A Complete Guide To The 2024 BMW 7-Series

BMW has rarely put a foot wrong when it comes to its flagship 7 Series sedan, and the same applies to the current model. Introduced in 2023, the BMW 7 Series offers some cutting-edge tech, superb refinement, and styling that turns heads. SUVs may be taking over the world, but BMW certainly hasn’t relegated its sedan range to second place; the 7 Series is still the range-topper when it comes to tech levels and rear-seat luxury.

There’s an engine option to suit most tastes, enough standard equipment to keep even the most tech-hungry passengers happy, and it still drives like a BMW. However, in this case, the engaging handling and sharp responses are complemented by a suspension setup that soaks up even the roughest roads with ease. Read on to find out everything there is to know about the 2024 BMW 7 Series, from pricing to performance and how it stacks up to the competition.

This guide provides comprehensive information provided by the manufacturer. HotCars sourced additional data for reliability (from J.D. Power), EPA gas mileage (Fueleconomy.gov), safety ratings (IIHS), and recalls (NHTSA). We evaluate five different metrics when determining a rating for each model. You can
read our Methodology page
for more information about our rating system.

What’s New For 2024?

BMW may have just released the 7 Series in 2023, but it’s certainly not sitting back on its laurels. For the new year, it’s already added a Plug-In Hybrid, an all-wheel-drive option for the 740i, and an iDrive software update across the range.

2024 Highlights

• AWD is now available as an option on the 740i
• iDrive software upgraded to version 8.5
• 750e xDrive Plug-In Hybrid was added to the range. Capable of 35 miles of all-electric range

Exterior Dimensions

Engine Specifications And Performance

The 7 Series range kicks off with a 375 horsepower turbocharged inline-six, available in the RWD 740i and the newly introduced AWD 740i. The extra traction of the AWD model brings the claimed 0-60 mph time down from 5.2 to 4.9 seconds, while a 48-volt hybrid system helps reduce emissions and deliver a short boost of power under acceleration. Both versions offer a claimed 28 MPG in combined driving.

The range-topping ICE is the 760i xDrive. It has a 536 horsepower twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 that makes the most of its standard AWD setup and 48-volt hybrid assistance to blast to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds. Fuel economy drops to 20 MPG for this model. If that seems too steep a price to pay for the added performance, then you may prefer the new Plug-in Hybrid 750e xDrive.

It combines a 308 horsepower 3.0-liter turbocharged engine with a 194 horsepower electric motor mounted in the transmission. It glides from 0-60 mph in an impressive 4.6 seconds, and BMW claims up to 35 miles of all-electric range between charges. Stellar economy figures await if your daily commute is less than that distance. No official fuel economy figures are available yet, but Level 2 charging times are claimed to take ‘under 10 hours’. If you prefer your 7 Series to be fully electric, then take a look at the very impressive i7.

Performance Specifications

Interior Technology And Comfort

Best Interior Features Of The 2024 BMW 7 Series

• Supremely comfortable seating front and rear
• The available 31-inch screen is a crowd-stopper
• High-quality finishes throughout
• Sets offer massaging, ventilation, and heating
• Plenty of customization options

If you haven’t sat in a modern top-spec BMW in recent years, there’s quite a lot to take the first time you get behind the wheel. The doors, for one, open and close with the aid of electric motors. Once seated, you are confronted by a 12.3″ driver display flanked by an even larger 14.9″ infotainment screen that extends along the dashboard towards the passenger side. More on its functionality and features in the tech section, but the overall look and feel is very modern and sleek.

One aspect that will immediately feel familiar is the superbly comfortable seats. Tick the right boxes, and you can get heating, cooling, and massaging functions. The $7,250 Rear Executive Lounge Seat Package option adds a power rear seat and footrest that reclines like a business class seat and is the last word in chauffeured comfort.

