For decades now the 7 series and the S Class have been in direct competition against each other. There was also Audi’s A8 but for some reason it was a bit more distant when it came to the business man showdown at the Exec saloon corral. Now times have changed and with the introduction of electric we now have Mercedes S class and EQS rivals to BMW’s 7 series and i7. Where Mercedes has clearly defined their ICE cars from their electric cars with its EQ designation, BMW uses the i series as it’s main defining characterization of its electric vehicles, the 7 series and the i7 easily recognisable as the top of the line in BMWs executive luxury class.
Special mention : Incredibly luxurious interior, eye catching if ‘blocky’ exterior, immense presence, swift, serene, decent battery, slow charging is good, touch screen isn’t laggy, electric as well as manual door pulls is a great safety addition.
Needs work : Touch screen and apps make the home screen busier than it needs to be, blocky exterior looks, packages add extra expense as well as some tech that you may not want, price has increased over 10k in the year since it was registered.
| 544 HP | Electric / Auto |
| 0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds | Road Tax €120 |
| Price: from €128,775.00 As Specc’d €148,16.90 | Boot Space 500 litres |
Here we have the i7 xDrive60 M Sport, the i7 is the fully electric top of the line saloon from BMW. It may have slightly less boot space than the EQS and it misses out on the hatchback useability and a completely flat rear floor, but the i7 makes up for it with a stronger exterior design and driver enjoyment. BMW have managed to translate across those moments that make driving enjoyable at any given point during a journey, from a mundane commute to a back road short cut or motorway schlep, the BMW involves its driver. And while Mercedes has an optional hyper screen for around 12 grand, I’d put my more usable money into the cinema screen in the BMW if I were travelling a lot and spent some of my time waiting around.
The i7 xDrive60 is powered by two electric motors which together develop an output of 400 kW/544 hp, and boasts an array of innovations which increase its range to 590 – 625 kilometres in the WLTP cycle. It may not have a combustion engine but they’ve managed to make it drive like a BMW, dynamic and powerful with great ease and precision. it has that high end luxury feeling, extreme comfort and appealing surroundings with usable technology throughout the cabin too. The Electric powertrain is formidable, it’s powerful and at the same time refined. It generally holds on to its charge quite well and if you’re stuck using slow charging, it can go from 40 % to full in around 5 hours.
In the same way that Audi has separated it’s e-tron range from its combustion engined cars (they don’t offer saloon electric cars, only electric SUVs), Mercedes offers a completely separate line of electric cars, with suvs and saloons. But who has people talking more about their cars? BMW have created a massive amount of discussion around their designs in recent years. If the EQS is seen as too bland, is the i7 too sharp? They appear to have engaged their audience, with less work. Is it a case of working smarter and not harder perhaps?
The interiors of BMWs have been standard for some time now. There’s been a huge amount of importance placed not only on the technology but also the material quality, specifications and extreme luxury feel. There’s plenty of ambience for the front seat passengers with design aesthetics around the controls made out of cut glass and a light bar running across the dash.
The i7 comes with height-adjustable air suspension and adaptive dampers as standard, it’s a subtle change in height but noticeable. The i7 is 50mm bigger in width and height over the previous generation 7 series and to help with manoeuvring all this extra space, active four-wheel steering technology is offered as an option on most versions, as are Executive Drive active anti-roll bars. The front seats adjust to cushion and support the driver using a number of select modes, when Sport mode is selected from the 5 possible drive modes it sets the lumbar support to ‘hug’ and the dash colours to red. To add to this, the seats also pulse with the bass from the stereo in a subtle and pleasing way. Every adjustment of the seats is motorised, with added massage and heating functions to suit most moods through the touchscreen or quick keys on the door.
While you can sit three along the rear bench, there’s still a bit of a transmission tunnel to deal with and it’s not really made for that third person to sit on for long journeys. folding seatbacks come as standard and this electrically adjustable reclining chair comes as an option. Behind the front passenger side, the rear chair reclines and extends at the touch of a button which is accessed via a touch screen on the door. An incredible way to travel and relax.
The touchscreens give access to the entertainment functions, something which children will immediately be drawn to. And the piece de resistance is the drop down cinema style screen where you can connect to music, work and other entertainment apps. And if both rear passengers are high fliers and need to make separate calls, they can do so through the car’s Bluetooth system, and routed separately to the speakers in their individual headrests.
In total there are four touchscreens throughout the cabin, plus a 12.3in Live Cockpit Professional digital instrument screen and a head-up display which is easy to read and doesn’t interfere with your vision out the front. The i7’s sat-nav has the ability to set your route using available battery power as it’s guide to when you will need to top up and will advise of charge points along the way.
BMW’s Operating System 8.0 main infotainment system has all the apps available on the homescreen, it would be handy to tidy them up into selected folders similar to the iOS homescreen but you can set up shortcuts via the user-defined drop-down buttons at the top of the touchscreen. You can also access most settings and information via voice commands or the iDrive rotary controller.
While Mercedes has an optional hyperscreen (costing around twelve thousand euro) the BMW has a 31” widescreen that folds down from the roof. You can watch online content via eSim data connection and the built-in Amazon Fire software or hook up a games console via HDMI or USB-C cable.
The audio from the Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround system is powered by 1965 Watts out of 36 speakers which surrounds the occupants with extremely pleasing aural sounds.
On the motorway, the i7 is designed to create a pleasant and relaxing environment for its passengers but for the driver its luxury-level drivability and authoritative, effortless, mile-covering pace is what makes it enjoyable and if needed, it can get from standstill to 100 km/h in 4.5sec. Power is delivered swiftly and progressively without having to strain passengers’ neck muscles against the G forces unless you use the ‘boost’ paddle on the left side of the steering wheel. This preps the electric powertrain for short bursts of boosted acceleration. As it’s electric you should really try to regenerate some of the energy lost. There’s three modes of regen available: high, medium or low and there’s an adaptive setting to regulate the car’s momentum in traffic and to slow it for junctions automatically. The i7 is strong and smooth in a straight line but surprisingly nimble through corners, BMW’s four-wheel steering system making light work of the limo’s size and weight.
The BMW i7 xDrive60 demands consideration by anyone who wants a luxury saloon that has not only embraced a massive upheaval in the automotive world but has advanced as an technology-packed and luxurious 7 series that handles well for its 2,715 kgs.
Perhaps for the next generation it will have greater range, and tone down the blocky front end, even with those exceptions in mind, this autobahn cruiser is formidable.
