2023 BMW 7 Series Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The fully redesigned 2023 BMW 7 Series flagship sedan introduces a new design language for the iconic German brand's top-tier luxury car line, which now includes the all-electric i7 and X7 SUV. The 7 Series' most obvious departure from other BMW vehicles is its front-end styling that features an oversized beveled grille and split lighting elements. Thin lines of LED accent lights are placed where the headlights normally go, giving the face a focused squint (as described by BMW). Underneath are the actual headlights in a recessed section that joins an air inlet and improves aerodynamic efficiency around the front wheels. Our initial reaction isn't very positive, but with some time to get used to it, we can see the front-end-styling becoming less jarring.

Paint colour can greatly affect the impact of the front fascia style, and there are even some new two-tone choices that radically change the character of the 7 Series. To the same degree, two style themes can also change the impact. The standard M Sport theme has some chrome grille accents while the M Sport Shadowline theme blacks out the chrome for a more sinister and aggressive look.

The profile is much less controversial, keeping the familiar 7 Series silhouette with a long hood, extended wheelbase, and short rear deck. Black plastic recessed door handles look out of place on lighter paint choices, though. The rear end is also conventional and benefits from distinctive horizontal taillights and a more cohesive design. Whether you like the nose of the new 7 Series or not, there's no arguing that this big sedan has presence.

We're more attracted to the 7's modern and minimal interior, which features a broad horizontal layout accentuated by a faceted crystal-like accent strip that illuminates in conjunction with the ambient lighting. A curved pane of dark glass adds a distinct futuristic flavour and houses the instrument panel and central infotainment touchscreen. Materials quality is excellent and appropriate for a premium luxury vehicle, but we'd avoid the high-gloss trim elements as they tend to cause harsh reflections on sunny days. The open pore wood trim choices have a matte surface and don't suffer with glare issues.

The leather seat upholstery mimics the faceted design motif and adds plenty of visual interest. We're particularly fond of the available light grey cashmere wool-blend upholstery, which adds a warmer and cozy home look and feel. The rear seats have a similar premium luxury aura, especially of you opt for the optional rear Executive Lounge package. It adds a reclining passenger-side seat that's akin to an airline's business class along with a striking theatre screen that folds down from the panoramic sunroof.

In Canada, the 2023 BMW 7 Series sedan is available with a single powertrain. The all-wheel-drive (AWD) 760i xDrive is fitted with a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 that produces power specs of 536 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. It should reach 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds. Debuting alongside this gasoline-powered model is the all-electric i7, covered in a separate review. Later in 2023, a plug-in hybrid variant will also join the lineup. The 740i and its turbocharged inline-six-cylinder engine with a mild hybrid system and rear-wheel drive (RWD) drivetrain, which acts as the entry-level model in the U.S., is not offered in our market.

The V8-powered 760i xDrive gets up to speed with powerful determination. Response is quick, fluid, and should easily exceed most drivers' expectations for a large premium luxury sedan. When driven conservatively, you'll hear gear changes from the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission but not feel them as the 7 Series glides away from a stop. The brake pedal is appropriately soft and easy to modulate for smooth stops, yet it inspires confidence when more urgent deceleration is called upon.

Handling is sportier than the rival Mercedes-Benz S-Class and can be reasonably entertaining on a challenging winding road. As a result, the ride quality is slightly stiffer and you'll hear and feel bumps in the road more than you would in the Benz, but it's not at all intrusive or harsh. Selecting Sport mode firms up the air suspension for sharper cornering and also makes the steering feel more responsive and lively. It's an excellent choice for drivers that appreciate performance as much as comfort.

As well as the BMW 7 Series drives and rides, some new features can be a source of frustration, starting before you even get inside. Power-operated automatic doors are available, but we suggest skipping this option because it requires you to stand well behind the doors to open them. If sensors detect anything close to the door, it will only open partially, forcing you to pull it open against an undesirable amount of effort. Once inside, the doors will close with a touch of a button at the ends of the dashboard. We could see this feature being somewhat useful if you're regularly shuttling multiple passengers as you could selectively operate individual doors or open all of them at once. Otherwise, it seems like a solution to a nonexistent problem.

The front seats are generously padded for compliance and comfort over long distances. There are plenty of power adjustments to ensure you find your optimal position, and standard heating and ventilation further enhance comfort. The rear seats are remarkably spacious and can accommodate unusually tall passengers with ease. We're particularly pleased with the lounge seating option that adds a reclining passenger-side rear seat with massage functions. Seat adjustments, temperature, audio, and sunshades are controlled via a small touchscreen in the door but strangely, there's no navigation control from the back seats. Four-zone automatic climate control is standard.

