BMWX7

　　

2024 BMW X7 Review

byBrian WongSenior 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.

　　, rating written byBrian WongManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　The 2024 BMW X7 is the largest and most luxurious utility vehicle in the BMW lineup. The X5 also offers an optional third row, but that is more suitable for kid duty with its tight confines. Basically, if you want a family hauler with three roomy rows of seating, and you want a BMW, the X7 is your best choice. The 2024 model is essentially unchanged, though BMW made a bunch of updates last year to help keep the X7 fresh.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 BMW X7 xDrive40i 4dr SUV AWD (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

　　$207/mo  for X7 xDrive40i

　　X7 xDrive40i

　　xDrive40i 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) (Most Popular) - $81,900 MSRPM60i 4dr SUV AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $108,700 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Two powertrains, one sensible and one extra spicy

The base X7, called the xDrive40i, comes with an inline six-cylinder engine. Having just six cylinders might not seem fully adequate for a big luxury SUV but its 375 horsepower certainly is. In our testing, it sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in a quick 5.1 seconds. You get a respectable EPA-estimated 22 mpg in combined city/highway driving too. But should you want more muscle for towing or hauling, BMW is happy to oblige with the V8-equipped X7 M60i and its 523 hp.

　　

Competitors to consider

Its closest rival is the Mercedes-Benz GLS. While the GLS feels a touch behind in terms of design, it does offer a roomier interior that some buyers will prefer. Then there are the truck-based American large SUVs, the Lincoln Navigator and Cadillac Escalade. They far outmatch both Germans when it comes to cargo room and towing capacity. But for those who don't need to maximize interior space, the X7 is pretty compelling. Check out our test team's Expert Rating below for a full rundown of the details.

　　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

　　8.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the X7 drive? We tested the X7 xDrive40i, which has the inline six-cylinder engine. Boot the accelerator at any speed and the X7 pulls ahead with zero drama. At our test track, the X7 xDrive40i accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. That's hugely impressive for a luxury three-row SUV with a six-cylinder. For comparison, the last Cadillac Escalade (with its 420-hp V8, mind you) we tested needed 6.7 seconds to get to 60 mph.

　　The X7 crossover is reasonably athletic around turns for such a large SUV, especially if you compare it to truck-based alternatives. In more routine driving, the X7 is smooth and easy to drive. Transmission shifts are quick and unobtrusive.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the X7? Electronic wizardry abounds to keep the X7's ride comfortable. Our test vehicle had the Dynamic Handling package, which includes a camera that scans the road for imperfections and actively prepares the suspension dampers to provide the smoothest ride possible. That's the idea anyway. In Comfort mode, the suspension borders on floaty. We found the ride to be overly floaty when we had the X7 in the Comfort setting; switching to Sport settled down the ride without compromising overall comfort.

　　BMW makes some of the best high-end seats in the business, and the adjustable upper backrest makes it a cinch to find a perfect driving position. Exterior noise is absent except for the pleasant growl of the inline-six under heavy acceleration.

　　The only real downside is the climate system. The air vents are small and the automatic setting might not keep you fully satisfied with cabin temperatures or fan speed. We also thought it odd that this high-end SUV doesn't offer ventilated second-row seats (you can get them in a Kia Telluride), but the front seat's ventilation is so weak that they probably wouldn't be missed anyway.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below