BMW's all-electric i7 gets a far-reaching update. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Background

A full-EV luxury model should look different, futuristic. Well this one, BMW's i7, does, especially in this updated form. We first saw this car back in 2022 and today, as then, it remains virtually identical to the ordinary combustion-engined versions of the eighth generation G70-era 7 Series large segment saloon it's based upon. So, convention, evolution and cutting-edge technology, all in one prestigiously-badged package. How could any self-respecting, ecologically minded company board member resist? Well possibly quite easily because the car this i7 is directly up against a model lauded as one of the greatest luxury EVs so far produced in this era, the Mercedes EQS. That model has been upgraded twice since this i7's original introduction, so this BMW really needed the package of updates announced in Spring 2026 that created the car we're going to look at here. Its Mercedes rival has great front-of-cabin wow factor. This one though, aims to trump it an area arguably more important in this class of car: back seat luxury. Sounds intriguing.

Driving Experience

This i7 got the lion's share of the engineering updates made to this G70-era 7 Series model, including a new 112.5kWh battery (up from 105.7kWh) which has the same new-era 'Gen6' cylindrical cells as those in the new i3. This, along with the adoption of the i3/iX3 models' more efficient electrically-excited synchronous motors, has massively boosted drive range. That's now up to 452 miles for the entry-level i7 50 xDrive (up from 387 miles before), which has 455hp from its dual motor drivetrain, with 0-62mph taking 5.5s. Many customers will want a more powerful i7 than that. The mid-level i7 60 xDrive (as before) offers 544hp, with 0-62mph taking 4.8s and 451 miles of range. Beyond that is the top i7 M70 xDrive, which has 680hp (with 1,015Nm of torque!) and 426 miles of range. Because this i7 is still based on a combustion-based platform (BMW's CLAR architecture), these range figures continue to lag some way behind those of the comparable more bespoke EV-engineered rival Mercedes EQS. As you'd expect, all version of this G70-era 7 Series continue to be engineered primarily for either motorways or the metropolis. But secondary roads are also tackled in its stride thanks to adaptive self-levelling air suspension, which lowers itself by 10mm in 'Sport' mode (and at speeds of over 75mph) to improve stability. You can also use it to raise the ride height by 20mm to avoid damage on rougher sections of road. Active rear steering is also standard. As with the brand's other EVs, this one can be had with an 'IconicSounds' package curated by Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer. This offers two options: one is 'Relax', which is a bit like the sort of thing you'd hear in a health spa. The other more dynamic powertrain note is called 'Expressive' which sounds like some sort of air raid siren. Fortunately, you can turn it off.

Design and Build

Unlike its rival Mercedes, BMW thinks combustion and full-EV versions of a car in this segment should look pretty much the same. And that look has always been the most divisive thing about this MK7 G70-era 7 Series, introduced back in 2022 when big front grilles were very much in vogue. This updated model still has that enormous appendage, but it now features a different design with horizontal slats and is flanked by redesigned air intakes and thinner lights (embedded with crystals which 'sparkle'). There are changes to the rear lights too, which now look similar to those on the i3, designed to emphasise width. Huge 22-inch wheels are standard and as before, the car is only offered here in long wheelbase form. Inside up-front, the facelift changes are far wider-reaching. Gone is the previous instrument cluster, replaced by an i3-style 43.3-inch 'Panoramic iDrive' display that runs along the base of the windscreen right in the driver's eye-line. That means the fitment of an i3-sttyle four-spoke steering wheel and central 17.9-inch central touchscreen. Plus to at last get into line with the current luxury car trend, there's now also a 14.6-inch screen ahead of the front passenger. Cars like this though, are all about the experience they offer in the rear, described by BMW as 'a private mobile retreat that invites you to relax'. Well that experience now starts with optional Rolls-Royce-style automatically-opening rear doors. As before, the rear seat highlight (and the thing that sets this car apart from its Mercedes rivals) is its 31.3-inch 8K roof-mounted 'Theatre Screen' system, which is paired with a 35-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio set-up. Fully reclinable alcantara-trimmed Executive Lounge rear chairs can be added. The reclining seats have foot rests, allowing for a torso angle of up to 42.5-degrees. There's also a black-out screen for the rear window, touchscreens in the door panels and the option of 'seat exciters', which vibrate and pulse the seat with loud sounds from the 'Theatre Screen'. Out back, there's a 500-litre boot in the i7, which is 25-litres smaller than that in PHEV combustion models.

