2024 BMW i7 Review: Jekyll And Hyde Syndrome

BMW has put its wealthiest clients in a bit of a predicament with the i7, the electric counterpart to the gas-powered 7 Series. Is it possible that the best full-size sedan from BMW is the electric i7? We suggested that much the first time we had the opportunity to drive both, with the i7's unparalleled refinement and instant acceleration earning high praise. In the new M70, the 650-horsepower i7 will hit 60 in only 3.5 seconds, but even the base eDrive50 with rear-wheel drive - also new for 2024 - has strong performance and a decent range. Powertrains aside, the i7 matches the 7 Series for luxury, equipment, quality, and comfort. The two cars are visually indistinguishable, which is only problematic if BMW's bold design language hasn't won you over. Whereas the electric Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan falls short of the gas-powered S-Class in some aspects, the i7 doesn't when measured against its conventionally powered sibling. It's an exceptional luxury sedan, so shoppers in this segment must ask themselves a serious question: Is the i7 better at being a 7 Series than the 7 Series is?

New for 2024

After arriving for the 2023 model year in xDrive60 guise, the i7 range has tripled in size for 2024 with the new base eDrive50 and top-spec M70. The 449-hp eDrive50 has RWD and a single electric motor, while the M70's dual motors produce 650 hp. The latter also enjoys 21-inch wheels, massaging seats, and acoustic glazing. The only other change for the 2024 i7 is that an interior camera is now standard.

2024 BMW i7 Price: Which One to Buy

The lowest price for the 2024 BMW i7 is $105,700 for the eDrive50. That goes up to $124,200 for the xDrive60 and $168,500 for the M70. These are the MSRPs, so don't include the $995 destination charge in the USA.

We would have no issue gliding down the highway in the base eDrive50 and using the savings to add one of several amazing features, such as the BMW Theater Screen ($4,750) or massaging front seats ($1,000). However, if you prefer to be chauffeured, we recommend one of the top two models with access to the Rear Executive Lounge Seating Package. It adds $7,250 on its own (before other compulsory extras), but the reclining rear seat with footrest makes traveling in the i7 a truly first-class experience.

Interior and Features

The optional BMW Theater Screen is part of a tech-packed cabin that may alienate traditionalists, yet it nails the basics by being spacious, supremely finished, and quiet.

In the i7 and 7 Series, BMW has crafted what may be its best-ever interior. Before you turn the multiple screens on or begin playing with the colorful interaction bar on the dashboard or optional rear theater screen, you'll notice it's quite a restrained, serene layout. The depth of technology is astounding, but a lot of it is concealed until you need to use it. Make no mistake, everything lights up like a Christmas tree when the car starts, including the BMW Curved Display ahead of the driver. The quality is flawless, from the glass controls to the soft Merino leather, and you can choose from several finishes and color schemes. Interior space is excellent, and even the base model enjoys four-zone climate control, heated front/rear seats, and a Bowers & Wilkins sound system, but the i7 can be specified with every possible gadget if money is no object.

Space

Both rows in the new BMW i7 sedan have abundant seating space, thanks to the 126.6-inch wheelbase. Legroom and headroom are generous even for taller folk in front, but it's the sheer opulence of the seats that stands out most. These perches will keep you comfortable over even extended periods behind the wheel. In the second row, the i7 has superb comfort, with legroom being especially generous. The optional Rear Executive Lounge Seating Package has a reclining rear seat that automatically moves the front passenger seat out of the way. A power-adjustable footrest automatically deploys, transforming into a place where you can easily recharge on the way to your next meeting.

Cargo

At 17.7 cubic feet, the i7's trunk space is marginally smaller than that of the gas-powered 7 Series (19.1 cubes). In this area, the Mercedes EQS comes out on top with its 22-cubic-foot trunk. Still, the i7 has enough space for plenty of shopping or sports equipment, and the wide trunk opening is convenient. A through-loading system is available for longer, thinner items, but you can't fold down the rear seats entirely. The i7 lacks the incredibly spacious frunk of another large electric sedan, the Lucid Air.

Interior storage is also good. There are dual cupholders front and rear, along with well-sized door bins lined with felt to keep items from rolling around noisily. The center front armrest doubles as a storage compartment that can accommodate phones or wallets, and you get the usual glovebox that opens at the touch of a button. Those at the back have front-seatback storage and their own door bins.

