2019 BMW X7 Road Test and Review

19bmwx7frontbeauty2sessions ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Sporting the biggest twin-kidney grille ever attached to a BMW sport-utility, the all-new made-in-America 2019 X7 offers standard seven-passenger seating. Bumper to bumper, BMW’s largest SUV stretches 10.1 inches longer than the mid-size X5 and even though it doesn’t look it, is just a half-inch shorter than the full-size Chevrolet Tahoe.

As with BMW’s top sedan, the 7 Series, the new X7’s stretched 122.2-inch wheelbase and long rear doors ease access to the rear seating areas. Major competitors to the BMW’s flagship X7 include the Audi Q7 and the newly redesigned 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class. Base prices for the 2019 BMW X7 are $74,895 for the xDrive 40i and $93,595 for the top-of-the-line xDrive50i including the $995 destination charge. 

Underhood Power

The X7 makes its debut with an all-turbo engine lineup, versions of which also appear in various BMW sedans and SUVs. In the X7 xDrive 40i, BMW’s silken B58 3.0-liter inline-six turbo generates 335 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque, while under the hood of the range-topping xDrive 50i lurks the Bavarian automaker’s lively N63 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 that pumps 456 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of twist. Both engines are teamed with a slick-shifting ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The six-cylinder’s EPA estimates are 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, dropping to 15 mpg city/21 mpg highway for the V8.

Acceleration with either powerplant is effortless, although the twin-turbo V8 in the XDrive 50i gives that extra measure of flagship-worthy performance consistent with top-tier luxury. Weighing in some 500 lbs greater than the X5, the 5,500-pound X7 is no lightweight. Still, the biggest Bimmer can scamper from rest to 60 mph when called upon — the xDrive 40i accomplishing the task in less than 6 seconds and the xDrive 50i doing the deed in just over 5 seconds. Maximum towing capacity is 7,500 lbs in both trims with the factory-installed hitch.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Luxury Immersion

It’s in the X7’s spacious cabin where the SUV’s flagship mission comes into clear focus. This may be BMW’s finest interior yet in terms of design, materials, and execution, rivaling some of the best work from Audi and Mercedes-Benz. Faux-leather seat coverings are standard in the xDrive 40i, but the xDrive 50i is awash in genuine hides. Both trims can be optioned up with ever more opulent grades of leather such as this Tartufo Extended Merino leather in our xDrive 40i test vehicle.

Super comfy power heated front sport buckets in the xDrive 40i give way to even more generously bolstered multi-contour front buckets in the xDrive 50i. Ventilated and massaging front seats are available in the optional Luxury Seating Package. A standard four-zone automatic climate control system gives front- and second-row occupants individual control, and you can upgrade it to a five-zone system that does the same for the third-row. You can also add seat heaters for all seven positions, the steering wheel, and the front armrests. A power tilt/telescope leather steering wheel is standard as well, as are a three-panel panoramic moonroof overlooking all three seating rows, a wireless phone charger, and soothing nighttime ambient lighting. 

Photo by Ron Sessions

Screen Gems

BMW’s latest iDrive 7.0 system gives the driver multiple ways of interacting with the standard 12.3-inch infotainment display, including via the console controller wheel, onscreen tiles, gesture control, knobs and buttons on the dashboard and steering wheel, and voice commands. In-vehicle Wi-Fi is standard as well as Apple CarPlay compatibility but take note, Google fans: There's no Android Auto. The touchscreen can simultaneously display up to three different app functions. New design USB-C charge ports are arrayed for powering mobile devices at all three rows, so you may need an adapter for older devices.

The X7 xDrive 40i test vehicle was equipped with an optional Harman Kardon surround-sound premium audio system that sounded about as clear and rich as many high-end home audio systems I’ve encountered. The top audio option is an even more potent 20-speaker, 1,500-watt Bowers & Wilkens system that costs several thousand dollars more. HD radio and SiriusXM are standard with all audio systems. In front of the driver is BMW’s Live Cockpit Pro with a driver-configurable 12.3-inch high-res gauge cluster that includes navigation. The xDrive 50i also gets a standard head-up display.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Bench or Bucket?

For second-row seating, the X7 offers a standard three-across bench or optional captain’s chairs. The bench is split 60/40 and has nearly half a foot of fore/aft adjustment, is individually reclining, folds flat for carrying cargo, and has a tilt-and-slide feature to ease access to the third-row seat. The captain’s chairs do everything the bench seat does but don’t fold flat. Just about every seat adjustment that can be made is electrically assisted with switches conveniently located at the rear door openings, cargo door, and a panel within reach of the driver. It does seem, however, that these adjustments are made at an excruciatingly slow pace, no doubt to help alleviate the possibility of a pinch hazard.

