2021 BMW 7 Series Review

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The BMW 750i offers astonishing power and an elite level of comfort. It neatly straddles the line between luxury and ultra-luxury with advanced technology and exceptional cabin comfort. Handling isn't its strongest suit, and its bold new exterior design — specifically the grille — might be an acquired taste, but there's no mistaking this for anything other than a sleek executive interstate missile.

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2021 BMW 7 Series Review

byReese Counts^{Vehicle Test Editor
Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at Edmunds in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.}

Pros

Strong engine options, including a plug-in hybrid and a turbo V12
Standard adaptive air suspension delivers a comfortable, controlled ride
Exceptional rear passenger space
Abundant standard equipment including safety tech

Cons

Not the driver-focused benchmark it once was
Expensive options menu

What's new

No significant changes for 2021
Part of the sixth 7 Series generation introduced for 2016

Overview

After undergoing a significant update in 2020 that included tweaked exterior styling, a refreshed engine lineup and more in-car tech, the BMW 7 Series continues into 2021 essentially unchanged. We're fine with that, as last year's updates helped the 7 Series maintain its second-place Edmunds ranking among large luxury sedans. The 7 Series is loaded with all the latest tech BMW has to offer and is impressively spacious and comfortable.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 BMW 7 Series 740i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$221/mo

$219/mo

Avg. Large Car

Calculate my fuel costs

Of course, there are alternatives. There's the Audi A8, Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Porsche Panamera from Germany as well as the Lexus LS 500 and Genesis G90 from Japan and South Korea, respectively. Each one represents the best these automakers have to offer, from the latest driver aids and in-car tech to powerful yet fuel-efficient engines. We think the sixth-generation 7 Series is just about the best around and well worth consideration if you're in the market for a big, comfortable and tech-laden sedan.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Great

8.4

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

8.5/10

How does the 7 Series drive? There's an astonishing amount of power and acceleration here. Right when you think you're really hauling, the 750i has another gear that vaults it into triple digits with ease. This car is built for the autobahn after all. It's a shame it'll only ever use a fraction of its power on American highways. The big sedan brakes with similar power and consistency, arrow-straight and free of drama during panic-stop tests.

Gear changes are seamless, and the steering is nicely weighted at highway speeds and properly assisted in parking lots. Handling is a mixed bag. It's laser-quick to turn into a corner, but the loads of body roll amazingly never seem to affect the car's stability. It feels floppy but holds its line.

Comfort

9.0/10

How comfortable is the 7 Series? It's a big car with a big cabin that's nearly impervious to any sound or feeling that would indicate there's a world outside the windows. "Bank vault-quiet" is an overused descriptor, but from one of the cars that coined that cliche, it's true here. You'd need to drive over an open manhole to feel something resembling a sharp impact. The adaptive suspension possesses a nearly impeccable ability to absorb and separate the regular road rash of daily life from the passengers.

The seats are exceptionally comfortable, with loads of adjustability and quick heating and cooling, although our rear passengers weren't as impressed with the massage function. This experience is world-class luxury cruising all day.

Interior

8.5/10

How’s the interior? The wide door openings, low side sills and massive rear legroom make entering and exiting the 7 Series as easy as moving from the living room sofa. A broad range of seat adjustments and a power-telescoping steering wheel help dial in a comfortable driving position that allows a commanding forward view. The bulky rear pillars restrict the view out the back, although there's enough side glass to inform safe lane changes. The excellent backup camera also takes the edge off.

The 7 Series is listed as a five-passenger sedan, but its middle seat isn't really suited to adults. It's useful in a pinch but don't count on it, especially for an adult. Control buttons, switches and knobs are still among the best and most intuitive in the business.

Technology

8.5/10

How’s the tech? This new 7 Series received subtle upgrades from the former model, but its tech and driver assistance features represent its largest leap. The latest voice assistant, summoned by a "Hey, BMW" wake-up phrase, can set navigation points and control cabin temps in a conversational style. And the new gauge cluster boasts sharp graphics and customizable data screens, such as inset navigation display, freeing up the center console display for other duties. The optional Bowers & Wilkins system is exceptional and probably the most affordable way to own a Bowers & Wilkins system.

The semi-automated driving features are a boon for commuters, although lane keeping assist makes pretty aggressive steering corrections even when you are paying attention.

Storage

7.5/10

How’s the storage? With 18.2 cubic feet of trunk space, the 750i holds its own with its Mercedes S-Class rival and ranks a few cubes higher than its Audi and Lexus competitors. But the storage space is more deep than wide, the side panels intrude and the floor isn't flat. You'll find it's better suited to stowing items lengthwise. Still, the opening is wide, so you won't have much trouble getting luggage into the trunk.

