't more comfortable than a regular BMW X7. We expect more considering the price gap between the pair and the vehicles the XB7 competes against. The seats in all three rows are reasonably comfortable, yet despite plenty of adjustment, we never quite settled in.

　　The XB7's ride quality is also underwhelming. On anything less than perfect pavement, the XB7 doesn't feel as quiet and isolating as its rivals. The ride quality isn't harsh, but it doesn't glide over pavement either.

　　The climate control system is a mixed bag too. The settings aren't intuitive and require constant manual fiddling to get what you want. We like the standard heated and ventilated seats, but overall the Alpina lacks polish.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below