Tested: The Massive 2024 BMW X7 M60i Has No Right To Perform The Way It Does

It’s fair to say that when it comes to the extra large, three-row SUV, the American carmakers tend to have this segment covered. Vehicles like the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban, GMC Yukon, Cadillac Escalade, Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator and Jeep Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer dominate sales due to their attractive blend of comfort, space, luxury and capability.

Other luxury brands have attempted to tap into this segment as well, like Infiniti with the QX80 and Lexus with the LX, but with little actual sales success. At least not on our market. Mercedes-Benz may have shipped a little under 20,000 examples of its big-boy GLS in the US and Canada last year, but that number was dwarfed by the 45,000-some Escalades Cadillac shipped during the same period. Meanwhile, Land Rover only wishes it could sell as many Range Rovers.

And then, there’s this guy, the 2024 BMW X7; a large German SUV that’s also trying to find its way in, but that has only managed so far to barely scratch the segment’s surface. In the M60i version, then, the X7 feels like a screw this moment from BMW, as though the product planners thought: “if it’s not going to be the sales king, it might as well be ridiculously fast and entertaining to drive”. No vehicle of this size and weight has the right to perform the way it does, but I’m happy such a machine exists.

The BMW X7 M60i pictured here belongs to the BMW Canada press office. The vehicle was delivered clean and with a full tank of gas. I assumed all fuel bills during my week with the car. For detailed insight into testing procedures and data collection, please review
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2024 BMW X7 M60i First Impressions

BMW would rather you call its SUVs Sports Activity Vehicles, or SAVs. I don’t know if this appellation is supposed to have something to do with its design, but the X7 is not what I would call pretty due to its massive schnoze and squinting LED headlights. It’s just a big, mean box of an SUV.

Still, I do find that this somehow looks better than the pre-LCI model. At BMW, LCI stands for Life Cycle Impulse, another fancy word for a facelift. The first X7 looked really goofy, but this new face at least has some form of coherence in it. The X7, which received a mid-cycle refresh in 2023, also wears it a lot better than the new 7 Series.

Dressed up in M60i form, this SUV’s most potent form, complete with its blacked out grille, body elements and wheels (part of an optional package), as well as the adequately badass Frozen Pure matte gray paint (part of BMW Individual), the X7 at least looks purposeful and ready to eat everything else on the road.

Exterior Dimensions

Driving Impressions And Performance

The 2024 BMW X7 M60i adheres to a very specific kind of customer, somebody who needs to haul a family and a lot of gear, perhaps tow a boat or a camper once in a while, but also, ironically, wants a sports car to have a bit of fun when alone behind the wheel.

I know, none of this makes sense. After all, the X7 weighs in at close to 5,900 pounds. It’s also 17 feet long for crying out loud. Why would anybody want something of such dimensions to handle like an M car?

No, the X7 M60i doesn’t drive like an M3 or an M4. Not even an M5. But it is athletic and capable enough to quickly have you forget what you’re driving. Power from the twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 is never an issue.

In Sport and Sport+ modes, the M60i picks itself up and starts flying, no matter the speed and no matter the RPM you’re at. The delivery of power is relentless, at times mind-bending. Everything is incredibly entertaining in the process.

BMW claims this gargantuan family shuttle will hit 60 MPH from a standstill in 4.5 seconds. I believe it, but cold, damp winter tarmac, as well as winter tires prevented me from confirming these claims.

On a winding road, the X7 M60i doesn’t feel like the big truck that it is, but rather like a large hatchback. Capable of hunkering down its ride height thanks to adaptive dampers, the darn thing always feels glued to the road, rock solid – in typical BMW fashion – and immensely precise considering how much weight it’s carrying around. None of my notions of moving quickly down one of my favorite back roads were able to grasp what was actually going on, but the experience was nonetheless incredibly satisfying.

Performance Specifications

2024 BMW X7 M60i Fuel Economy

Anything sporting a turbocharged V-8 won’t go easy on you at the pump. That said, considering what’s powering the X7 M60i and how much energy it deploys when running at full boil, its fuel economy numbers are frankly non-dramatic. This is all thanks to BMW’s reputation for near obsessive efficiency. The mild-hybrid system, which assists the internal combustion engine (ICE) during the times it consumes the most fuel, definitely helps in the long run.

My one-week run with the thing resulted in a 17.7 MPG average, which isn’t far off from the EPA’s official claims. See the table below for reference.

Interior Design And Comfort

Plowing down a country road is indeed a ton of fun, but that was never the X7’s original mission. People buy these things, rather, because they need a lot of space, comfort and practicality. In that respect, the X7 does many things right, but also misses out on some key attributes.