Market and Model

We can expect an increase over previous i7 prices, which will mean that even for an entry-level version, you're looking at starting figures beginning from around £115,000, which much more probably necessary once you've fully specced up your i7 the way you'd ideally want. There are 'M Sport', 'M Sport Pro' and 'M Performance' trim levels. 'M Sport' trim gets you M-specific side skirts, M high-gloss Shadowline exterior finishing with high-gloss black window surrounds and mirror bases, 20-inch M aerodynamic wheels, M Sport brakes with blue callipers, BMW M door sill strips and a special welcome/goodbye animation with an M-specific dynamic light carpet. The 'M Sport Pro' trim builds on 'M Sport' with additional details. It adds a dark BMW M kidney grille design, 21-inch M aerodynamic wheels and extended BMW M high-gloss Shadowline exterior trim, including darkened 'Iconic Glow' front grille illumination and bespoke rear lights. This trim is rounded off by a black M rear spoiler and an M Sport braking system with black-painted callipers. All i7 models will suit audiophiles. The minimum sound set-up is a Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System with a seven-band equaliser, up to 18 speakers with metal covers and amplifier output of up to 655 watts. The optional Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System delivers high-end audio with up to 35 speakers and amplifier output of up to 1,965 watts, setting the segment benchmark. This set-up can be paired with a key option, BMW's 31.3-inch 8K roof-mounted 'Theatre Screen' system. Other key extras include the automatically-opening rear doors and the 'Executive Lounge' reclining rear chairs. As customers in this segment will want, personalisation options are extensive, with over 700 interior material combinations (including crystal glass, metal and leather) and around 500 exterior colour combinations available. For the first time, you can also now have your 7 Series with two-tone 'Dual-Finish' paint with a matt finish at the top and gloss at the bottom.

Cost of Ownership

With this revised i7, the key change is that DC charging speed has increased from195kW to 250kW. This enables the car to charge from 10 to 80% in 28 minutes at high-power charging stations. The BMW i7 50 xDrive and BMW i7 60 xDrive can add enough energy for up to 146 miles of range in ten minutes, while the BMW i7 M70 xDrive can add up to 133 miles in the same amount of time. On AC power, the BMW i7 charges at up to 22kW, allowing a full charge from empty in six hours. At 11kW, charging takes 12 hours. As you'd expect, the i7 offers intelligent heat pump tech. And charging-optimised route planning including automatic battery preparation to accelerate DC charging. If a destination is outside of the current predicted range, BMW Maps calculates a charging-optimised route including charging stops. The driver defines a preferred minimum state of charge for arrival at charging points and at the destination, with the ability to prioritise specific charging operators along the way. Battery preparation brings the high-voltage battery to the ideal temperature before DC charging, increasing charging power as soon as the vehicle is plugged in and reducing overall charging time.

Summary

The divisive looks that might make a typical customer question the conventional version of this improved eighth generation 7 Series seem better suited to this i7. Customers of expensive luxury EVs expect their cars to look different and this one will stand out in the boardroom car park just as much, if not more, than its arch-rival, the Mercedes EQS. If you're fortunate enough to have a chauffeur, the i7 might well be the preferential choice, providing it's specified with the rear 'Theatre Screen' system. And even if you like to drive yourself, this BMW might well present a fractionally more engaging option. It's hard though, to make a wrong choice between an EQS and an i7. Time moves on but luxury driving decisions get no easier. Which is as it should be.