Used 2023 BMW 7 Series

This exclusive corner of the automotive world consists of cars that will cosset and protect its occupants, and amuse them with tech features while being able to whisk them along highways at speed. The new-for-2023 BMW 7 Series can do all that.

It can also make owners decide to give their chauffeurs the afternoon off and jump into the driver’s seat themselves. In addition to all the plushness, there’s a poise and power to the 7 Series that’s a joy to experience. Then again, we expect that from BMW, don’t we?

The all-electric variant, the BMW i7, is reviewed separately.

The 7 Series can be super-luxurious, extremely comfortable (an air suspension is standard), and can lay on all sorts of gadgetry to help pass the time on long trips — just like a typical flagship sedan.

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 2023 7 Series seem more like those of the compact 3 Series than the anticipated attributes of a 2.5-ton palace on four wheels.

We especially love the V8 in the 760i xDrive. It sounds glorious, and its power delivery is just as wonderful. BMW says this car can sprint from standstill to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds — a feat most sports-car owners would be happy with, and almost half a second faster than the impressive all-electric i7.

Successive generations of cars tend to grow larger. We did a little digging and found that the new 7 Series has about an inch less rear legroom than before. But 43.3 inches is still a lot of real estate in which to stretch your legs.

Everything is put together in a suitably high-class manner. This cabin is the place where fine leather meets smart tech (which can change the mood of the entire car), then gives everyone a comfortable place to sit. Who needs a Rolls-Royce? The new 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 screen-tastic 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.

The BMW Individual Composition program offers buyers a wide range of leathers and wood trims to personalize their new 7 Series to an even greater degree.

Love it or walk away slightly mystified, the 2023 7 Series definitely has its own look going on. 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 (for $5,000) and 2-tone paint schemes.

Size-wise, the new 7 Series is about 5 inches longer than its predecessor, about 2 inches higher, and almost a couple of inches wider. It’s big and imposing.

iDrive 8.5
This is the latest iteration of BMW’s excellent and user-friendly infotainment operating system. The 2023 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 in the 2023 7 Series, this 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 a $4,800 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
Dropping down from the ceiling, this massive 31.3-inch, high-resolution display is a must-have option for VIPs ensconced in the rear seats. It’s compatible with streaming services, comes with the B&W system, and a rear window shade closes automatically when the screen is deployed.

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.

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 375 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque from a 3.0-liter displacement.

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

Both engines connect to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The 740i has rear-wheel drive (RWD), the 760i xDrive employs all-wheel drive (AWD). Either way, premium gasoline is required. And each engine has a small electric motor for a smooth stop/restart function.

740i
3.0-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder engine
375 horsepower @ 5,200-6,250 rpm
398 lb-ft of torque @ 1,850-5,000 rpm
EPA combined fuel economy: 27 mpg (25 city, 31 highway)

760i xDrive
4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8
536 horsepower @ 5,200-6,500 rpm
553 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800-5,000 rpm
EPA combined fuel economy: 21 mpg (18 city, 26 highway)

More 7 Series fuel economy information is available on the EPA’s website.

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. This is typical for German luxury car makers.