2025 BMW 7 Series

The great thing about this class is the variation it contains. The BMW 7 Series is a wildly different beast than the Lexus LS, for example. Even though both cars will cosset their occupants with space, comfort,  and tech, the 7 Series has more going for it. Some large luxury sedans are going to be purchased for what they offer the people who sit in the back. The 7 Series does that as well as any other contender, but this is also a choice for people who actually like to drive. On top of that, there’s the style statement. Like other BMW vehicles, the 7 Series makes its presence felt, whether in a parking lot or in other drivers’ mirrors. With all these attributes, we think the 7 Series is an extraordinary machine. The all-electric 2025 BMW i7 large luxury sedan is reviewed separately.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of flagship luxury sedans, including the BMW 7 Series.

This seventh generation of 7 Series launched for 2023, making it a couple of years younger than the current Mercedes-Benz S-Class and fresh enough not to need significant updates. This year’s only changes are the Panoramic Sky Lounge LED roof becoming standard in the lower three variants, and ventilated front seats added to the 760i xDrive.

Since the majority of 7 Series buyers go for the 760i xDrive and pricing isn’t such a deciding factor, then we’re happy to recommend this version. Alternatives worth considering (in ascending order of cost) are the Lexus LS, Genesis G90, Audi A8, Porsche Panamera, and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The final pair have 6-figure starting prices.

Before buying a new 7 Series large luxury sedan, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should pay. If it matters at this level of expenditure, the LS, Panamera, and S-Class enjoy stronger resale values. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

We especially love the 536-hp V8 in the 760i xDrive. It sounds glorious, and its power delivery is just as wonderful. BMW says this car can sprint from a standstill to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds — a feat that would please most sports car owners. If you’re going to drive a flagship luxury sedan in such a manner, this BMW is the one to have, which is exactly the conclusion reached by about half of all 7 Series buyers.

For a little performance context, the 496-hp Mercedes-Benz S 580 hits 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Even the most modest BMW 740i will still hit 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, which really isn’t slow at all and similar to the rest of the class.

Just like a typical flagship sedan, the 7 Series can be superluxurious, extremely comfortable (an air suspension is standard), and can lay on all sorts of gadgetry to help pass time on long trips. Yet it’s always had an edge, a different personality waiting to come out whenever the accelerator pedal is pressed hard and the steering wheel is turned with a bit of gusto. Select the Sport driving mode and the responses and agility of the 7 Series seem more like those of the compact 3 Series than the anticipated attributes of a 2.5-ton palace on four wheels.

The 750e xDrive plug-in hybrid (PHEV) makes a healthy total of 483 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque.

Fuel Economy

The popular 760i xDrive achieves 20 mpg in combined city/highway driving, just one mile shy of the Mercedes-Benz S 580 4Matic. The 740i returns 28 mpg combined, losing one mile per gallon with all-wheel drive. The 750e xDrive PHEV can run for 35 miles on battery power alone.

Successive generations of cars tend to grow larger. We did a little digging and found that this generation of 7 Series has about an inch less rear legroom than before. Still, its 43.3 inches is generous real estate in which to stretch your legs.

Everything is put together in a suitably high-class manner. This cabin is where fine leather meets smart tech (which can change the mood of the entire car) and gives everyone a comfortable place to sit. Who needs a Rolls-Royce? The 7 Series offers self-closing doors and some of the best massaging seats on which we’ve ever rested our weary bones.

This is also the most screentastic 7 Series ever. A large unit up front (the BMW Curved Display) contains a section for driver information as well as an infotainment touchscreen. Even the rear seats have screens in the door panels for climate control.

Trunk space is 19.1 cubic feet, one of the biggest in the class.

Love it or walk away slightly mystified; the 7 Series definitely has a look going on. It works for us. All in black, with black wheels and a black grille, we could imagine such a car being a star turn in a high-budget Netflix thriller series set in Germany. Other color choices include Frozen Tanzanite Blue Metallic ($5,000) and two-tone paint schemes. Sizewise, the current 7 Series is about five inches longer than its predecessor, about two inches higher, and almost a couple of inches wider. It’s big and imposing. BMW brings only the long-wheelbase version of the 7 Series into the United States. Mercedes-Benz does the same thing with the S-Class.

iDrive 8.5
This latest iteration of BMW’s infotainment operating system is excellent and user-friendly. The 7 Series comes standard with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging, and over-the-air update capability.

Panoramic Sky Lounge LED roof
A standard feature of the 7 Series is a huge glass roof with thousands of LEDs set inside, creating a series of interesting patterns.

Luxury rear seating
Even though the 7 Series is enjoyable from the driver’s seat, this kind of car is expected to provide lavish accommodation for rear passengers. An optional package brings heated/ventilated/massaging seats with powered adjustment.

Bowers & Wilkins audio
It’s an expensive option, but this 1,965-watt/40-speaker surround-sound system (including speakers set into the front headrests) is beyond superb. “Loud and clear” only begins to describe it.

Theater Screen
This 31.3-inch-wide, high-resolution display drops down from the ceiling and is a must-have option for VIPs ensconced in the rear seats. It’s compatible with streaming services and Amazon Fire TV, plus it comes with the B&W audio system and a rear window shade that closes automatically when the screen deploys.

Parking Assistant Professional
This optional self-parking feature includes a 360-degree camera system, an illuminated grille, plus a drive recorder, and a remote theft recorder. We think it’s well worth considering.

BMW vehicles are renowned for their handling, yet BMW engines are also excellent. One of the company’s hallmarks is a 6-cylinder unit, with those cylinders all in a line (as opposed to a V formation). That’s the 740i’s setup, which coaxes a turbocharged 365 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque from a 3.0-liter displacement. This amount of power is perfectly adequate while balancing relatively reasonable fuel economy. Some rivals start with more power; some have less. At its base, the 740i engages rear-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is optional.

The twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 in the 760i xDrive is a thing of mechanical beauty, endowed with 536 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque.

The 750e xDrive plug-in hybrid employs a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine and an electric motor to make 483 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque (which isn’t quite as powerful as the S-Class plug-in hybrid, but gutsy enough). Propulsion goes to all four wheels. Using just the battery, it can travel for around 35 miles.

All engines connect to an 8-speed automatic transmission and require premium gasoline.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

BMW covers its vehicles and powertrains with a warranty lasting four years or 50,000 miles, whichever occurs first. These terms are typical for European luxury car makers. There’s also roadside assistance for the first four years, with unlimited mileage, plus three years or 36,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance.

Safety Ratings

Big luxury cars are not usually crash-tested by independent agencies, but there’s plenty of standard safety equipment — such as forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, Active Blind Spot Detection, adaptive headlights, and lane departure warning. The optional Driving Assistance Professional package is worth the investment, adding assistance for changing lanes, evasive steering, and emergency stops, plus a hands-free highway driving feature.