2019 BMW 7 Series Review

Published Date: 21st May 2019

The 7 Series is BMW’s large executive class vehicle competing with cars like the Audi A8 and Mercedes S-Class.  There’s an argument that for some reason the 7-Series hasn’t appealed to the mass market in the same way some of its rivals have, the S-Class for example has out-sold the 7 Series by nearly 2 to 1.

So how does this latest 7 Series model stack up, built on a new platform, with bold new styling and plenty of upgrades. Can it rival the S-Class ?
 

2019 BMW 7-Series Exterior

The new 2019 7-Series features a new grille that eclipses the older one in terms of size, the larger grille means the top of the bonnet is 5cm higher too and the air ducts are wider to complete the bold new look. New sleeker looking LED front lights bring a modern look to the bold new front profile.

The lights at the rear of the vehicle get similar treatment to the front, looking modern, sleeker and angled with a somewhat gimmicky sequential, scrolling effect.
 

2017 BMW Series Interior

Inside, the new 7-Series features BMW's new 10.2-inch colour/touchscreen infotainment system featuring the latest version of BMW’s much acclaimed iDrive software. The infotainment system can be operating by the traditional rotary iDrive controller or with smartphone type hand gestures like pinch and swipe. The system also features next-level voice control which can activated with a simple ‘Hey BMW’ or a name you choose like ‘Hey My Car’.

Inside the 7-Series is spacious and rear leg is on a par with the class leading Mercedes S-Class whilst its a bit down on the S-Class for leg room in the front. Long-wheelbase models add some extra legroom and comfort for rear passengers and are a perfect option for chauffeuring.

The 7-Series interior is plush featuring luxury leather upholstery with the option of several different colours plus dashes of wood and metallic trim. You could argue that the S-Class is a tad more luxurious inside but if you are a driver who cares about how your car drives and feels then you can’t argue with the BMW technology that delivers a near faultless experience for drivers.

Inside the cabin is quieter than the older model too with thicker, sound dampening glass keeping engine and exterior noise to an absolute minimum.

To enhance comfort and enhance passenger experience there are a number of packs to consider. The Premium pack for example offers ventilation and a massage function on front seats and Climate Comfort laminated glass. The Rear Seat Comfort Pack offers heated rear comfort seats with massage function and a full multimedia experience for rear passengers via two touchscreen infotainment systems.
 

2019 BMW 7-Series Models & Engines

New BMW  7-Series diesels are a 730d or 740d both with automatic sports transmission and despite the diminishing appeal of diesels in general these are fine engines and will be the go-to choice for many, they offer great performance combined with excellent economy figures for such a big car.

The 7-Series 730d can get you from 0-62mph in a tad over 6-seconds, CO2 emissions are 143g/km and it offers a combined fuel economy of up to 52mpg (combined). The 740d models pack a punch, capable of 0-62mph in little over 5 seconds, CO2 emissions are around 159g/km and fuel economy is up to 47mpg (combined).

Petrol models are the 740i and 750i, 0-62mph in 5.5 and a very swift 4 seconds respectively. The 740i offers up to 34mpg (combined) whilst the 750i is around 26mpg (combined). The diesels make a lot more sense in the vast majority of cases.

The 7-Series also gets a new petrol plugin hybrid with 8-speed automatic transmission, named the 745e available on standard and long-wheel base models. The new hybrid combines a 6-cylinder petrol engine with a 9.2kWh battery, BMW say it can travel up to 36 miles and at speeds of up to 87mph in full electric mode.

You can compare the full range of BMW 7 Series models and browse very generous discounts off list prices here.