Aside from individual seat comfort rivaling the front buckets, the gap between the two captain’s chairs offers a handy path to the third row. An optional rear DVD entertainment system adds a pair of 10.2-inch displays to the back of the front seatbacks.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Wayback Seats

Short of an extended-wheelbase Cadillac Escalade, the X7 offers one of the best third-row perches in the luxury SUV class. There's decent headroom but clipped legroom and a somewhat low cushion height. Running the second-row seat forward a bit can help alleviate the legroom issue.

Third-row amenities include cupholders, padded armrests, and an optional headliner-mounted climate control panel. There are seatbelts for two in the third row, but anyone over 6 feet tall won’t want to spend an extended period of time back there. And even though the X7's rear doors are longer than the fronts, it’s still a squeeze to get in and out between the tilted second-row chairs and the rear door jam.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Cargo Considerations

BMW is unusual among SUVs in offering a split tailgate/liftgate design. The cargo door is divided with the lower third tilting down to form a handy tailgate like a pickup truck for loading and unloading items. The upper section swings up like a traditional liftgate, and like just about everything else in the X7, both are operated electronically.

With the third-row seat up, cargo space is a smallish 12 cubic feet, about the size of the trunk in a subcompact sedan. Folding down the third-row seat increases the volume to a generous 48.6 cubic feet. The second-row captain’s chairs don’t fold down but with the standard second-row bench seat folded flat, cargo space expands to a yawning 90.4 cubic feet. More storage is available under the cargo floor when the X7 is equipped with the standard run-flat tires, or buyers can opt for the $150 space-saver spare tire (with 21-inch wheels only) for peace of mind that also includes a jack and lug wrench.

Photo by Ron Sessions

X7 Dynamics

For a vehicle that tips the scales at close to three tons with a few passengers on board, the 2019 BMW X7 acquits itself fairly well on the road. Its primary mission, of course, is flagship-grade luxury and a compliant ride, enabled by a standard air suspension teamed with adaptive shock absorbers.

Our X7 xDrive 40i test vehicle came with the optional Dynamic Handling Package, featuring larger M Sport brakes, active rear steering, and Active Comfort Drive with Road Preview. This last part uses forward-facing cameras to detect road imperfections ahead and the navigation system to suss out upcoming turns to prepare the suspension as needed to maintain body control and ride comfort. In conjunction with the active anti-roll bars and adaptive dampers, it stiffens the suspension through winding turns and keeps the wheels from dropping into large potholes. With this system, the steering felt a bit overboosted at times, but ride quality was exemplary with the standard all-season 285/45R21s Bridgestone run-flat tires. Optional 275/40R22 front/315/35R22 rear run-flat performance skins are also available. Our test vehicle also included the optional M Sport package, which along with a long list of appearance upgrades also give the SUV a sportier exhaust note.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Safety and Driver Assistance

Sitting at the top of BMW’s SUV food chain, the X7 comes standard with a lengthy lineup of safety and driver-assistive features. These include automatic emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, active blind-spot detection, a lane-departure warning, road sign and speed limit information, and front and rear parking sensors.

For the range-topping xDrive 50i, this list expands to include standard smart cruise control, lane-keep assist, a surround-view 3D camera to replace the standard backup camera, and the Extended Traffic Jam Assistant. This latter semi-autonomous system is intended for limited access highways and includes lane-centering with limited hands-off-the-wheel time. It is part of the Driving Assistant Professional Package (standard on V8 models) that also includes front cross-traffic alert, Evasion Assistant, and Automatic Lane Change (when using the turn signal and smart cruise control is activated). And with all of this automatic safety net activity, the SUV is also equipped with an infrared camera to make sure the driver is alert and still paying attention. It will beep a warning at you if you're not. 

Photo by Ron Sessions

Living Large

With the long-anticipated introduction of the BMW X7, the gloves are off in the premium luxury three-row SUV segment for top honors among the top-tier German automakers.

As sales of premium luxury sedans such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8, and BMW 7-Series continue to ebb, more buyers are being drawn to these well-contented utilities, whose price tags often exceed six figures with the many available options. The 2019 BMW X7, the brand’s first dedicated three-row SUV, is on sale now.

Photo by Ron Sessions