Let’s begin with the good; how well put together and supremely luxurious this thing is. BMW has always excelled in delivering understated luxury; the kind of luxury that never screams “look at me”, but seduces, rather, by its general sense of quality, craftsmanship and a feeling that it’ll stay that way for a very long time.

Step inside the X7’s driver’s seat, and thick leather thrones immediately envelop you in a cocoon of massaging, heating and ventilated features. You sit upright in this car, giving you a commanding view of the road, but also creating an airy feeling with impeccable all-around visibility.

Being luxurious and comfortable is therefore what the X7 does best. Its main problem, especially when comparing it to its main American rivals, mostly lies in overall cabin space or lack thereof. Things remain competitive for the X7 in the second row thanks to legroom that’s on par with a Cadillac Escalade. As a matter of fact, you’ll get more headroom in the BMW. Site note, the photos below come from another BMW X7 I reviewed earlier on, which explains the mismatched interior colors.

Things unfortunately start becoming problematic when you try to squeeze your way into the third row. Accessing that part of the cabin is an exercise in contortion in itself. Overall, leg and headroom back there also shrink when compared to all its US-bred competitors.

For reference, a short-wheelbase Escalade allows 34.9 inches of legroom, almost two inches more than the X7. Even a Mercedes GLS gives you more (34.6 in.).

Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use

Like I wrote in my review of the BMW i4 xDrive40, BMW is well known for mastering cabin ergonomics. Historically, its iDrive infotainment system has built itself a reputation for being easy to comprehend and use. The X7 continues with this promise, giving you the choice of both touch-operated controls and a console-mounted physical knob dial to operate the system.

Generally speaking, iDrive is attractive, quick to react and never misses on current trends. It’s also compatible with over-the-air (OTA) updates, so it continuously evolves at the same rate as technology. But BMW tries so hard now to cram it with the latest toys, that it can feel like a mouthful to operate at times.

There’s also a tad more complexity in how you operate basic commands, like climate control settings that are uniquely digital now, and removing some of the car’s safety features like lane keep assist. I do wish BMW rolled things back to the previous version of this system which, in my case, was hands down the perfect setup.

Cargo And Storage Space

In terms of cargo space, the X7 fairs well against its direct European rivals, but gets eaten alive by the US competition, which all present considerably larger figures. For reference, this has more total cargo space (all seats folded flat) than a GLS and a Range Rover. By default, however (with all seats in place), a GLS will offer a tad more room (17.4 liters).

The X7’s dual opening, with integrated tailgate, does add a bit more flexibility for adding stuff back there, and the adjustable dampers should be a hit with shorter people. Or your dog.

(Note, remove the entries for rows the vehicle does not have.)

How The 2024 BMW X7 M60i Compares To Its Competition

In non M60i form, the X7 takes on a lot of models, anything between an Acura MDX all the way to a Cadillac Escalade. However, not many SUVs of this size and weight offer this sort of performance and handling. Only a handful of models come to mind: the Cadillac Escalade-V, the Range Rover SV and the Mercedes-AMG GLS 63.

But if we are to compare performance metrics alone, it’s the Mercedes-AMG that comes closest, which is why, I believe, it’s the X7 M60i’s most serious competitor.

2024 BMW X7 M60i vs 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63

Right off the bat, the X7 M60i is a better bargain than the GLS 63 thanks to a lower starting MSRP; $108,700 versus $140,000. Even when piling on BMW’s notoriously expensive optional packages, the X7 M60i remains more affordable.

What’s also interesting is that although the GLS 63 comes out of the box with more horsepower and torque from a smaller displacement 4.0-liter engine (603 hp/627 lb-ft), it’s not that much quicker off the line than the BMW. AMG claims a 4.1 seconds 0-60 MPH for the GLS 63, versus 4.5 for the BMW. You’re also paying less, which is excusable.

I’ve personally driven the GLS in AMG form. I’d say it’s the more comfortable and plush alternative. The BMW’s handling is more precise and its drivetrain is snappier.

The BMW Is The Sports Car Of Three Row Luxury SUVs

If you’re currently in the market for a large, luxurious SUV that packs a lot of power underneath the hood, you don’t have that much to choose from, but what’s currently out there should serve you well.

The X7 M60i isn’t the fastest of the bunch, nor is it the one that’ll grant you the most cargo space, but it’s definitely the one that gives the best roller coaster ride, if that makes any sense. If in another life you drove M cars, but life has gotten you locked up with mortgage bills and parenting duties, and you generate enough revenue to afford a BMW-branded product, then please, do yourself a favor. Keep your enthusiastic flame burning and add a 2024 BMW X7 M60i to your garage. Your inner kid will thank you.