Materials and Colors

From the moment you step inside, the i7 impresses with its selection of premium materials. There are no loose panels or cheap spots inside this sedan, not that there should be at the price. Plush extended Merino leather upholstery is standard. Interior colors are Amarone, Smoke White, Mocha, Black, and Tartufo. A combination of Black and Atlas Grey M will cost $3,900 if the M Sport Package is specified. Upgrading to full Merino leather in most of the same colors costs $5,450, while adding two new color combinations: Caramel/Atlas Grey and Taupe Grey/Night Blue. Selecting this leather upgrade requires the Driving Assistance Professional Package ($2,000) and the Premium Package ($1,750). No-cost trim inlays include Mirror Oak High Gloss, Silver Grey Ash Grain Open Pore Wood, and Fineline Open Pore Wood. Fineline Black is included with the M Sport Package, while carbon fiber or Silver Ash Root Open Pore Wood both cost $1,080, although the latter requires several other extras.

With the full Merino leather upgrade, the headliner comes in a soft Alcantara in Grey, Black, or Night Blue, depending on the color of the leather. Alternatively, you can stick with the standard leather and select an Anthracite Alcantara headliner for $1,050.

On the xDrive60, the full Merino leather upgrade includes Black or Smoke White seats, the former with Dark Grey cashmere inserts and the latter with Light Grey cashmere sections. This upholstery looks sublime but is bundled with many other extras that raise the total cost by over $27,000. With minor differences, the M70 shares the xDrive60's upholstery options.

Features and Infotainment

Every BMW i7 is comprehensively specified. There is a four-zone-climate control system, while both the front and rear seats are heated. If you live in a colder state, this isn't a bad car to have, as the i7 also has heating for the steering wheels and armrests, while radiant heating is incorporated into the door and instrument panels. The front seats have ventilation plus extensive power adjustments for the shoulder and thigh areas, and a memory system. Other standard items include comfort access keyless entry, soft-close doors, a power rear sunshade and rear side window shades, auto-dimming functions for the inside and outside rearview mirrors, adjustable ambient lighting, and illuminated vanity mirrors (front and rear). By way of options or packages, the i7 can be equipped with ventilated rear seats, front/rear massaging seats, and automatic opening/closing of the doors. The optional Rear Executive Lounge Seating Package is the epitome of luxury with its automatically reclining right rear seat, including a power-operated footrest.

The infotainment system has a multitude of settings and menus to navigate, which can prove intimidating at first. Running iDrive 8 software, the driver and occupants can control settings by voice, touchscreen, or the iDrive controller. The BMW Curved Display houses a configurable 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with a 14.9-inch touchscreen in a single panel. Standard items include wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth with simultaneous pairing of more than one device, remote software updates, a personal eSIM with 5G connectivity, and SiriusXM with 360L.

The standard Bowers & Wilkins sound system is already superb, but this can be upgraded with the Bowers & Wilkins Diamond system featuring 1,965 watts of power and 39 total speakers, including 4D audio thanks to speakers in the front seat backrests. The 31-inch BMW Theater Screen is optional across the lineup and comes with 8K resolution and Amazon Fire 4K connectivity. The screen automatically descends from the roof, with rear passengers able to control it via touchscreens in the door panels. Fully equipped in this fashion, the i7's interior is a marvel.

Performance

All i7s glide down the highway in remarkable comfort, but the M70 is the quickest by some margin. Despite the sedan's weight, there is still some joy to be had in guiding it through a series of curves.

One of the new members of the electric BMW i7 family is the eDrive50 derivative. This model is the only one with a single motor and rear-wheel drive. It produces 449 hp and 549 lb-ft of torque, enough for a 0-60 mph time of 5.3 seconds and a limited top speed of 130 mph. The xDrive60 has dual motors producing 536 hp and the same torque as the eDrive50, reducing the BMW i7's 0-60 time to 4.5 seconds. The M70 also has two electric motors but has a set of specs that any sports car would be proud of. This variant makes 650 hp and 749 lb-ft; it will spring to 60 in only 3.5 seconds.

All models have a single-speed, fixed-ratio transmission. Not only is the BMW i7 EV's powertrain exceptionally refined, but it delivers effortlessly quick acceleration. In the case of the M70, it's almost disconcerting to experience such shattering acceleration while wrapped in that luxurious cabin. Iconic Sounds, a soundscape composed by Hans Zimmer, can't completely fill the sonic void left by the fully electric powertrain, but it does add some enjoyment to proceedings.

An adaptive two-axle air suspension is standard, as is integral active steering with rear-axle steering. The rear-axle steering makes the car more agile, a welcome feature considering the i7's size. We experienced the xDrive60 model and found its instant responsiveness addictive compared to the gas-powered 7 Series, even if the latter has a decently quick transmission. It's obvious from behind the wheel that the i7 is heavy, yet the weight distribution makes it feel even more controlled than the 7 Series on the limit, and the steering remains sharp. Most impressive is the car's cloud-like ride quality. It simply smothers bumps and surface changes, and the interior stays eerily silent. It's luxury motoring at its finest.

