2021 BMW ALPINA B7 Review

The BMW Alpina B7 is a peculiar car that nevertheless exceeds whatever your expectations might be. It's an effortless cruiser that's immensely powerful and surprisingly agile. Convoluted and gimmicky technology features mar an otherwise excellent and unique high-speed extreme luxury car.

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2021 BMW Alpina B7 Review

byCameron Rogers^{Manager, News
Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at Edmunds include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).}

Pros

Smooth yet ridiculously quick acceleration
Prestige and exclusivity from low volume and overall distinctiveness
Opulent and spacious back seats

Cons

Unintuitive gesture controls
Rear seats don't fold down

What's new

No significant changes for 2021
Based on the sixth 7 Series generation introduced for 2016

Overview

Is a regular 7 Series not quite exciting or exclusive enough for you? Well, consider checking out the 2021 BMW Alpina B7. Developed by independent manufacturer Alpina, the B7 is a high-performance 7 Series available at your local BMW dealer. It slots between the 750i and the M760i in terms of price, using the engine from the former and boosting it to power levels similar to the latter. Though it's fair to say BMW's classic "Ultimate Driving Machine" ad tagline doesn't fit every vehicle the brand makes anymore, the description is quite apt for the Alpina B7.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 BMW ALPINA B7 xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl 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

$276/mo

$219/mo

Avg. Large Car

Calculate my fuel costs

The B7's upgrades aren't limited to just engine enhancements. The B7 also features a sport exhaust system, an increased top speed thanks to the use of specialized non-run-flat tires, and Alpina-specific tuning for the transmission, suspension and all-wheel-drive system. It also features two unique paint schemes not offered on any other BMW. Upgrades to the interior are minor but include a steering wheel wrapped in Alpina's signature Lavalina leather.

Perhaps even more important than the overall performance of the Alpina B7 is its exclusivity. Other than price, there are no barriers to entry in this class — if you want a Mercedes-Benz AMG S-Class or Audi S8, you simply go to the dealer and buy one. Alpina produces fewer than 2,000 cars annually, and most are variants of less expensive BMW models destined for other countries. The U.S. allocation is fairly small, making the B7 a rare sight indeed. We think the Alpina B7's asking price is worth the level of performance, comfort and exclusivity afforded by this illustrious 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

8.2

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

9.0/10

How does the ALPINA B7 drive? You'd expect a lot from 600 horsepower, but this sedan still manages to overdeliver. The 0-60 mph sprint takes just 3.6 seconds, which is frankly phenomenal for a car this size. When you aren't mashing the throttle, the B7 impresses with restrained throttle calibration and nearly imperceptible shifts.

But the B7 isn't just a speed demon. The powerful brakes bring this super-sled to a stop from 60 mph in a sports car-like 105 feet. Handling is sublime for a car with this much mass, thanks in part to the trick adaptive dampers. The steering is well tuned and nicely balanced overall, but turning the dial to Sport+ adds a silly amount of steering resistance.

Comfort

9.0/10

How comfortable is the ALPINA B7? The B7 delivers comfort in spades, starting with seats that set a benchmark for the class. They feature extensive seat adjustments with multiple massage settings and pillow-like headrests. The overall perception of luxury continues with the remarkably smooth — but not overly soft — suspension calibration. Even in the sportiest setting, the ride is acceptably firm and not harsh in the slightest. There's minimal wind, road and tire noise, and the engine only produces its sonorous growl when you stomp on the gas pedal.

The only quibble we have is with the climate system. It's undoubtedly powerful and comprehensive — the B7 even features heated armrests — but the level of customization can be daunting.

Interior

8.0/10

How’s the interior? The fundamentals of the B7's interior — as well as those of the underlying BMW 7 Series — are stellar. As is typical of this class, the B7's sheer size affords tons of interior space front and back. Only an occupant in the middle seat will feel the pinch in headroom due to the elevated seat position.

The B7 is easy to get in and out of, especially since the air suspension can raise the height to allow a more graceful entry or exit. It's fairly easy to see out of, and a bevy of cameras and sensors cover the blind spots that exist. And while you can get familiar with the bulk of the interior controls, the reliance on touch-sensitive switches and abundance of adjustments can be a source of frequent frustration.

Technology

7.0/10

How’s the tech? BMW's taken the kitchen-sink approach when it comes to tech, adding everything plus more. The driving aids are well executed and take the frustration out of the stop-and-go grind. An excellent camera system shows every angle you'd want for parking. The voice control system understands and responds to commands with surprising ease and quickness, making it a breeze to navigate through the sometimes confusing menu structure. The B7 doesn't support Android Auto yet — the functionality is coming in the near future — but iPhone users can enjoy wireless Apple CarPlay right now.

The overall package has a solid foundation but is hampered by gimmicks. The gesture controls give false positives, and the oversized, overly complicated key fob adds little benefit and many inconveniences, such as requiring charging.

Storage

8.0/10

How’s the storage? A large vehicle offers advantages when it comes to space to put stuff, and the B7 makes full use of its size. The 18.2-cubic-foot trunk is massive, surpassing the capacity of most other large luxury sedans. As with others in this class, the rear seats don't fold, but a center pass-through will allow you to carry long items. The interior has plenty of storage for small items, including large door pockets and small bins and cubbies for rear passengers.

The leather is so nice that you might not want to install a car seat, but if you must, accessing the anchors might present a challenge. They are hidden behind zippers that are pretty but difficult to open and place a buckle through.

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA rates the B7 at 20 mpg combined (17 city/25 highway), which is average for a high-output luxury sedan. In our testing we found these numbers to be fairly realistic, though your ability to match them largely depends on how frequently you dip into the B7's prodigious power.

