BMW’s 7-series flagship sedan has been with us for a few years now – and it remains a jaw-dropper when you see one whisking by. So, when an opportunity offered us a chance to be behind the wheel of the i7, the EV version, we were thrilled to see what an ultimate sedan is like from the Ultimate Driving Machine company!

A huge first impression

The first thing that strikes you about the 7-series is its sheer size. It’s longer than many 3-row SUV’s we’ve tested, and it wasn’t too happy about trying to fit in our garage.

But if you are buying an i7, part of the reason is to make an impression, and it’s not just big – it’s beautiful, too.

From the front are the familiar BMW double kidney grilles. Yes, they are large, but in the first place, we’re getting used to them on the new BMWs, and second on a 7-series, they sort of look right. Framed by slender horizontal LED lights, the look is aggressive and powerful, and on our M Sport Package, much of the bling is toned-down to black for a serious, don’t mess with me look.

The proportions of the profile are beautiful, and we see a little of the tight lines that you used to expect from Bentley. A high shoulder line, small greenhouse and blacked-out trim make the i7 look like a pro linebacker wearing an Armani suit – there’s plenty of muscle under there, but it is impeccably tailored. Finishing off the side view on our tester were optional 21-inch M Sport Individual Multi-Spoke wheels that perfectly fit the wheel wells, and further the notion of sport meets elegance.

The rear echoes the front, with slender horizontal LED taillights looking crisp, while the traditional BMW roundel sits proudly between scripted i7 and Xdrive60 badges leave a lasting final impression. Speaking of impressions, we loved our tester’s Frozen Tanzanite Blue Metallic paint job. A $5,000 option it just adds that extra bit of specialness that puts the whole presentation over the top. People will ooh, ahh, and linger over the i7’s gorgeous exterior.

Beyond First Class

Inside BMW takes things to a new level of luxury, tech and design.

You’re faced with a tough decision – take the driver’s helm, or do you glide into the rear seat for the true limo experience. OK, we’re drivers –we’ll go up front first.

Interestingly, while the exterior leans towards the less shouty, the interior swaddles you with eye catching bling and lush materials. Open the door, and the first thing that catches your eye are the two-tone Caramel/Atlas Grey full Merino leather interior that’s just a stunning and modern blend of colors.

The large proportions serve up an interior that looks especially wide, and the i7 shares the beautiful BMW Curved Display with the iX SUV, with dual displays creating a wall of information that’s easy to use and stunning to look at. The driver configurable displays will be familiar to anyone who have been in a modern BMW, and it serves up loads of information and looks fresh. The info-tainment display is of course, huge and wide, and it makes Apple CarPlay and Waze easy to use, and BMW’s tablet style of info is easy to swipe and grab what you need.

Access is simple too, with your choice of using the touchscreen, voice command or the giant crystal control knob in the center console that just falls to hand. Your chauffeur never had it so good, with an 18-way heated and cooled power driver seat with massage feature to keep you supple and comfy. It’s an excellent perch to enjoy the variety of materials from carbon-fiber trim to folded glass style, real wood and metal trim that create a symphony of sumptuousness. And to surround you further out tester had an optional Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround audio system that was just fabulous.

No less fabulous are the rear seats, and it starts with space to truly stretch out in, comfortable and are not only heated but also have a massage feature. Another touch we loved were the climate controls for the rear that are built into the armrests with individual

touchscreens that look so good you wonder why no-one else is doing this. One thing our tester did not have was the optional 31-inch screen that’s part of a rear entertainment system that can stream YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu, and takes advantage of the i7’s 5G setup. But if our tester had that, we probably would have never gone for a drive – and would we have missed out.

The Electrifying Electric i7

Driving is also high on the i7’s list of thrills.

You actually have three i7 models to choose from, the eDrive 50, 449-horsepower, single motor, rear wheel drive entry point, and the M70 with a jaw dropping 650 horsepower at the high end.  We think our tester, the dual motor xDrive 60 with an impressive 536 horses and 549 lb.-ft of torque, is the just-right choice in the middle.

This is big, heavy sedan, but the xDrive 60 shrugs the weight off with nonchalance and delivers a scorching 0-60 in just 4 seconds – and of course does it in a silky-smooth and silent way. And with a maximum range of 308 miles, you have plenty of distance between charge-ups.

When you do need to charge, BMW says a DC fast charge will get you from 10%-80% in 30-35 minutes –perfect for a workout or a quick lunch. In a pinch, you can add 105 miles in just 10 minutes.

While the power is addicting and perfectly suiting a luxury flagship, the handling really impressed us – with the M Sport package the grip is excellent, the steering feel is precise and the i7 feels much smaller than it is when you toss it around. Yes, that’s right, this is a BMW sport sedan, and it gladly chews up twisty roads and curvy on-ramps.

While most drivers probably won’t be chasing down a late apex, they’re sure to enjoy the comfortable and serene drive in regular conditions.

Braking is strong as well, and the only time we really noticed the 7’s mass was trying to slow down rapidly going downhill on a steep decline – extra boot was needed to haul it down quickly.

Summing up the drive is easy. The i7 is the best of both worlds – a creamy, silent luxury sedan that can get with the program when needed. Excellent!

How Much to Cruise a Flagship?

Excellence and Exclusivity have their price. While the eDrive50 starts at $107,520, stepping up to the performance and added goodies like our tester makes sense, and our i7 xDrive60 started at $124,200.

Individualization in this rarefied air is not unusual, and our tester carried a wide swath of such goodness, including the Frozen Tanzanite Blue Metallic paint ($5,000), Autobahn Package ($3,600), Driving Assistance Professional ($2,000), BMW Individual Composition ($5,450), M Sport Package ($1,300), M Sport Professional Package ($950), Executive Package ($4,300), and Connected Package Pro Limited ($5,000). Add in $1,175 for Destination and our tester rang the bell at $152,975. Call us crazy, but we think it’s worth every penny!

If you like the i7, but feel the need for a more sporting experience, we’d shop the Porsche Taycan Gran Turismo, which can price comparably – but be careful, the higher end models eclipse $225,000! We also like the Lucid Air Gran Touring which is actually a bit less than the BMW and has longer range and stronger acceleration. While it is luxurious, it doesn’t match the i7 for design, elegance, quality and the feeling that you’re royalty.

 The 2026 BMW i7 weds ultimate luxury with incredibly smooth, strong and silent EV performance to create a one-of-a-kind premium sedan that’s pure BMW goodness!