2024 BMW i7 xDrive60 – Style, Charisma, and Sophistication Personified

If there exists a car with more smooth than the BMW i7, I have yet to experience it. Now, when I say “smooth,” please know I don’t just mean low levels of noise, vibration, and harshness—although that is certainly part of it. No. When I say smooth, I also mean an abundance of style, charisma, and sophistication.

Let’s put it this way—if the BMW i7 were a human being, it would be strikingly beautiful, immaculately attired, breathtakingly competent, and completely approachable. In other words, it would be someone who has it so together you’d want to hate them for it. But you couldn’t, because they’re so freakin’ cool.

Seriously, where else are you going to find a 31-inch widescreen monitor capable of streaming Netflix—in a car? That’s right, the i7 actually brings new meaning to the phrase “Netflix and chill.” Even more impressive, the BMW 7 Series EV also delivers a measure of driving enjoyment wholly in keeping with the marque’s rep for constructing ultimate driving machines. The i7 xDrive60’s base price is $119,300. The price as tested is $156,595.

In order to provide you with an honest and unbiased review, I drove the vehicle reviewed in this article on a daily basis throughout the course of daily life for a period of one week. For detailed insight into testing procedures and data collection, please review
our methodology policy
.

2024 BMW i7 xDrive60 First Impressions

Speaking of attire, my test car wore a coat of Frozen Deep Grey matte paint. Here, I have to admit I’ve never been a fan of matte finishes. They always looked like somebody sprayed primer and forgot to finish the paint job. However, the understated nature of the finish looked perfectly natural—elegant even—as applied to the flagship BMW sedan.

Another thing that struck me as remarkable about the BMW is the pleasurable experience it delivers for driver and passengers alike. The i7’s sumptuous materials choices, silky operation, princely accommodations and utter spaciousness mark it as a contemporary luxury sedan of the first order. Thanks to the optional Executive Lounge Package, my test car’s rear passengers even got ultra-plush, reclining, heated and cooled seats—with massage! Frankly, I would’ve been just as happy riding in the BMW as I was driving it.

Exterior Dimensions

Driving Impressions And Performance

The xDrive60 iteration of the 2024 BMW i7 gets a 536-horsepower propulsion system, which is also good for 549 LB-FT of instant, on demand torque. The all-wheel drive powertrain employs a pair of electric motors, one each for the front and rear wheels. This proved capable of propelling the 5,975-pound full-sized luxury sedan from zero to 60 mph in the time it took me to count from one-one thousand to four-one thousand.

The i7 xDrive60 lunges forward with the alacrity of a hungry Black Mamba striking its prey

Nail the throttle from a standstill and the i7 xDrive60 lunges forward with the alacrity of a hungry Black Mamba striking its prey. Here’s the thing though, it happens in such an urbane manner—and with so little sound—you’re awestruck by the sheer proficiency it displays. Velocity accrued so effortlessly I was a bit startled when the BMW hit the speed governor at 149 MPH.

The agility the i7 demonstrates is even more impressive, particularly when it’s hustled along a twisty two-lane road. Granted, this ain’t no M5. However, the BMW’s athleticism is more than admirable. Turn-in is precise, and the electric steering system even manages to transmit a convincing approximation of road feel.

The initial numbness usually associated with regenerative braking systems is absent, so stopping the i7 without an annoying rearward lurch is easily accomplished. Even better, one-pedal operation is supported. Gradually let off the throttle as you approach a traffic signal and the BMW slows in perfect accordance with the movement of your foot. Timing this maneuver with precision is a terrifically rewarding experience. In fact, skillful one-pedal operation introduces a whole new paradigm of fun to the art of driving.

Performance Specifications

2024 BMW i7 xDrive60 Fuel Economy

Equipped with the optional 21-inch wheels, the i7 xDrive60 I tested had EPA ratings of 85 MPGe in the city, 89 on the highway and 87 combined. This translates to 39.0 kW-hours per 100 miles. I saw a maximum range of 308 miles. Achieving a full charge from depletion is said to require 12 hours using a 240v AC system. Plugged into a DC fast-charging station, the 105.6 kWh battery pack is purported to accept 80 miles of range in 10 minutes. Three years of free 30-minute charging sessions at Electrify America stations is included in the price of the car.

Interior Design And Comfort

Because the EV and ICE versions of the i7 were co-developed, you’ll find the same degree of luxury, spaciousness, and comfort, regardless of your powertrain choice. You’ll also enjoy more than enough room to accommodate nearly any body type. Meanwhile, materials choices are beyond the scope of the word lavish. Fulsomeness adorns every surface upon which your eye comes to rest.

Getting “back” to that Executive Lounge Package I mentioned earlier, additional highlights include wireless smartphone charging and deluxe headrests. The right-rear passenger gets a footrest, too. Think La-Z-Boy recliner, and you’ll conjure an accurate image—assuming you upholster it in Smoke White Merino perforated leather. Long story short, if you can’t get comfortable in this car, it ain’t BMW’s fault. Everything you need to relax is right there.

Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use

Okay, so yeah, we’re talking about the big BMW four-door here, so you know its tech is all the way over the top. Leading the list of eye-opening features is a set of automatically opening and closing doors. The function can be programmed to open each door individually—or all four—at the touch of a button. Voice commands work too. Stepping on the brake pedal will also close the driver’s door.

Seemingly de riguer these days, a floating widescreen digital dash is fitted to the i7. The dual displays reside underneath a single pane of glass, so it looks like one long continuous monitor. Driving data is presented behind the steering wheel, while infotainment features are accessible in the one above the center stack. A 5G cellular connection ensures fast mobile Wi-Fi. The rear doors feature iPhone-like touchscreens, providing control over the vast majority of the BMW’s comfort and convenience tech.

