The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Crisp styling
- Well-balanced road manners
- Excellent standard features
- Good touchscreen infotainment
- Warranty’s tops
Dislikes
- Yes, it’s expensive
- Small cargo area with all seats up
- A big step from turbo-6 to twin-turbo V-8
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2022 X7 caps BMW’s excellent range of SUVs with the most seats, the most horsepower, and the most luxurious cabin.
What kind of vehicle is the 2022 BMW X7? What does it compare to?
The X7 is BMW’s biggest vehicle, the one with the most seats and a lavish interior on par with the 7-Series sedan. It’s a rival for the Mercedes GLS, Audi Q7, and the Range Rover.
Is the 2022 BMW X7 a good SUV?
It’s one of the highest-rated gas-powered SUVs, buoyed by strong performance, a wealth of features, and creature comforts suitable for any creature. We give it a TCC Rating of 7.4 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2022 BMW X7?
BMW has dropped wireless smartphone charging from all X7s and the Premium Package has lost its former Harmon Kardon sound system.
The largest BMW in history has a stately style that isn’t overly distinctive, but it has been executed with grace. The X7’s long wagon body wears more angles than curves, but it’s all balanced to make what’s a very large vehicle look very toned. The cabin’s the highlight of the X7, with big banks of swanky wood and aluminum trim, and a dual 12.3-inch digital display that glints off the available glass-tipped controls.
BMW fits a strong turbocharged engine to every X7, as well as all-wheel drive and an 8-speed automatic. The base 40i edition can power to 60 mph in under six seconds, but the twin-turbo V-8s do it in as little as 4.0 seconds, in 612-hp Alpina spec. For a nearly 6,000-lb SUV, the X7 comports itself without a portly feel; there’s ample body lean in curves, but the air suspension and driver-selectable steering and adaptive damping flatten out its ride without turning it flinty.
The seven-seat X7 has synthetic leather upholstery and a three-seat second row in its least expensive version, but it’s much finer as a six-seater with Merino leather and twin captain’s chairs in the second row. Cargo room and third-row seat space abound, and the interior ranks with the 8-Series and 7-Series among BMW’s finest—as it should.
So does safety technology; though the IIHS and NHTSA haven’t completed testing on the big SUV, BMW fits each with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitors.
How much does the 2022 BMW X7 cost?
It’s $75,895 for the X7 xDrive40i, which comes with 21-inch wheels, seven seats, and synthetic leather upholstery, as well as twin 12.3-inch displays with touchscreen infotainment, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. It’s possible to spend more than $150,000 on an XB7.
Where is the 2022 BMW X7 made?
In Spartanburg, South Carolina.
2022 BMW X7 Styling
The X7’s stately shape keeps its exquisite interior under wraps.
Is the BMW X7 a good-looking car?
It’s well-suited to its mission, with the usual BMW grace notes applied to a big-wagon body. What sets it apart is the X7’s lovely cabin and its expressive array of interior finishes. We give the X7 a 7 here.
BMW fronts its biggest vehicle with a ribbed twin-kidney grille sized in good proportion to its long nose and broad hood. The front end sports a lower grille that’s flanked by big fog lights and C-shaped air intakes. The body’s slight swells and curves pull up at the rear in a traditional way that sets off big 21-inch wheels and standard roof rails. It’s completely traditional, and superbly executed. Alpina XB7s can be shod with 23-inch 20-spoke wheels to go with their splitters and spoilers and diffusers, which sound confusing and busy-looking but resolve well with the X7’s shape.
The interior sings, but you’ll have to play the right notes to hear it. Basic black synthetic leather and dark wood trim panel out the dash of the stock X7. It waters down the graphic appeal of the angular shapes that define the union of its touchscreen and its central controls. Lighter leather and wood draw out its personality more, but nothing looks so evocative as an X7 dressed to the nines in white and blue leather, with glass-tipped controls. It’s a bit of Rolls-Royce glamour on a slightly lower budget.
2022 BMW X7 Performance
The X7’s big and bulky, but it’s no bruiser.
With powerful engines on its docket and an adaptive suspension system that gives the Heisman to lumpy pavement, the X7 merits a 7 for performance. That’s based on its turbo-6 version; the V-8s would garner another powertrain point.
Is the BMW X7 4WD?
The X7 comes standard with all-wheel drive, which helps the chunky 5,397-lb SUV put power down and manage traction.
How fast is the BMW X7?
