BMW's largest SUV, the X7, seats seven people, and like previous BMW models, it is not only very family-friendly but also enjoyable to drive.
The 2022 BMW X7 might be the ideal choice if you're looking for a large luxury SUV with a little more performance and driver involvement. The X7 has a greater luggage area and offers a similar driving experience to the smaller X5 in many areas.
It also includes three rows of seats as standard. It also has a good selection of the most recent luxury and technological features from BMW which is the direct rival of the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class.
The X7's basic all-wheel-drive system and nimble, punchy turbocharged engines enable it to perform well despite its size and provide a really entertaining experience.
However, with a price tag that starts from Tk2crore 95lakh, are all the bells and whistles worth the price?
The BMW X7 isn't cheap, but neither are most of its competitors. For a more budget-friendly alternative, you could consider a Range Rover but it doesn't match the BMW in terms of luxury and performance.
Just calling a Range Rover ‘budget-friendly' says a lot about how expensive the X7 really is.
Engine and Performance
The BMW X7 can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds thanks to the ZF transmission and B58 engine. The top speed is limited to 245 km/h.
Although the X7 weighs around 2.3 tons, the turbo Inline 6 engine performs admirably, accelerating smoothly even in Eco Pro driving mode.
Given the fuel price hike, quite naturally the next question arises as to how much fuel this mammoth of a vehicle consumes.
According to BMW, the fuel consumption is officially estimated at 9.5 litres per 100 kilometres (10.5 km/L).
Actual usage may vary from these figures since they are based on European test data and Dhaka traffic conditions will not reflect those numbers for sure.
An air suspension system with two axles keeps the X7 balanced. With a lever, this system's five height settings can be adjusted across a range of 80 mm. Important if you are planning to take it offroad or even go for factory visits outside Dhaka, where road conditions are not optimal.
The suspension of each wheel is separately managed to keep the car balanced when under uneven load.
BMW also included the Executive Drive Pro package and Dynamic Damper Control system in addition to the air suspension.
The X7 can process data from the drive, which guarantees the stability of the vehicle and ensures that it will never roll.
Exterior
The BMW X7's enormous kidney grills are the first thing you will see as you approach it. This is the largest grill ever placed on any BMW model and it shares it with the redesigned BMW 7 series.
The grill, however, does not appear to be big at all because of the size of the X7 and fits the overall proportion of the vehicle.
The majority of SUVs on the market lean toward a sporty appearance, but the BMW X7 was created with pure luxury and elegance in mind. City users especially would be charmed by its unique design, on-road presence, and rarity.
BMW's cutting-edge Laserlight headlight, which provides drivers with twice as much visibility as regular headlights, is standard on the X7. The X7 has 21-inch Y-spoke rims with 285/45 tires, which look superb and offer excellent traction during acceleration.
Interior
Two 12.3-inch screens for the instrument panel and the infotainment system welcome you as you get into the driver's seat. The BMW Live Cockpit Professional package includes these two screens as well as the Heads Up Display. The Sky Lounge panoramic roof is lit with 15,000 lighting pieces and has a smaller sunroof for the third row.
Despite having 7 seats, the X7's boot has room for the entire family. When the third row and second row are folded, the storage capacity rises to 750 litres and 2000 litres, respectively, from 350 litres when all seats are up.
Pushing buttons in the boot area will fold the seats and open the tailgate hands-free, though this has become a standard feature even in most mid-range SUVs in the market these days, but nevertheless extremely handy.
Verdict
The X7 is not for everyone, it is meant to target a specific segment of customers who are truly high-rollers but want to do it with a bit of subtlety as the vehicle appears to be much smaller than it actually is.
Being almost 17 feet in length, the X7 truly grabs attention and its presence is felt without even trying hard.
However I do think it is a bit overpriced but then again while purchasing vehicles like these in Bangladesh, you cannot justify it with the price tag.