Battery, Charging, And Range

The size of the wheels on the i7 will influence its efficiency and range. Best of all is the eDrive50 with 19-inch wheels; in this guise, the i7 returns 87/95/90 MPGe city/highway/combined and a 321-mile range on a full charge. 21-inch wheels cut the range by ten miles, and 20-inch wheels are the worst, reducing the range to 301 miles.

The mid-range xDrive60 isn't far behind the eDrive50 despite its dual motors and AWD. It manages 87/93/90 MPGe and has a 317-mile range on 19s. The range drops to 307 miles on 21-inch wheels and 298 miles on 20s. Finally, the M70 returns 79/85/81 MPGe and can cover 291 miles on 21s. On 20s, this high-performance model returns 74/80/77 MPGe and 274 miles.

According to the latest EPA ratings for the Mercedes EQS, the i7 is outclassed by its rival. The EQS can return up to 103 MPGe combined and 340 miles on a full charge.

With its 105.7-kWh lithium-ion battery, the i7 will take 11 hours to charge at a Level 2 charging point. Replenishing the battery from 10% to 80% will take 34 minutes using DC fast charging at 195 kW.

Safety

Although it lacks an official crashworthiness score, the BMW i7 is expected to be one of the safest vehicles on the market, and it's available with hands-free driving tech.

No safety review has taken place for the BMW i7, and the same goes for its 7 Series sibling. However, BMW has several older and smaller models that have already walked off with five-star safety ratings, so we have little doubt that the i7 will be safe.

The safety specification includes a suite of airbags, automatic high beams, dynamic stability control, dynamic traction control, and tire pressure monitoring. The Active Protection System can detect an imminent crash and prepare the car by closing the windows/moonroof and pretensioning the safety belts. This system includes fatigue and focus alert. The Active Driving Assistant bundles together forward collision warning, active blind-spot detection, lane departure warning, and speed limit information. To keep that shiny exterior neat, there are parking sensors and a parking/backup assistant. All models have a color head-up display, and an acoustic system will alert pedestrians to the silent i7 creeping up behind you.

By way of packages or standalone options, the i7 can be fitted with a parking assistant that you can use to remotely park your car in tight spaces. Also available is a surround-view camera with 3D view, camera-/radar-based assistance systems such as steering assist and lane change assist, hands-free driving up to 85 mph on compatible roads, and M Sport brakes.

Reliability

No recalls apply to the 2024 BMW i7. However, there were quite a few issues earlier in the electric sedan's life, with five recalls for the 2023 version. These problems were for an interaction bar malfunction, an improperly welded front seat, disabled front airbags, a high-voltage battery ECU that could interrupt power, and an unavailable location for emergency response teams.

A four-year/50,000-mile warranty is standard on the 2024 BMW i7, including four years of roadside assistance. Complimentary scheduled maintenance runs for three years or 36,000 miles, while the electric components have coverage for eight years or 100,000 miles.

Warranty

Design

As was the case with the E65 7 Series with its infamous "Bangle Butt" in the early 2000s, BMW threw the rulebook out of the window with the new i7. Most of the commotion around the i7's styling involves its front fascia, which is about as subtle as a volcano. The twin kidney grilles are impossibly large, and they look even more intimidating when illuminated or when the car is finished in a light color. The split adaptive LED headlights look quite futuristic in isolation and can be finished with Swarovski crystal details. Together with the grille, there is no question that this car doesn't fade into the background. BMW says it went for a clean, monolithic design for the i7's flanks. The C-pillar kink has been enlarged on this flagship model, while the side view features wheels ranging in size from 19 to 22 inches. The rear design has elegant taillight clusters and is probably the least polarizing aspect of the design. On the M70, there are Shadowline exterior accents and a darkened section that further emphasizes the size of the grille.

Soft-close doors are standard, but automatic doors, an illuminated grille, and a Panoramic Sky Lounge LED roof are available. On the top two trims, there are two-tone paints that have a Maybach/Rolls-Royce vibe, but this will add $12,000 to the bill.

Verdict: Is The 2024 BMW i7 A Good Car?

The 7 Series was always going to be a natural candidate for full electrification in BMW's range since the smooth and effortless power delivery of an EV is a perfect fit for a full-size luxury sedan. If you can live with its controversial design, there are no major red flags. The i7's ride quality, interior comfort, and technology implementation are all class-leading, while the new RWD model and top M70 add more variety to the lineup. It's more refined than the gas-powered 7 Series and even handles better in some instances due to the layout of its electric components. Yes, it's expensive, but so are rivals like the Mercedes EQS. And, unlike previous 7 Series generations, the i7 is as much of a treat from the back seat as it is from behind the wheel. It may not look like it, but this is a contender for the best electric sedan in the world.