2023 BMW X7 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

After four years in production, the BMW X7 receives a mid-cycle makeover for 2023. The biggest change is up front as the big SUV adopts the personality of the redesigned BMW 7 Series sedan. LED accent lights now reside where the predecessor's headlights once were and the actual headlights are tucked in a recess underneath. The previous X7 was already somewhat polarizing with its oversized kidney grille and we expect this new styling to be just as controversial.

BMW was aiming for a bolder design with the facelift and we think it achieved that goal, but the added presence of the new X7 comes at the expense of grace and cohesiveness. Thankfully for the automaker, style is subjective and our wincing glances could be another's admiring gaze, though we've yet to hear anyone outside of BMW praise this 2023 restyle. As a result, we're relieved that the sides and rear of the X7 are largely the same as before.

The interior also gets a refresh this year, with the most noticeable change in the dashboard. A curved display of glass now houses the digital instrument panel and central infotainment touchscreen. The dash itself gets a more elemental design with a narrow strip of piano black trim extending from the centre integrated air vents. The centre console now features a toggle switch-like gear selector instead of last year's protruding crystal lever.

Interior materials quality is appropriately excellent for a premium luxury SUV, with supple leather upholstery, a sport leather steering wheel, available Merino leather, and a new Sensafin synthetic substitute covering the top of the dash and doors. We suggest avoiding the glossy wood and carbon fibre interior trim choices though, as they cause some rather harsh midday sun reflections. We prefer the matte and open-pore wood alternatives that won't cause that annoying glare. Those wood selections also add a pleasant warmth to the cabin and feel better to the touch. M Sport appearance packages are also offered.

Aesthetic choices aside, the X7's interior is sturdily built and there's a satisfying heft to all touchpoints. Even on bumpy roads, there's no creaking to be heard. While we're no fans of the new front-end styling, the interior revisions give it a more modern and elegant appearance.

The 2023 lineup starts off with the base X7 xDrive40i model that comes with a new 3.0-litre turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine and 48-volt mild hybrid system. Combined, this powertrain produces power specs of 375 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, which is an increase of 40 hp and 52 lb-ft over last year's base engine. BMW claims this standard xDrive all-wheel drive drivetrain will propel the big X7 to 100 km/h in approximately 6 seconds.

This review focuses on the X7 M60i model which upgrades to a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine with a similar 48-volt hybrid system. Output increases to 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. That should get it to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, BMW says. Both engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels.

The X7 tips the scales at almost 2,720 kilograms (6,000 pounds), but it hides that mass well on the road. Acceleration from the V8 is potent and will easily exceed the average driver's expectations. The base six-cylinder will also prove more than adequate for most drivers, though it's not quite as smooth and effortless. The brake pedal is on the soft side and feels right in a large luxury SUV.

Handling is understandably limited by the X7's weight and ride height, but should also surpass most drivers' needs. Body roll is well managed when cornering and there aren't any residual wobbles or rebounds when emerging from a curve. We wouldn't call it sporty on a winding mountain road, but it is very composed and instills confidence.

Despite its handling capabilities, the X7 doesn't sacrifice much in the way of ride comfort. It's still able to glide over most road imperfections with barely an acknowledgement, but compared to some other premium luxury SUVs, the ride is slightly firmer. That firmness is emblematic of BMW on the whole, as it positions itself as being more engaging and exciting for drivers. Overall, we think the X7 has a good blend of performance and comfort that should please a wide variety of drivers.

As a large SUV, shoppers expect an abundance of space from the X7 and for the most part, it succeeds. The second-row seats can easily accommodate taller passengers, and the large sunroof and windows enhance the airy feeling.

Accessing the third row can take a bit of time as the power-operated middle row slides and tilts out of the way, although it does present a fairly large opening to pass through once it’s finally moved itself. The third row can hold an average sized adult and there's adequate headroom and legroom. The seat cushion is noticeably lower to the floor than the second row and reduces the amount of thigh support, however, and lateral space can get a little tight with adults back there. This is fairly common for three-row SUVs, though.