There's plenty of room inside the cabin for personal items, although your drinks will be limited to a pair of cupholders front and rear. Child seat attachments aren't the easiest to access. They're hidden behind zippered flaps, and you'll need to fish your child seat anchors around to locate the attachment points.

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? Rated by the EPA at 20 mpg combined, our test car came in at 18.9 mpg in the course of around 750 miles of driving. It did a little better on our 115-mile mixed-driving evaluation loop, returning 19.1 mpg. Dipping into the car's prodigious power will deliver fuel economy not far above single digits.

Value

8.0/10

Is the 7 Series a good value? At just a hair more than $126,000 as tested, calling the 750i a poor man's Rolls-Royce is a bit ironic. But it's not a stretch either. It has astonishing power, excellent build quality, exceptional big-car cruising comfort, and a corporate lineage with Rolls-Royce (Rolls is part of the BMW Group) that makes this statement not without some accuracy.

This new 7 Series is maybe one of the best values around since it straddles the line between luxe and uber-luxe comfort and convenience. The warranty coverage is fairly standard, but the ownership experience is commensurate with the price tag, with BMW offering 24-hour roadside assistance for four years with unlimited mileage.

Wildcard

8.5/10

In the past decade, the 7 Series has increasingly moved away from its roots as a big performance sedan to something more like an executive cruise missile. That's fine with us since there are plenty of smaller sedans that pack a satisfying blend of performance and luxury (BMW's own 5 Series, for example). So while the 7 Series lacks razor-sharp handling and firm body control, it's still a stunningly fun car to drive simply by dipping into its gas pedal on a wide-open road.

Its styling — that larger kidney grille design is downright comical — is a tad too bold and aggressive for our tastes, but we're sure many will like it. There's no doubt that it will not be mistaken for anything other than a BMW.

Which 7 Series does Edmunds recommend?

The 2021 7 Series is available in a variety of trims and configurations. While the base 740i and its turbocharged inline-six offer good performance and lots of features, we think it's worth stepping up to the V8-powered 750i xDrive for the additional performance and standard all-wheel drive.

2021 BMW 7 Series models

The 2021 BMW 7 Series is available in five trim levels: 740i, 740i xDrive, 750i xDrive, 745e xDrive and M760i xDrive. The major difference between the trims comes down to the powertrain, though some features and options further separate the trims.

740i and 740i xDrive
The base 740i is powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine (335 hp, 331 lb-ft) and sends power to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The 740i xDrive is the same but with all-wheel drive. Standard feature highlights for both models include:

Adaptive air suspension
LED headlights
16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system
Digital instrument cluster
10.25-inch infotainment screen with navigation
Apple CarPlay smartphone integration (late availability for Android Auto)
Heated front seats, armrests and steering wheel
16-way power-adjustable front seats
Keyless entry and ignition
Four-zone automatic climate control
Power-sliding panoramic glass roof

The 7 Series also comes with:

Parking sensors (alerts you to obstacles that may not be visible behind or in front of the vehicle when parking)
Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the 7 Series and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
Lane departure warning (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
Forward collision mitigation (applies the brakes automatically to stop the vehicle to avoid or minimize a collision)

745e xDrive
This is the plug-in hybrid 7 Series variant. It pairs a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with an electric motor and battery pack for a combined 389 hp. It also improves fuel economy and can do an estimated 16 miles of all-electric driving. Features mirror those on the 740i xDrive, including all-wheel drive, although the 745e xDrive has unique interior accents.

750i xDrive
The 750i xDrive has a more powerful turbocharged V8 (523 hp, 553 lb-ft). All-wheel drive is standard. It has everything on the 740i plus:

Head-up display
Premium leather upholstery

M760i xDrive
The M760i xDrive is the range-topping model. It's powered by a turbocharged 6.6-liter V12 (601 hp, 627 lb-ft). As with other xDrive models, all-wheel drive is standard. The M760i xDrive is loaded with features, including:

20-inch wheels with performance tires
Faux suede headliner
Laminated glass for a quieter interior
Massaging, heated and ventilated front seats
Power-adjustable heated rear seats

Optional packages
The 7 Series is available with a number of option packages that bundle additional features together.

Autobahn package

Rear-wheel steering for better handling and a tighter turning circle
Upgraded adaptive suspension that preemptively adjusts to match road conditions

Driving Assistance Professional package

Adaptive cruise control with enhanced highway driving aids
Improved lane-keeping assist system

Luxury Rear Seating package

Power-adjustable ventilated rear seats
Massaging rear seats
Rear-mounted tablet for control media and more

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

2.5/5Average

#32 out of 48 among Luxury Fullsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the BMW 7 Series from 2008-2022.}

$768/yr

vs. $729/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.78x/yr

vs. 1.74x/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

21.3%

vs. 14.7%
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 BMW 7 Series.

