2026 BMW i7 Review

In the upper echelon of full-size luxury sedans, the BMW 7 Series needs little introduction.

Perhaps not quite as synonymous with the segment as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which has long been considered the benchmark, it’s still one of the most accomplished cars like it in the world.

The current generation — which debuted in 2022 with two tone paint options, split headlights, and an obnoxiously large grille — conjured memories of the equally polarizing “Bangle-butt” from two decades earlier. Just like that version, this latest 7 Series is bursting at the seams with innovation, including the all-electric i7 tested here.

While there are V8 and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains available, the 2026 BMW i7 brings the best of what the 7 Series has to offer into an emissions-free package.

Power: 9/10

Offering a variety of powertrains is a good business strategy, as is the pricing strategy: the gas-powered 760i xDrive has the same starting price as the all-electric i7 xDrive60 tested here ($153,900). There’s also a more powerful i7 M70 that’s $188,900 before options and extras.

Both versions of the i7 use dual electric motors and a 105.7-kWh battery pack, with this one making 536 hp and 549 lb-ft of torque. Considering it weighs some 2,075 kg (45,75 lb), its zero-to-100 km/h sprint time of 4.7 seconds is impressive. (Meanwhile, the M70 version makes 650 hp and 749 lb-ft of torque, and can do the same sprint in 3.7 seconds.)

Equally impressive is the power delivery and tuning of the acceleration pedal that makes it easy to waft up to speed like a Rolls-Royce, or surge forward with near relentless thrust that doesn’t seem to let up even well past posted highway speeds. This is acceleration made effortless.

Driving Feel: 8/10

That BMW happens to build Rolls-Royce cars shows in the way in the i7 drives, with the same sense of isolation in this electric vehicle (EV). It doesn’t merely drive down the road — it levitates on a cushion of air, its suspension somehow ironing out every imperfection in the surface below. But the i7 still drives like a BMW when you want it to, with a light but accurate steering rack that responds instantly when called upon.

The air suspension that turns the road into cream also affords excellent body control during tight cornering, aided by active roll stabilisation and a four-wheel steering system. Handling is where the 7 Series has traditionally left the Mercedes S-Class behind, and the i7 is no exception.

Comfort: 10/10

Beyond the doors that open themselves, a $2,000 upgrade, lies a set of buttery soft seats that are better compared to Eames lounge chairs than the ones commonly found in cars. If equipped, the Executive Lounge package ($2,800) adds a power reclining rear seat behind the front passenger, and there’s even an option for a 32-inch display that lowers from the ceiling. Few cars offer a more comfortable experience than this, especially for those riding in the back.

Equipment: 10/10

Cars like the 7 Series essentially invented the idea of novel features for the road. The 1991 7 Series was the first production car to be equipped with Xenon high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights. It was also one of the first cars to get a GPS navigation system in 1994. In 2001 the 7 Series introduced the iDrive rotary infotainment controller, which was subsequently adopted by most other automakers in various forms before touchscreens were all the rage.

The i7 has no shortage of toys to wow friends and family, from the moment you open any one of its doors with a simple voice command or settle into the rear lounge seat, raise all the power shades, and flip down the 32-inch 8K TV. The upgraded stereo tested here ($5,900) is probably one of the best I’ve heard, with 36 speakers including some in the headrests. It even has bass shakers in each of the four seats that vibrate to whatever music or movie is being enjoyed for a more immersive experience.

Both front and rear occupants get massaging seats. Rear passengers get individual touch screens on the doors for the seats, audio, navigation, and more.

Styling: 7.5/10

With oddball split headlights, a massive light-up kidney grille, and two-tone paint options, the i7 trades traditional elegance for controversy but still retains a familiar silhouette. Inside, everything is wrapped in high quality quilted leather, the crystalline interaction light bar adds a dramatic visual touch, and there are nice features like hidden air vents, real metal and wood trim, and high pile carpets. This tester had an individual blue and taupe leather interior that gave it a custom feel for a surprisingly reasonable $600.

User-Friendliness: 7.5/10

There’s a lot of technology in the i7, but mercifully, most of it is intuitive. The infotainment system isn’t as good as it was in past iterations, with a lot of settings buried in a large menu of apps. The climate controls are also accessed through the infotainment system, which isn’t ideal but shouldn’t need much adjustment. There’s a volume knob and haptic touch buttons on the centre console to quickly jump to main screens like navigation and audio, and a rotary controller for the infotainment system.

Fuel Economy: 8/10

Averaging 26.0 kWh/100km in a luxury EV with its own movie theatre during a week where temperatures never made it above the freezing mark is quite impressive. Maximum range in ideal conditions is rated at close to 500 km, depending on wheel size, although the estimated number never exceeded 405 km — part of an expected drop in winter driving.

Practicality: 8/10

Considering its size the i7 isn’t designed with practicality in mind, but it will seat four occupants in the utmost comfort. The trunk measures 500 L, which is the most in its class, and a near 500-km driving range and charging speeds as fast as 195 kW — adding as much as 170 km of range in just 10 minutes — means stop can be quick.

Safety: 10/10

The i7 comes fitted with the latest active and passive safety systems, automatic tensioning seatbelts, door exit warning, automatic braking, collision evasion, and more. Meanwhile, the available Advanced Driver Assistance package ($3,750) upgrades the adaptive cruise control with hands-free functionality.

Value: 7/10

On the surface, this is a large and expensive luxury sedan that will probably see enormous depreciation within the first few years. But that’s a common theme when shopping in this rarified class.

The i7 starts at $153,900, but this tester had more than $50,000 worth of options added, pushing the price to $207,205 before tax but including freight ($2,955). The Genesis G90, which is a similarly large luxury sedan with a lot of the same features, has an all-in price of $118,000, although it’s not electric nor does it feel quite as luxurious.

The Verdict

The BMW 7 Series has always been one of the best large luxury sedans in the world, and the current generation is no exception. In fact, it might even be one the best iterations yet. More importantly, it offers customers a choice between electric or gas powertrains, giving it a unique place in the segment, with the 2026 BMW i7 offering the rarified air of the standard car in an all-electric package.

Specifications

Trim Tested

2026 BMW i7 xDrive60

Base Price

$153,900

Options

$50,350 — Premium package, $8,300; Rear Entertainment package, $7,500; BMW Individual Gran Lusso package, $6,900; Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound system, $5,900; Brass Metallic paint, $5,000; Rear Comfort package, $4,700; Advanced Driver Assistance package, $3,750; M Sport Shadowline package, $2,900; Executive Lounge package, $2,800; Automatic doors, $2,000; Night Blue and taupe leather upholstery, $600

A/C Tax

$100

Destination

$2,955

Price as Tested

$207,305

Displacement

400 kW

Cylinder Count/Configuration

Dual-electric motors

Horsepower

536 hp

Torque

549 lb-ft

Fuel Economy

2.9 / 2.8 / 2.8 Le/100 km city/hwy/cmb, 26.0 / 24.5 / 25.3 kWh/100 km; 476 km est. range

Cargo Space

500 L