2023 BMW 7 Series

　　

2023 BMW 7 Series Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　, rating written byKurt NiebuhrSenior Reviews Editor

　　Brian Wong has worked in the automotive industry since 2010, writing over 1,000 car-related articles and testing and reviewing hundreds of vehicles over the course of career. Brian is a senior reviews editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Cars.com, Motor Authority and Green Car Reports. Brian has also been featured on MotorWeek as an expert for several car comparisons. He loves convertibles (the smaller the better) and hates paying for parking, so Los Angeles is both the right and wrong city for him.

　　For 2023, the BMW 7 Series has been redesigned from the ground up. It has new styling inside and out. The infotainment and navigation system has been redesigned, and the 7 is now available with BMW's latest hands-free highway driving assist system. There are some significant changes under the hood, too, as both the six- and eight-cylinder engines gain mild hybrid systems that slightly improve acceleration, smoothness and fuel economy. But pour one out for the V12 — it's no longer available. Oh, and BMW is releasing an all-electric variant, though we review that car, the BMW i7, separately.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 BMW 7 Series 740i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 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

　　$171/mo  for 7 Series 740i

　　7 Series 740i

　　740i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) (Most Popular) - $93,300 MSRP760i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $113,600 MSRP

　　vs

　　$198/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　Other large luxury sedans tend to be of the Germanic variety. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class offers similar levels of modern technology but favors a more relaxed approach to driving comfort, while the Audi A8 has a spacious, comfortable interior paired with handsome, if understated, styling. If you'd like to be a little different, the Genesis G90 features stunning exterior design and plenty of standard features to complement its luxury-forward ride. Check back later this year for our test team's full evaluation of the 2023 BMW 7 Series.

　　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.

　　Great

　　8.2

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the 7 Series drive? We tested the top dog of the 7 Series lineup, the 536-hp 760i xDrive. At our test track, it ripped from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds. There's also loads of power for passing on the highway, though we noticed in routine city driving the 760i could seem a little lethargic at low speeds. But in general, buyers should be easily satisfied with any 7 Series, including the 740i or the 750e plug-in hybrid.

　　The 7 Series also feels more agile than expected for a car of this size, with powerful braking and some handling chops to go with it. The steering effort is light, but at no point does the 7 Series feel sloppy or imprecise. There's also an available rear-wheel steering system that helps to shrink the car's turning radius and make lane changes more nimble.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the 7 Series? The front and rear seats are remarkably comfortable. The available Luxury Rear Seating package allows the rear seats to recline almost fully via small touchpads on the rear doors. The touchpads also allow passengers to also turn on the seat heating/ventilation or massage functions (those can also be found on the front seats as well). The only caveat is that the vents feel a bit underpowered for the fan speed setting you're on, but the cabin still cools or heats up quickly. You also have lots of options to split temperature and fan speed for different parts of the vehicle.

　　An auto-leveling air suspension is standard across the 7 Series lineup. Our test car also featured a road preview system that can read the road ahead of you and prepare the car to handle any bumps or potholes that are coming up. But like the issues we had with the throttle at low speeds, the suspension doesn't quite sort things out until you get going. From a stop, the car tilts back too far as you accelerate and it creates a swaying motion as things rebalance. While this vehicle rides better than the vast majority of vehicles, it feels a step behind the S-Class and its own stablemate, the electric i7, when it comes to delivering a smooth, isolating ride.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below