5 (88%)

4 (6%)

3 (3%)

2 (0%)

1 (3%)

4.8

33 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

An excellent automobile.

Douglas M, 01/16/2020

2018 BMW 7 Series 750i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A)

I have owned 3 BMW's, the last two were the 750LI's and now I am looking at the 750I. I have had no major problems at all. They ride smooth and handle well. I do not like the run flats so chuck those after 10K miles. I have AAA if I have a flat, but never have. So I love this car. Biggest down side is the value drops faster than brick from the roof of your house. New one's are mainly …

great sedan

C Brunson, 01/26/2018

2018 BMW 7 Series 740i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A)

I love this car. I had been shopping for a sedan with a roomy back seat because it's hard getting in and out of the back seat of a 5-series. 5-series is a terrific car, but not for more than two adults. The 7-series fixes that and I no longer have to take out guests in my crew-cab truck to make sure that everyone has plenty of legroom. Auto manufacturers are all going with electronic … gimmickry these days and BMW is no different. The 'swipe-or-twirl-to-change' feature should never have been developed or added; it's stupid, and BMW could have spent that $$ to standardize their collision-avoidance tech or hardware. The hot-spot works well depending on your carrier, I guess. No, the car doesn't handle or track like an E-30, but this is a big sedan and I don't think the people that buy the 7s are too concerned with how fast it hustles around COTA or the 'Ring. That's why you buy an M3. This car will provide a quiet, smooth ride for hundreds of miles at any speed you are comfortable driving. It is amazingly quiet and smooth at triple digits. I lease this vehicle, so maintenance and warranty and resale are not an issue for me. I think the car looks great as well. The car is well-proportioned and the styling is distinctive but subtle. I don't like the designs from Benz or Lexus or Cadillac and would not drive any of them. The interior is well laid-out and there are buttons and knobs for just about everything. There is a lot of technology and swiping if you want to use it, but you don't have to. Head-up display is better than just a couple of years ago. The lane position feature takes a little getting used to, but it is helpful and you can turn it off if you find it too obtrusive. Driving position is very adjustable and my 5-2 wife can get comfortable while my 6-1 self can also find a good driving position. Transmission is good and you have to pay attention to notice the shift points. Steering is light and road feedback is minimal, but again, if you want a track car, get an M2 or M3. The run-flats on this vehicle are surprisingly good despite the low profile and width. There's really only one thing that I wish BMW would add, and that is an audible alert (and a popup on the HUD) when one of your favorites comes up on satellite radio. Value is subjective. My dad sees cars as appliances and drives a wonderful Honda and loves it. On the other hand, he wears Hickey Freeman suits where I wear what find on sale at Dillard's. I am very happy with the car I have and I'm willing to pay what it costs for this level of comfort, quiet and performance. This is a great car and as Ferris said, 'If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.'

Hot, big, powerful, fun car

Alan, 02/26/2019

2019 BMW 7 Series 750i 4dr Sedan (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A)

This is my second BMW 750i. The previous model was a 2015 and my current model is a 2018 with the M design package. All black exterior with zero chrome and brown interior - what's not to like! Both cars have been completely reliable and the local dealer's service is outstanding. This seems to be the general culture of BMW dealers. I also have a 2017 Range Rover and I sometimes have to …

The best full size 2018 luxury automobile

craig from reno, 03/25/2018

2018 BMW 7 Series 740i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A)

don't bother paying an additional $ 13,000 for the V-8 750i model......the 740i engine is powerful enough and the acceleration is great.....

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 BMW 7 Series, so we've included reviews for other years of the 7 Series since its last redesign.

See all 33 reviews of the BMW 7 Series

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2021 7 Series Highlights

Type:

Sedan

Trim:

740i

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$86,800
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$221/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	18.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the 7 Series models:

Collision Mitigation: Alerts the driver if a collision is imminent and can automatically apply the brakes if necessary.
Side Collision Prevention: Applies automatic steering input to guide the car away from potential side impacts.
Daytime Pedestrian Protection: Warns the driver and can automatically apply the brakes if a pedestrian suddenly appears in front of the car.

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2021 BMW 7 Series Review

2021 BMW 7 Series Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 BMW 7 Series 740i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which 7 Series does Edmunds recommend?

2021 BMW 7 Series models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

An excellent automobile.

great sedan

Hot, big, powerful, fun car

The best full size 2018 luxury automobile

2021 7 Series Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 BMW 7 Series 740i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}