One of the most striking additions is a new 31.3-inch rear entertainment screen that fold down from the panoramic sunroof. While it certainly has a wow factor about it, the screen's central placement means rear passengers need to turn their heads slightly to view it. After a short time, that can result in some uncomfortable neck strain. We prefer individual tablets mounted on the seatbacks instead, and thankfully there are anchor points and charge ports already included.

Behind the rear seats, the trunk can hold up to 388 litres of cargo, which is marginally larger than the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8 and Genesis G90. The space is wide and deep to easily fit larger objects, and the low liftover height reduces the effort needed for heavy items. Interior storage for personal effects is adequate but not generous. Up front, you get a wireless charging pad for your phone, two moderately sized cupholders, a shallow centre armrest bin, and small door pockets. With certain packages equipped, rear-seat passengers can fold the centre seatback to reveal an armrest with another shallow bin, cupholders, and USB ports.

The rear window sunshade is unusually opaque and completely blocks the rearview in order to prevent the theatre screen from distracting other motorists. While it doesn't run afoul of any regulations, we question its safety. A camera-based virtual rear-view mirror could address this problem but is oddly not available.

The new 7 Series comes with iDrive 8, the latest version of BMW's iDrive infotainment system, which includes a pair of screens behind a curved display. It’s packed with features including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It can be operated via touchscreen, a central dial on the console, or via voice commands. For most basic functions, the system is easy to use, but things get complicated the deeper you dig. For example, to activate passenger seat heating or ventilation, you need to select the climate menu at the bottom of the screen, then swipe the menu to the side to access those on-screen controls. Adjusting other seat functions such as lumbar support require even more digging through menus.

BMW combats the overcomplicated menu structure with voice controls, as do Tesla and Mercedes-Benz. Rather than hunt through several screens for a specific feature, you could simply say, "Hey BMW, turn on the driver seat massage," and it will execute the command in a few seconds. This method reduces some of the on-screen frustrations, but it also interrupts your music or podcasts and takes longer than a simple tap of a button on the door. Speaking of music, an 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System is standard.

There are some shortcut buttons on the centre console for drive-related functions, but they're capacitive touch that require taking your eyes off the road to use. We're at least pleased that it takes a deliberate press to activate, which reduces the possibility of accidental activation.

The optional theatre screen also has some challenges. The display responds to touchscreen inputs but it's not consistent from app to app. If you're watching YouTube, you can't simply tap a title card to select it. Instead, you have to use an on-screen overlay that mimics a remote with directional and select buttons. We're confident the handheld remote control is easier, but it was missing in our vehicle.

iDrive used to be one of the more favoured infotainment systems, but this latest iteration is bloated with a dizzying array of settings and menus to dig through. It's not nearly as intuitive as it once was or when compared to systems from rival carmakers. To us, it feels like a step backwards.

Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have performed crash tests on the 2023 BMW 7 Series yet. That's not unusual for premium luxury vehicles.

Standard safety features include frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot monitor, lane-keep assist, a traffic-sign reader, adaptive headlights, parking sensors, and safe exit warnings. Some of these features can be enhanced with the optional Advanced Driver Assistance package that also adds lane departure warning and a hands-free automated driving system for highways.

In our time with the 7 Series, we did not experience any false alarms or unpredictable system reactions. The adaptive cruise control is commendable for its smooth acceleration and braking, and the optional highway driving assistant only requires the driver to keep their eyes on the road. Braking, acceleration, and steering are all automated at speeds up to 135 km/h. It's one of the better semi-automated driving systems available and greatly reduces driver fatigue on long road trips.

In German and Chinese markets, BMW will be rolling out a level 3 automated driving system that will further reduce demands on the driver. It's possible that option will come to the U.S., but it is not a feature that can be activated with an over-the-air (OTA) software update as it requires additional sensors and equipment.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series has a new car starting price of $147,000 (not including a $2,480 destination charge and other fees) for the 760i xDrive. The 760i is estimated to return fuel economy of 11.3 litres per 100 kilometres combined. In Canada, the all-electric i7 starts at the same price, meaning there’s no cost penalty to choosing an EV if you feel ready and compelled to do so.

The most direct rival for the 7 Series is the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which is priced similarly to start and offers a wider variety of powertrains. Its design is more graceful and places greater emphasis on comfort and refinement than performance. The all-electric EQS sedan starts at $136,000, putting it in the same neighbourhood. The Audi A8 finds a middle ground between the BMW and Benz in regard to luxury and performance. It represents a relative bargain with a starting price of $108,598. The all-new Genesis G90 is priced at $115,150. Its interior quality is almost on par with the German marques, and in Canada its price includes five years of scheduled maintenance with at-home pick-up and drop-off service and more.

Note: Images show a US model.