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- Highs Stylish design, roomy and comfortable cabin, choice of muscular engines.
- Lows Disappointing driving experience, interior material and quality only average, Android Auto not available.
- Verdict The 2018 BMW 7-series is handsome, quick, roomy, and comes with an array of infotainment tech, but it delivers a surprisingly bland experience behind the wheel.
Overview
As luxury sedans go, the BMW 7-series is a roomy and stylish option, but it doesn’t provide the stirring driving dynamics of its predecessors—a trait that once defined BMW’s largest model. Under its lengthy hood, the 7-series features a choice of buttery-smooth turbocharged engines, from the base 3.0-liter inline-six to the 6.6-liter V-12 in the M760i. A plug-in hybrid powertrain is also available that delivers up to 14 miles of electric-only range. In addition to the usual luxury-car features, the 7-series offers tons of tech, including optional semi-autonomous active safety gear and a comprehensive suite of infotainment gadgetry. Plus, its classically handsome exterior ensures that you’ll be arriving in style for years to come.
What's New for 2018?
A reshuffling of optional packages is the primary change for 2018. The Driver Assistance package on the 740i, 740e, and 750i models is now called the Driving Assistance package and features forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Driving Assistance Plus package replaces the previous Driving Assistance Plus II package and includes advanced features such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. A new Parking Assistance package is now available on 740i, 740e, and 750i models that includes a self-parking feature as well as a 360-degree exterior camera system.
Pricing
Original MSRP:
- 740i: $84,095
- 740i xDrive: $87,095
- 740e xDrive: $91,695
- 750i: $97,395
- 750i xDrive: $100,395
- ALPINA B7 xDrive: $139,795
- M760i xDrive: $157, 695
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Topping the 7-series’s list of highlights are its engines and transmissions. Every single one, from the 740i’s 320-hp turbocharged inline-six to the 750i’s 445-hp twin-turbocharged V-8 to the M760i’s insane 601-hp twin-turbo V-12, is velvety smooth and feels more muscular than its official horsepower figures indicate. Each of the 7-series models shares some variation of the same slick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive (known as xDrive in BMW marketing speak) is optional on the 740i and 750i and standard on the 740e and M760i. The 7-series is objectively quick in every version, gripping the road and stopping well. That might lead you to believe it’s a proper BMW. But the 7-series is the latest victim of a continuing slide, being neither satisfying to drive nor particularly sporty feeling from behind the wheel. No matter which of the car’s drive modes is selected, the suspension is pillowy soft, and body control is in short supply. Only the expensive, limited-edition ALPINA B7 drives like BMWs of old, and we’re thankful for it. The 740e plug-in’s combination of a turbocharged inline-four engine and an electric motor is powerful and manages to drive with a natural, gasoline-engine feel that’s absent from most hybrids. The plug-in 740e can charge at either a 120-volt or a 240-volt outlet. A full charge requires less than seven hours on standard 120-volt house current and less than three hours on 240 volts. Opting for the 750i and its twin-turbocharged V-8 nets acceleration times that match those of the Mercedes-Benz S550.
Fuel Economy
EPA fuel economy testing and reporting procedures have changed over time. For the latest and most accurate fuel economy numbers on current and older vehicles, we use the U.S. Department of Energy's fueleconomy.gov website. Under the heading "Find & Compare Cars" click on the "Compare Side-by-Side" tool to find the EPA ratings for the make, model, and year you're interested in.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
For decades, BMW’s interior aesthetic has been serious and businesslike. Lacking that ethos, the latest 7-series provides occupants with build quality, materials, and design that are merely average for this rich class. Sure, it’s spacious, but so is every sedan in this class. Sure, it’s luxurious, but one turn in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or even the new Genesis G90 and most drivers will be left wanting more from the BMW. Even in its most basic form, the 7-series is well equipped. It comes with power-adjustable heated front seats, a power-adjustable steering column, dual sunroofs, leather seating surfaces, dual-zone automatic climate control for each row of seats, and a proximity key with push-button ignition. BMW offers options that include massaging front and rear seats, power-adjustable rear seats, nicer leathers and trim materials, and a rear-seat entertainment system. Based on volume alone, the BMW's trunk has most competitors licked. But despite its impressive 18-cubic-foot capacity, tops among its class, the 7-series holds surprisingly few pieces of luggage, the result of the trunk space being divided into various nooks and crannies. Similarly, its spacious interior has average cubby space in the door panels and center console for stashing life’s detritus.
Infotainment and Connectivity
BMW’s iDrive infotainment system has long since moved beyond its early teething problems to become a straightforward, attractive interface. The latest version, dubbed 6.0, adds a touchscreen but keeps its signature (quick, intuitive) control dial, which is surrounded by shortcut buttons to key menus. BMW has made no tweaks to its infotainment offerings in the 7-series for 2018: Apple CarPlay is the only optional feature, and Android Auto is still not offered at any price. Every 7-series model comes with two USB ports for front-seat passengers and four 12-volt plugs scattered throughout. Bluetooth is standard, and a Samsung tablet with a dock between the rear seats is optional, giving passengers remote access to some infotainment features. On the gimmicky side of things, the 7-series has available gesture controls for iDrive, which enable front-seat passengers to pantomime certain motions beneath the rearview mirror to adjust the stereo volume, answer or wave off a phone call, and change views from the available 3D parking camera’s feed.
Safety Features and Crash Test Ratings
For more information about the BMW 7-series’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.
Warranty
Some older vehicles are still eligible for coverage under a manufacturer's Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program. For more information visit our guide to every manufacturer's CPO program.