Value

7.5/10

Is the ALPINA B7 a good value? Value is relative within the context of powerful German super luxury sedans, but we'll give it our best shot. At first glance, the B7's interior is exceptionally crafted and detailed, but our tester had a few warts that detracted from the highfalutin appearance.

The headrests sound hollow and cheap when you tap them, and the underside of the steering wheel squeaks if you press it with your thumbs. During our test, the left rear door occasionally refused to open from the inside even with the child lock disabled. Despite these minor flaws, the B7's performance, uniqueness and sheer luxury make the approximate $140,000 MSRP seem reasonable.

Wildcard

9.0/10

Ridiculous acceleration and admirable handling make the B7 fun, sure, but it's the smoothness and sheer luxury that make it so addicting. That plus the cool factor of the Alpina badge and the exclusivity from the vehicle's limited availability mean driving the B7 always feels special.

Which ALPINA B7 does Edmunds recommend?

The Alpina B7 is well equipped out of the gate, and even comes with features that cost extra on the standard BMW 7 Series. That said, there are still some gems on the options list. The Interior Design package adds extra wood trim in areas you wouldn't expect it, such as the grab handles and seat-belt surrounds. The Luxury Rear Seating package spreads the love to the back, outfitting the rear seats with ventilation and massage. We'd also spec the ambient lighting for the sunroof for a dramatic presentation, as well as the Bowers & Wilkins sound system for audiophile levels of clarity.

2021 BMW ALPINA B7 models

The 2021 BMW Alpina B7 is a high-performance variant of the BMW 7 Series large luxury sedan. Under its hood is a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 producing a massive 600 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. Power is routed to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. The B7 comes in a single well-equipped trim, with a small number of features packages and stand-alone options.

B7
Standard features for the Alpina B7 include:

20-inch wheels with summer performance tires
Rear-axle steering
Air suspension with adaptive dampers with road-sensing camera
Panoramic sunroof
Soft-close doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut)
Four-zone automatic climate control
Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)
Leather interior trim
Heated armrests and steering wheel
Heated and ventilated front seats with massage
Heated rear seats
Power rear sunshades
16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system
Wireless Apple CarPlay
Ceramic-trimmed interior controls
Wireless smartphone charging pad

The Alpina B7 also comes with a full suite of advanced safety and driver aids, such as:

Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while in reverse)
Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the B7 and the car in front)
Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind or in front of the vehicle when parking)
Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with no driver intervention)
360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Alpina B7 and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

Though already loaded to the gills with goodies, the Alpina B7 has a few packages and stand-alone options for further personalization. These include:

Luxury Rear Seating package

Power-adjustable rear seats with ventilation and massage
Heated rear armrests
Rear touchscreen control panel

Rear Executive Lounge Seating package

Luxury Rear Seating package
Electrically deployable footrest for right rear passenger
Rear-seat entertainment system
Rear console replaces middle seat
Removes some functionality from front passenger seat

Interior Design package

Wood grab handles, rear armrest and seat-belt covers
Imitation suede headliner
Premium floor mats

21-inch wheels
All-season tires
Ambient lighting for the sunroof
Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 BMW ALPINA B7.

5 (100%)

4 (0%)

3 (0%)

2 (0%)

1 (0%)

5.0

6 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Great car

Joe T, 04/08/2019

2018 BMW ALPINA B7 xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A)

The comfort and speed is over the top. I just wish you could hit a button ( like Porsche does) and get the exhaust loud.

This has it all!

Mac, 05/24/2021

2018 BMW ALPINA B7 xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A)

If you are looking for a smooth high performance executive level sedan this is the one.

Alpina B7, awesome!

Dave, 02/27/2018

2018 BMW ALPINA B7 xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A)

Super car, what else can I say!?

Beast of a sedan

Irishlord82, 12/01/2023

2017 BMW ALPINA B7 xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A)

This is the best BMW I've ever owned and I've owned 4 750 series vehicles. It is by far the fastest and luxurious sedan on the market for it's year. It can be a sports car or a limousine depending on your desire.

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 BMW ALPINA B7, so we've included reviews for other years of the ALPINA B7 since its last redesign.

See all 6 reviews of the BMW ALPINA B7

Write a vehicle review

2021 ALPINA B7 Highlights

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$143,200
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	19 MPG
Cost to Drive	$276/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	18.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the ALPINA B7 models:

Active Protection: Reacts to imminent accidents by pre-tensioning seat belts, closing windows and activating post-accident braking.
Parking Assistant Plus: Steers the vehicle into a parallel parking spot without relying on driver input.
Surround View w/ 3D View: Provides a bird's-eye view of the B7 to make parking this big sedan easier.

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2021 BMW ALPINA B7 Review

2021 BMW Alpina B7 Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 BMW ALPINA B7 xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl 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 ALPINA B7 does Edmunds recommend?

2021 BMW ALPINA B7 models

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 BMW ALPINA B7.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Great car

This has it all!

Alpina B7, awesome!

Beast of a sedan

2021 ALPINA B7 Highlights

Safety

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2021 BMW ALPINA B7 Review

2021 BMW Alpina B7 Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 BMW ALPINA B7 xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl 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 ALPINA B7 does Edmunds recommend?

2021 BMW ALPINA B7 models

Most helpful consumer reviews

Great car

This has it all!

Alpina B7, awesome!

Beast of a sedan

2021 ALPINA B7 Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2021 BMW ALPINA B7 info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Bmw

Research similar vehicles

Other models

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 BMW ALPINA B7 xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl 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.}