BMW 7 Series review
The BMW 7 Series is a technological tour de force that wraps supreme luxury and surprising agility into one incredibly sophisticated package.
Author: The Cazoo editorial team
7th Jan 2026 – 8 mins read
When you think of a luxury limousine, you probably picture something that’s meant to be driven in, rather than driven. But the BMW 7 Series likes to do things a little differently. Yes, it’s incredibly plush, spacious, and relaxing for passengers in the back. But because it wears a BMW badge, it hasn’t forgotten about the person in the driver’s seat. Launched in 2015, this generation of the 7 Series brought a whole new level of technology to the luxury car game. It’s lighter, smarter, and more efficient than ever before. Whether you’re being chauffered to a meeting or taking the long way home yourself, it’s a car that manages to be both a soothing sanctuary and a genuinely capable driving machine. It competes with heavyweights like the Mercedes S-Class and Audi A8, but carves out its own niche by being just that little bit sharper to drive.
Pros
- Surprisingly low running costs, especially for the plug-in hybrid
- A truly fabulous interior packed with high-quality materials
- Extremely refined and quiet, making long journeys a breeze
Cons
- Styling is very similar to the smaller 5 Series
- Some options on the list can be very expensive
- The sheer amount of tech can feel a bit complex at first
Interior
Dashboard & tech
Sitting in the driver’s seat of a 7 Series feels a bit like piloting a spaceship – but a really comfortable one. The dashboard is a masterpiece of clean design and high-tech features. You get a crystal-clear 10-inch display that controls everything from the sat-nav to the massage seats. It’s powered by BMW’s iDrive system, which is widely considered one of the best in the business because it’s so easy to use.
There are also some properly futuristic touches, like "Gesture Control." This lets you turn the volume up or down just by twirling your finger in the air – it feels like magic the first time you try it. Quality is absolutely top-notch, with beautiful leather, wood, and metal finishes everywhere you look. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a flagship luxury car.
Comfort
Comfort is king in the 7 Series. The seats are like armchairs, offering huge amounts of adjustment, heating, and even massage functions if you find the right spec. It’s incredibly quiet inside, too. BMW has done an amazing job of blocking out wind and road noise, so you can whisper to your passengers even at motorway speeds.
The ride quality is sublime. Thanks to standard air suspension, the car practically floats over bumps and potholes. There’s even a clever system that scans the road ahead and adjusts the suspension before you even hit a bump, ensuring nothing disturbs your peace and quiet.
Quality
Everything inside the 7 Series feels substantial and expensive. From the soft-close doors to the solid click of the buttons, you can tell this car has been built to the highest standards. It’s a step above most other cars on the road and feels special every time you get in.
Practicality & boot space
Interior space
Whether you’re in the front or the back, space is generous. The rear seats offer plenty of legroom for tall adults to stretch out. If you really want the VIP treatment, look for a long-wheelbase model (often badged with an 'L', like 730Ld). These versions add an extra 14cm of length, almost all of which goes to rear legroom, turning the back into a limousine-style lounge.
Boot space
The boot offers 515 litres of space, which is plenty for a few sets of golf clubs or luggage for a long weekend away. It’s a practical shape, although being a saloon car, the opening is a bit narrower than an SUV or estate, so loading bulky boxes might be a bit tricky.
Versatility
While it’s definitely not a family runaround, the 7 Series can handle family duties if needed. There are ISOFIX points for child seats, and the boot is big enough for a pushchair. But really, this car is about carrying adults in supreme comfort. Some models even come with a "lounge" setup in the rear, reducing the seat count to two individual chairs for maximum luxury.
Driving
Driving experience
Here’s where the 7 Series surprises you. Most big luxury barges feel heavy and disconnected, but the 7 Series feels surprisingly agile. BMW used a "Carbon Core" construction to keep the weight down, making it feel much lighter on its feet than you’d expect.
The steering is light, making it easy to manoeuvre around town, but it still gives you enough confidence to enjoy a twisty road. It’s not a sports car, but it doesn’t fall to pieces the moment you show it a corner. It manages to be relaxing when you want it to be, and engaging when you need it to be.
Performance
There’s a wide range of engines, and they’re all impressive. The most popular choice is the 730d, a 3.0-litre diesel that offers a brilliant blend of smooth power and real-world economy. It’s punchy enough to overtake effortlessly but won’t cost the earth to run.
For petrol fans, there are smooth six-cylinder and V8 options, right up to the monstrous V12 engine in the M760Li, which has supercar levels of speed. There’s also the 740e plug-in hybrid, which combines a petrol engine with an electric motor for silent, emissions-free driving around town.
Running costs
Fuel economy & CO2 emissions
You might expect a big luxury car to be expensive to run, but the 7 Series can be surprisingly frugal. The 730d diesel can achieve around 60mpg, which is incredible for a car of this size and luxury.
The star of the show for efficiency is the 740e plug-in hybrid. If you keep it charged up, it can return over 100mpg in official tests and drive on electric power alone for short trips. It also has low CO2 emissions, making it a smart choice for company car drivers looking to save on tax.
Value for money
When new, the 7 Series cost a small fortune. But like many luxury cars, it depreciates quite heavily in its first few years. This is bad news for the first owner, but brilliant news for you. On the used market, you can pick up a 7 Series for a fraction of its original price. You get a huge amount of car – and technology – for your money, often costing less than a decently specced family hatchback.
Reliability & Warranty
The 7 Series is packed with complex technology, but it generally proves to be reliable. Most of the engines are used across the BMW range and are well-proven. There have been some recalls in the past for minor electrical issues, but most used examples should have had these sorted by now. From new, BMWs come with a three-year warranty, giving you peace of mind.
Safety
Safety features
While Euro NCAP hasn’t crash-tested the 7 Series specifically, you can be confident it’s incredibly safe. It’s built with a super-strong carbon-fibre core and is packed with airbags and stability systems.
It also features some very clever active safety tech. The Dynamic Safety pack can sense if a crash is about to happen and will automatically close the windows and tighten the seatbelts to protect you. There are also options for advanced driving assistants that can help steer the car in traffic and keep you in your lane on the motorway.
Trims & Engines
Trim levels
The 7 Series keeps things relatively simple with its trim levels, though the list of optional extras is huge.
- Standard: Even the entry-level model is loaded with kit. You get 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, heated front and rear seats, sat-nav, a reversing camera, and the cool Display Key.
- Exclusive: Adds a few luxury touches like soft-close doors and upgraded "Comfort" seats in the rear.
- M Sport: The sporty choice. It gets bigger 19-inch wheels, a sporty body kit, an M Sport steering wheel, and a sportier automatic gearbox.
- M760Li: The top-dog performance model with the V12 engine, huge 20-inch wheels, and every luxury gadget you can think of, including massaging seats.
Engines
- 730d: The sensible choice. A 3.0-litre diesel with 261bhp. Smooth, powerful, and very economical (around 60mpg).
- 740d: A more powerful version of the diesel engine with 316bhp.
- 740i & 750i: Smooth petrol engines with plenty of power (322bhp and 444bhp respectively), but they are thirstier than the diesels.
- 740e: The plug-in hybrid. Combines a 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor for 254bhp and excellent efficiency if charged regularly.
- M760Li: A 6.6-litre V12 petrol monster with 602bhp. incredibly fast but expensive to fuel.
Most engines are available with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system for extra grip in bad weather.