2022 BMW 7-Series

ENGINE AND IMPLEMENTATION

Engines and transmissions are at the top of the shortlist of highlights. Every engine here, from the 740i’s 320-hp turbocharged inline-six to the M760i’s insane 601-hp twin-turbo V-12, is velvety smooth and feels more muscular than official horsepower figures indicate.

Even the 745e plug-in, with its combination of the turbocharged six-cylinder engine and electric motor, is powerful and manages to drive with a natural feel that’s absent from most hybrids. Each 7-Series shares some variation of the same slick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission.

All-wheel drive (xDrive in BMW marketing-speak) is optional on the 740i and standard on the rest of the lineup. No matter which drives mode you select, the suspension is pillowy soft and body control is in short supply.

The 2022 BMW 7-Series has adequate cornering grip, but the suspension’s moves in general—and the numb, light steering in particular—discourage exploring it.

ENERGY AND REAL-WORLD MPG

If not for the thirsty 12-cylinder M760i, the 2022 BMW 7-Series lineup overall would have an impressive set of EPA fuel-economy ratings. The six-cylinder 740i and the 750i both returned better-than-average numbers on our 200-mile real-world highway fuel-economy test route at 30 and 29 mpg, respectively.

The 745e plug-in hybrid model uses a 12.0-kWh battery pack that’s said to provide up to 17 miles of electric-only driving. Located in the trunk, the pack can be recharged using 110-volt, 220-volt, or DC fast-charging systems, the latter two of which are recommended for adding juice quickly. For more information about the 7-series’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

INTERIOR CONVENIENCE AND BOOTH

For decades, BMW’s interior aesthetic has been serious and businesslike. That was acceptable when its cars were more about the serious business of driving.

Lacking that ethos, the latest 2022 BMW 7-Series affords occupants the bandwidth to notice build quality, materials, and design that are merely average for this rich segment. Sure, it’s spacious, but so is every limousine in this class.

It’s luxurious, but one turn in a Mercedes-Benz S-class or even the Genesis G90, and you’ll be left wanting more from a car that starts north of $80,000. Numerically speaking, the BMW’s 18-cubic-foot trunk is at least two cubic feet larger than those of competitors such as the Cadillac CT6 and the G90.

But the reality of packing it with real-world-size carry-on bags tells a different story: We could fit only three carry-on suitcases inside our 740i test vehicle’s trunk, whereas the other sedans held twice as many.

IN-VEHICLE INFOTAINMENT AND INTERCONNECTIONS

BMW’s iDrive infotainment system has long since moved beyond its early teething problems to become a straightforward, attractive interface. The latest version, dubbed iDrive 7.0, can be manipulated via touchscreen or a quick and intuitive control on the center console.

The system can also recognize specific hand gestures for some commands, but our experience with those has ranged from annoying to infuriating, so it’s better to use the touchscreen or rotary controller. Every 7-series offers two USB ports for front-seat passengers and four 12-volt plugs scattered throughout.

Bluetooth is standard, and a Samsung tablet with a dock between the rear seats is optional, giving passengers remote access to some infotainment features. Apple CarPlay is standard; curiously, Android Auto isn’t available.

PROTECTION AND DRIVER-ASSISTANCE ASPECTS

The latest driver-assistance features, from blind-spot monitoring to semi-autonomous self-steering highway cruise control, are available or standard on every 7-Series.

For more information about the 2022 BMW 7-Series crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.

PHOTOS

FULL SPECIFICATIONS