BMW 7 Series review, first drive

For its seventh generation, BMW seems to have ripped the 7 Series playbook apart and tossed it in fire to completely reinvent its flagship sedan. And just as well, considering despite BMW’s best efforts, the 7 Series was unable to match its compatriot Mercedes-Benz S-Class’ success globally. The outcome is a radical departure from its predecessors across the board, a sedan that has been at the receiving end of unending criticism for its styling ever since its debut.

The radical styling of the new BMW 7 Series certainly takes a while to digest.

And it’s not hard to see why it has so strongly divided opinions. The new 7 grabs plenty of eyeballs on the road, but it isn’t exactly easy on the eyes. Styling preferences are always quite subjective, and BMW’s shock-and-awe approach for the exterior has not gone down too well with most. For us, this Rolls-Royce-esque profile does help the new 7 Series stand out and attract attention like no other in its segment and, in some sense, that’s a big win, considering plenty of buyers for cars like these will appreciate all the attention this car gets.

Unlike the previous generations that were sold in standard wheelbase and long wheelbase variants globally, there’s just one wheelbase option.

Also, the controversial exterior has driven plenty of conversation on the internet, positive and negative, but that has only helped it reach more screens, and, as they say, all publicity is good publicity. Darker shades like this Tanzanite Blue shade pictured here agree more with the 7’s controversial styling than lighter tones for sure. The M Sport package is standard and restricts the usage of chrome to the grille and rear bumper, at least in the case of the car sent to us for review, and only one 20-inch option for the alloys is what BMW offers for the 740i. Also part of the standard package is the lit-up kidney grille or ‘Iconic Glow’ function and LED DRLs with Swarovski crystals.

BMW 7 Series petrol review

Once you step inside, all the misgivings of the exterior start fading into irrelevance. The cabin combines contemporary luxury with just the right helping of ostentatious. The leather-draped cabin and wood finish trims blend beautifully with crystal glass elements including the iDrive dial, gear selector, seat adjustment controls and, most notably, the crystalline glass light bar that runs the width of the dashboard onto the doors.

The 7’s cabin does contemporary luxury exceptionally well with rich leather, big screens and crystalline glass inlays.

It incorporates stunning lighting effects, making for an exceptional in-cabin experience. True to the nature of the 7 Series, though, it’s the rear half of the cabin that impresses the most and is likely to make a prospective buyer look past its rivals. We won’t be surprised to know if the full-recline boss mode for the left rear passenger seat and the theatre mode were reason enough for some to put their money down on the new 7 Series, it’s that impressive. Electrically adjustable seats, massage functions, and seat heating/cooling are all features par for the segment, but just the way one interacts with the car to use these through the touchscreens incorporated in the doors makes it feel that much more special.

1. Touch controls integrated into the crystal glass strip. 2. Heated/cooled cupholders. 3. ‘CraftedClarity’ glass elements. 4. Curved screen houses 12.3in instrument cluster and 14.9in central touchscreen.

Air suspension ensures ride comfort is excellent and so is the sound insulation, making this such a great car to be driven around in. But where the 7 Series really stands out vis-à-vis rivals is when you get behind the wheel. Despite its size and heft, this is actually an enjoyable car to drive. Of course, 381bhp helps and so does engaging Sport/Sport Plus mode, but more than that, it’s that uniquely BMW ability to shrink around the driver, so you never really realise the sheer size of this car as you move across lanes trying to get past slow-moving traffic.

1&2. Rear seats offer exceptional comfort. Executive Lounge Seating pushes the front passenger seat all the way forward and brings up calf support and leg rests for the rear seat occupant. 3. An 8K 31.3in ultra-wide touchscreen drops down from the roof in Theatre Mode. 4&5. Both passengers get 5.5in touchscreens for access to a long list of creature comforts.

Honestly, if you’re shopping for a flagship luxury sedan and intend to drive it yourself, even if it’s very occasionally, there’s nothing like the 7 Series out there. It does the whole relaxed when you’re in the back seat, sporty when you’re behind the wheel better than its competitors by a fair margin. The one we drove had a 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbo petrol with 381bhp and 520Nm capable of sprinting from 0 to 100kmph in 5.4 seconds. There’s also the 740d, the diesel variant, with a 3.0-litre engine producing 286bhp and 650Nm enabling a 0-100kmph time of 6.0 seconds. Both get assistance from a 48V electric motor that outputs 18bhp and 200Nm, and an 8-speed torque converter is standard.

The 740i does 0 to 100kmph in 5.4 seconds.

The new 7 Series doesn’t feature drive modes in the traditional sense. It gets something called ‘My Modes’ that goes beyond just altering steering, suspension and powertrain characteristics, affecting factors like display colours, ambient lighting and even seat massage operation. Of course, the settings are customisable and the familiar Eco and Sport options are still very much there. Driver assistance comes in the form of features like lane keep assist, blind spot assistant, forward collision warning, but the car won’t brake on its own, which given the haphazard nature of traffic on our roads, is a good thing as that avoids what is at times unnecessary emergency braking, since these systems simply aren’t that well calibrated for our market.

1. The 740i is powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 381bhp and 520Nm, 0 to 100kmph in 5.4s. 2. ‘Iconic Glow’ feature adds LED lighting around the massive kidney grille.

Verdict

On the whole, the BMW 7 Series might not win you over with its looks, but the modern-day luxury appeal of its cabin is undeniably strong and there really aren’t any major flaws with the latest iteration of BMW’s flagship sedan. Besides the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the Audi A8 L, the other main rival of the 7 Series is its stable mate, the i7. It is slightly more expensive, but it also gets a few more features like electrically operated doors, vehicle sounds composed by Hans Zimmer himself, and, of course, low running costs associated with EVs. If you want to stick to ICE though, the 740i is an extremely impressive car. It drives well, offers excellent ride comfort while being exciting enough to keep you happy on your chauffeur’s day off and has a cabin that is unparalleled in terms of the execution of its design and the equipment on offer.

BMW 740i M Sport specifications

• Engine 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbocharged petrol
• Power 381bhp@5,200-6,250rpm
• Torque 520Nm@1,850-5,000rpm
• Gearbox 8-speed AT
• Wheelbase 3,215mm
• LxWxH 5,391×1,950×1,544mm
• Tyre Size 255/45 R20 (front) & 285/40 R20 (rear)
• Fuel Tank 74 litres
• Fuel Efficiency 12.61kmpl (claimed)
• Top Speed 250kmph
• 0-100kmph 5.4s
• Price Rs 1.82 crore (ex-showroom)