It’s quick, almost startlingly so, with the 3.0-liter turbo inline-6 found in the xDrive40i. With 335 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque, and a swift-shifting paddle-controlled 8-speed automatic, it’s good for a BMW-quoted 0-60 mph time of 5.8 seconds, and for a tow rating of 5,400 lb. The powertrain has more than enough power to shrug off any uphill highway run or two-lane passing situation.
Either of the X7’s V-8 powertrains draws from a well of explosive power to vault this XL-sized SUV to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds or less. The M50i’s 4.4-liter turbo V-8 huffs out 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque and can tickle a top speed of 155 mph for what’s essentially a flying brick. All the while, its sweet V-8 burble stays quiet and composed, until it doesn’t; that’s when the electronically locking differential suits up to deal out torque between the rear wheels to the one with more grip. When BMW puts the screws to the same V-8’s turbos, the resulting XB7 extracts 612 hp for astonishing 0-60 mph runs of 4.0 seconds, all from an SUV with seven seats and nearly 6,000 lb pressing on the road. It can also tow 7,500 lb.
It’s enlightening to press on the X7’s gas, but it’s a bigger awakening to cut into a wide sweeping turn with one. The X7 has a standard air suspension that gives it calm, collected grip no matter what the driving situation. Yes, it leans into turns deeply in its most comfortable setting, but by twisting its drive-mode controller into a sporty state of tune, the X7 can button down its handling for more spirited driving and for impressive control.
2022 BMW X7 Comfort & Quality
The X7 balances luxury and seven-seat comfort flawlessly.
With excellent space for up to seven passengers, a beautifully finished interior, and plentiful cargo space, the X7 earns a 10 for utility and comfort.
It’s more than five inches longer than BMW’s own X5—they share running gear and an architecture—and the X7 is bigger than the GLS-Class and Q7, too. It’s not entirely obvious inside, where the X7 saddles up with plush, heated and 16-way power-adjustable front seats covered in black synthetic leather in base versions; leather can be ordered and then upgraded to Merino hides in rich toffee brown or creamy ivory. They’re surrounded by an upholstered dash that wears dark wood trim like a well-tailored suit, but looks more stunning in a silvery trim, available white and blue leather, and glass-tipped controls.
A great driving position offers good outward vision, and BMW fits the X7 with a deep center console with optional heated and cooled cupholders.
BMW fits a three-seat bench in the middle position, and it’s wide enough to seat three large adults. A two-seat middle row with heated captain’s chairs makes the X7 a superior executive shuttle, thanks to its 37.6 inches of second-row leg room. Power-sliding second-row seats open up access to a third row that can seat two adults in reasonable comfort, or power-fold out of the way to turn the 11.5 cubic feet of space behind row three to 48.6 cubic feet behind row two.
2022 BMW X7 Safety
The X7 hasn’t been rated by the IIHS or the NHTSA.
How safe is the BMW X7?
Neither safety agency has crash-tested one, so we’ll leave this unscored until they do. Every X7 comes with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, adaptive LED headlights with automatic high beams, parking sensors, active lane control, and adaptive cruise control. Options range from an automatic parking system, to a head-up display, to a surround-view camera system. BMW’s driver assist package permits brief spells of hands-free driving and it’s one of the better systems at lane-keeping.
2022 BMW X7 Features
From its warranty to its crystal shift knob, the X7 doesn’t miss a detail.
Loaded with standard equipment, the tech showcase that is the X7 has lots of options, a wide-screen infotainment system, and an excellent 4-year/50,000-mile warranty with free service for 3 years or 36,000 miles. We give it a 9.
Which BMW X7 should I buy?
We’d be happy with the base $75,895 xDrive40i, which has three-row seating, 21-inch wheels, synthetic leather upholstery, wood trim, remote start, heated power-adjustable front seats, and a panoramic sunroof.
The X7 also pairs 12.3-inch displays for the gauges and the infotainment system; the central touchscreen has BMW’s very good iDrive interface as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
How much is a fully loaded BMW X7?
The $100,795 M50i sounds like enough, but apparently it isn’t. BMW sells the Alpina XB7 with a 612-hp 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8. For $142,295 it includes a leather dashboard, Merino leather upholstery, a head-up display, glass controls, and options for Bowers & Wilkins audio and a rear-seat entertainment system that can push it past $150,000.
2022 BMW X7 Fuel Economy
The X7 does OK for a big SUV.
Is the BMW X7 good on gas?
Considering its size, it’s not terrible on gas. With a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to add electric boost for better efficiency, the turbo-6 X7 earns EPA ratings of 19 mpg city, 24 highway, 21 combined. We give that a 4.
The twin-turbo V-8 M50i and Alpina XB7 check in at 15/21/17 mpg.