Behind the third row, you have 362 litres of cargo space, which should be enough for several suitcases or a couple of large golf bags. Folding the rearmost seats can be done with the tap of a button; the seatbacks slowly pivot flat with the cargo floor. The X7 also has a helpful split tailgate, with a lower section that stays in place to keep items from rolling out if you're parked on an incline and drops down flat for a convenient bench for tailgating or to assist when loading bulky cargo. There is also a button to lower the air suspension to further reduce loading effort. With the third row stowed, cargo capacity jumps to 1,376 litres. Folding the middle seats is just as easy with adjoining buttons and expands capacity to its 2,560-litre maximum when all rear seats are folded.

Front-seat passengers have adequate space for their personal items, with a large covered bin in the centre console that hides a wireless charging pad and two well-sized cupholders. The centre armrest bin and door pockets are also large.

Historically, we've been fans of BMW's iDrive 8 infotainment system for its intuitive layout and logical menu structure. The 2023 X7 now comes with the latest iDrive iteration, and we think it represents a step backward in many ways. For the most basic of functions such as temperature adjustments and audio controls, operation is as easy as any other vehicle. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard equipment. Digging just a bit deeper into the system reveals its flaws.

Many physical buttons have been eliminated, with their functions moved to the infotainment screen. If you want to turn on the heated or ventilated seats, you'll have to bring up the climate control menu and find the correct pictogram and seat. Want to adjust the following distance for the adaptive cruise control? You'll be digging through a complicated maze of settings before finding the right menu.

BMW attempts to solve the issue with voice commands, as you can say, "Hey BMW, turn on the driver seat massage," but that takes a few seconds to process and execute. It also interrupts any music or podcasts you happen to be enjoying. While we see the merits of using voice controls for navigation and texting, it seems more like a weak patch for a more serious problem. We'd certainly appreciate more physical buttons for often-used features and more intuitive menus for everything else.

Notably, a Harman Kardon premium sound system is standard equipment. A head-up display is available.

Crash test results from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) are not available, and that's common for a lot of premium luxury vehicles. We don't expect those tests to be conducted anytime soon, either, but based on BMW's reputation and the long list of safety features, X7 passengers are well protected.

Standard safety features and driver assistance technologies include frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alerts, lane departure warning, adaptive headlights, front and rear parking sensors, and automatic high beams. A surround-view camera system, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward cross-traffic alerts, and a semi-automated parking assistant function are optional features. There's also an available highway driving assist feature that uses some of the features from the Driving Assistant Professional package and relieves the driver of most duties. They only need to keep their eyes on the road and be ready to take over with a few seconds warning.

In our time with the X7, all of these safety features performed as they should. There were no annoying false alarms or unpredictable responses. We're particularly fond of the highway driving assist feature that significantly reduces driver fatigue on longer road trips.

In Canada, the 2023 BMW X7 has a new car starting price of $108,500 for the entry-level xDrive40i and $129,000 for the M60i. You’ll need to add $2,480 in destination charges, plus other mandatory fees, to those figures. While they could be shocking for non-luxury shoppers, they're right in line with other large premium luxury SUVs. The six-cylinder xDrive40i is our choice as the value leader in the lineup, not just for the price, but also because it's estimated to return 10.5 litres per 100 kilometres in combined city and highway driving. The M60i is estimated at 12.9 L/100 km combined. Most features from the M60i are also available as options, which means you have greater freedom to pick and choose what you want.

The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class starts at $110,000 in Canada and fuel economy is comparable, between 11.6 and 15.1 L/100 km combined, depending on the model. The Lincoln Navigator starts at $118,500 before fees with fuel economy measuring 13.2 L/100 km combined, or 13.6 L/100 km combined without the engine start/stop feature enabled. The Cadillac Escalade starts out at $110,425 and Natural Resources Canada fuel estimates range between 15.0 L/100 km combined for its gas engine and 10.5 L/100 km combined for the diesel option.

The 2023 BMW X7 represents the sporty and sophisticated choice in the class, with sharper performance and more aggressive styling. The Mercedes GLS sticks to the brand's classic luxury personality while also delivering plenty of easy-to-use technology features. The Escalade and Navigator are built on more substantial truck platforms and deliver more towing and off-road utility, but that does affect overall comfort.

These varied personalities should make the decision somewhat easier for you, but the BMW X7 manages to find an optimal blend of everything that should appeal to a broader audience, so long as they can get past the front-end styling.

Note: Images show a US model.