Customization options are extensive. Depending on the model, there are up to 17 types of seating finishes to choose from, including Veganza and Merino Leather which can cost up to $7,300. Once you’ve settled on the seating finish, six different trim inserts can be optioned to ensure that your 7 Series looks unique.

A 1,965-watt Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound audio system with up to 40 speakers is an unnecessary but equally essential option to tick. It is one of the very best in-car audio systems at any level. You can add the finishing touches with an Anthracite Alcantara headliner and a panoramic Sky Lounge LED Roof.

Technology

The 7 Series is part car, part rolling technology showcase. The interior is dominated by a widescreen display that is divided into a 12.3″ instrument panel and a 14.9″ touchscreen where you access the myriad of in-car functions. While you can control just about every vehicle function through this touchscreen or the iDrive controller, there is still a scattering of physical buttons and touch-sensitive controls for more commonly accessed functions. It all takes a little while to get used to, but BMW has gone to great lengths with the latest iDrive 8.5 upgrade to try and make it all as intuitive as possible. Voice commands and hand gestures are also available for certain commands, although neither is likely to be used much.

Passengers in the rear control seat and ventilation functions via small iPhone-style 5.5″ screens embedded in the door handles. Splurge on the $4,750 Theater Screen option and the rear occupants get a 31.3-inch TV that folds down from the headliner. It allows watching Netflix shows and web browsing through a 5G data connection and is a great way to silence neighbors who claim their infotainment screen is bigger than yours.

Interior Dimensions

Safety And Reliability

The latest generation BMW 7 Series has yet to go through crash testing by either the IIHS or the NHTSA. It did score 80/100 in the J.D. Power Consumer Rating survey, which puts it ahead of direct rivals like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Quality and reliability were rated at 80/100, while the driving experience, which also incorporates safety data, was an exemplary 90/100.

Driver Assistance Features

The BMW 7 Series offers a comprehensive range of driver assist features including automated emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. But then so do plenty of far cheaper cars. What sets the 7 Series apart are features like the active driving assistant that offers a semi-autonomous driving mode. And the Parking Assist Professional package, which can autonomously park for you once you have set your parking parameters.

• Adaptive Cruise Control – including in stop/start traffic
• Highway Assistant – hands-free driving up to 85 mph
• Active Driving Assistant Pro – Partial automated driving support
• Smartphone control for HVAC and door locks

IIHS Crash Testing

The IIHS has not crash-tested the 2024 BMW 7 Series.

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

The NHTSA has not crash-tested the 2024 BMW 7 Series.

• Recalls (NHTSA): 1 (Inoperative hands-on detection system)
• NHTSA Investigations: 0
• NHTSA Consumer Complaints: 1 (complaint regarding airbag activation at very low speed)
• Awards: None Yet

Warranties

The 7 Series comes with a relatively standard warranty offering for its class. Aside from the usual 48-month/50,000 miles of full cover, you also get roadside assistance and powertrain cover for the same period. A 3-year maintenance warranty called BMW Ultimate Care comes as standard and can be optionally extended for up to seven years or 100,000 miles.

2024 BMW 7 Series Versus Its Competitors

In gas-powered and even Plug-In Hybrid forms, the 7 Series remains more of a traditional luxury sedan. The all-electric i7 version may do battle with the Tesla Model S and Lucid Air, but for this variant, we have chosen to compare it to its two longest-running rivals. Namely, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the Audi A8.