Driver assists include hands-free highway driving and parking assistance, which the driver can operate from outside the car using a smartphone app. The i7 also offers automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist as standard equipment.

Cargo And Storage Space

Cavernous aptly describes the trunk, which features a pass through into the rear seating area for skiers who want to avoid fouling the BMW’s aerodynamics with a roof mount. Naturally, the trunk opens and closes at the touch of a button. All four occupants will find plentiful storage in each of their doors. There is also a deep center console storage compartment up front, residing aft of a pair of elegantly styled cupholders.

2024 BMW i7 Vs. Its Competitors

While there are a wide variety of luxurious EVs these days, some are definitely better than others. Topping most lists of luxe EV sedans are the ones by Lucid, Porsche and BMW. All three are finished with care, host cutting edge technology and deliver astonishing performance. However, each of these cars also has its own personality and boasts specific attributes the others don’t match.

BMW i7 xDrive60 vs Lucid Air Grand Touring AWD

• 	2024 Lucid Air Grand Touring AWD	2024 BMW i7 xDrive60
  Model	Air Grand Touring AWD	i7 xDrive60
  Engine	Dual Permanent Magnet Synchronous	Dual Synchronous Electrically Excited Motors
  Transmission	Single Speed Direct Drive	Single Speed Direct Drive
  Horsepower	819	536
  Torque	885 LB-FT	549 LB-FT
  Driveline	Dual Motor, AWD	Dual Motor, AWD
  Range	516 (EPA Estimate)	308 Miles
  MSRP	$109,900	$119,300
  Fuel Economy	111 MPGe – 28 kWh/100 miles	87 MPGe/39.0 kWh Per 100 Miles
  Charge Time	DC Fast Charge 26 Minutes 10% to 80%	3.5 Hours @ 240v/11kW
  0-60 MPH	3.0 Seconds	4.5 Seconds

Founded by a renegade gang of former Tesla engineers, Lucid Motors offers what is arguably the best EV on the market. The $69,900 Lucid Air base model is good for 430 horsepower and 410 miles of range. That’s more than any other manufacturer offers. Factor in the car’s refined road manners and impressive accommodations, and you have a strong contender among this trio of megabuck EVs.

But wait; as cool as that is, the marque’s closest match to the BMW i7 xDrive60 is the Lucid Air Grand Touring AWD, the price of which starts at $109,900. Opt for this version, you’ll get an 819-horsepower, all-wheel drive powertrain, coupled with a 112 kWh battery pack. This configuration is good for more than 500 miles of range on 19-inch wheels. A fast DC charger will imbue the battery pack with 200 miles of range in 12 minutes. Quoted zero to 60 is three seconds. Fit a set of 21-inch wheels to match those on the BMW, you’ll see 469 miles of range.

2024 BMW i7 xDrive60 vs Porsche Taycan 4S

• 	2024 Porsche Taycan S	2024 BMW i7 xDrive60
  Model	Taycan S	i7 xDrive60
  Engine	Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor	Dual Synchronous Electrically Excited Motors
  Transmission	Single Speed Direct Drive	Single Speed Direct Drive
  Horsepower	562 (w/Performance battery Plus)	536
  Torque	479 LB-FT	549 LB-FT
  Driveline	Dual Motor, AWD	Dual Motor, AWD
  Range	235 (EPA Estimate)	308 Miles
  MSRP	$118,500	$119,300
  Fuel Economy	80 MPGe	87 MPGe/39.0 kWh Per 100 Miles
  Charge Time	93 minutes from 5% to 80% @ 50kW	3.5 Hours @ 240v/11kW
  0-60 MPH	3.8 Seconds	4.5 Seconds
  Quarter-Mile	12.2 Seconds	12.5 Seconds @ 114 MPH

Pricewise, the closest Taycan to the i7 xDrive60 is the 4S. This car’s $118,500 base price brings all-wheel drive, a 536-horsepower drivetrain (with the big battery) and a claimed 3.2-second zero to 60. You’ll also get an unmistakably Porsche driving experience.

Despite the remarkable agility displayed by both the BMW and the Lucid, the Taycan 4S AWD is easily the best handling car among these three. This, when coupled with the elegantly styled interior that never forgets its primary purpose is to cosset the occupants of a luxurious high-performance automobile, makes the Porsche the clear winner in terms of accommodations.

On the other hand, you’ll see a max of but 246 miles of range, even with the Porsche’s most capacious 93.4 kWh battery pack. With that said, the Taycan’s 800-volt architecture does support charging from 95% depletion to 20% shy of a full charge in 23 minutes. However, 800-volt fast DC chargers are few and far between, so that’s kind of a moot attribute. The more common 50-kW DC charger returns a full battery pack in 93 minutes. Either way, when it comes to pure EV driving pleasure, the Porsche has no substitute.

Our Recommendation For Which Model You Should Buy

I’d take the propulsion system from the Lucid and install it in the Porsche if I could have my way. Alas, we can’t always get what we want, which leaves me in something of a quandary. After all, the Porsche drives way better than the Lucid and is more nicely finished.

However, the Lucid is still very nice and requires far fewer charging sessions. Meanwhile, the BMW offers more range than the Porsche and is finished far more attractively than the Lucid. It’s a tough call. My left brain is saying Lucid, Lucid, Lucid. But my right brain is screaming Porsche, Porsche, Porsche.

So, what would a smart person do? Would you split the difference and get the BMW? I know what I’d do. But this ain’t about me, it’s about you.