How The BMW 7 Series Compares To The Mercedes-Benz S-Class

• 	2024 BMW 7 Series	2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  Trim	740i / 740i xDrive / 750e xDrive / 760i xDrive	S500 4MATIC, S 580e 4MATIC, S 580 4MATIC
  Model	7 Series	S-Class
  Engine/Motor	3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 / 4.4-liter turbocharged V8	3.0L Turbo 6-Cyl, 3.0L Turbo 6-Cyl PHEV, 4.0L Biturbo V8
  Horsepower	375-536 HP	429-510
  Torque	398-553 LB-FT	384-516 LB-FT
  Drivetrain	RWD/AWD	AWD
  Transmission	8-speed automatic	9-Speed Automatic
  MSRP	$96,400 – $121,300	$114,500-$124,000
  0-60 MPH	4.1 – 5.2 seconds	4.4-4.9 Seconds

The BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class have been dueling at the top of the luxury sedan segment for decades. The S-Class tends to offer more subdued styling and a comfort-oriented ride, while the 7 Series pushes the boundaries when it comes to edgy exterior design and a more engaging driving experience. In their latest match-up, they continue to excel in these spheres and add some of the latest cutting-edge tech into the mix.

The BMW remains the driver’s choice while upping its rear seat game with that impressive 31.3-inch screen and Rear Executive Lounge Seat Package. Meanwhile, the Mercedes offers a more conservative approach to its design both inside and out, but with a level of customization that is every bit as impressive as the BMW. It also has a similarly impressive engine range for 2024. Pricing is slightly higher across the board, which may send more customers BMW’s way.

How The BMW 7 Series Compares To The Audi A8

• 	2024 BMW 7 Series	2024 Audi A8
  Trim	740i / 740i xDrive / 750e xDrive / 760i xDrive	55TFSI quattro
  Model	7 Series	A8
  Engine/Motor	3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 / 4.4-liter turbocharged V8	3.0-liter turbocharged V6
  Horsepower	375-536 HP	335 HP
  Torque	398-553 LB-FT	369 LB-FT
  Drivetrain	RWD/AWD	AWD
  Transmission	8-speed automatic	8-Speed Automatic
  MSRP	$96,400 – $121,300	$90,900
  0-60 MPH	4.1 – 5.2 seconds	5.6 seconds

Audi’s A8 has always been the understated, elegant choice in the luxury sedan class. The latest version retains those traits and offers the kind of well-crafted interior that we have come to expect from the brand. In the US, we get just one engine option on the standard A8, a 335-horsepower turbocharged V6. It delivers adequate, if not exhilarating performance, but isn’t particularly efficient, at 22 MPG in combined driving.

Being a design that’s a few years older than the 7 Series, tech levels are also not quite on par, but the base A8 offers a $5,400 saving over a RWD 740i and is $8,500 less than the AWD 740i xDrive. If you want more performance, the 563 horsepower S8 is also available, but at $123,400, it loses its value proposition.

How Much Does A 2024 BMW 7 Series Cost?

The 7 Series range is competitively priced compared to its natural rivals, and now with the introduction of the 740i xDrive and 750e xDrive models, lack of choice isn’t a problem either. But, while even the 740i is rather well-equipped, buyers at this level want more than just the standard kit, and that’s where things start to get expensive. Upgrading the sound system, adding the 31-inch rear screen and a full Merino leather interior is an easy way to add well over $10,000 to the bill, so make sure you only tick the options you really need.

Fuel Economy

Big, heavy gas-powered luxury sedans aren’t going to set any fuel economy records, but the 7 Series is certainly one of the most efficient options in its class. Both the RWD and AWD 740i models offer class-leading economy figures, while the new 750e xDrive doesn’t have any official economy figures just yet, it promises great results if you make the most of its 35 miles of all-electric range.

GAS/HYBRIDS

Is It Worth Buying a BMW 7 Series?

The BMW 7 Series didn’t just improve on its predecessor, it took an entirely new stab at the luxury sedan segment and redefined what such a vehicle should represent. Yes, the front-end styling is controversial, but that is a subjective thing. When it comes to more objective comparisons like performance, technology, and handling, the 7 Series is as good as it gets.

Not only does it excel at the traditional 7 Series strong points like driving enjoyment, but it now also boasts one of the most impressive rear seat experiences around. Throw in some cutting-edge tech and this may be the pick of the current luxury executive sedans.

Sources: BMW, IIHS, NHTSA, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, fueleconomy.gov