2022 BMW ALPINA B7 Review

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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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2022 BMW Alpina B7 Review

byDan Frio^{Reviews Editor
Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to Edmunds, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.},

rating written byBrent Romans^{Senior Manager, Written Content
Brent Romans has worked in the automotive industry since 1996. He has written or edited thousands of expert car reviews and road-tested hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Brent is a senior manager of written content at Edmunds and previously contributed to publications such as Super Street and Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road. His personal car is a 2019 BMW M2 Competition, which he bought for its ideal combination of performance, style and practicality.}

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

Remote control parking available as a stand-alone option
Android Auto is now standard
Based on the sixth 7 Series generation introduced for 2016

Overview

High-performance M models have proliferated throughout BMW's portfolio with a notable exception: the automaker's flagship 7 Series sedan. While the lineup does offer a V12-powered M760i trim, this is essentially an "M Lite" package grafted onto the existing car, not something developed as a high-performance model. Since a proper M7 remains elusive, drivers seeking the ultimate 7 Series can look to the alternative: the 2022 Alpina B7.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2022 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

With its trademark turbine-style wheels and distinct bodywork, the B7 is developed by Alpina, until recently an independent manufacturer (BMW has since brought the brand under its umbrella). Interestingly, the B7 actually slots between the 750i and M760i trim levels, massaging the engine of the former to the power levels of the latter. The result is neck-whipping acceleration, from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 205 mph. That's rarefied air, shared with certain Aston Martins, Bentleys and Lamborghinis. B7 upgrades aren't limited to the engine compartment, though. A sport exhaust system, higher top speed, and sportier shifting, suspension and all-wheel drive settings are among the other Alpina enhancements.

Maybe more important than the B7's performance pedigree, however, is its exclusivity. Alpina produces fewer than 2,000 cars annually, many of them for less expensive BMW models destined for other countries. While you can walk into a Mercedes or Audi dealer and easily find an S-Class or S8, the allocation of Alpina B7s for the U.S. is fairly small, making it a rare sight in the wild. The price may seem dear (although still lower than the top-range M760i), but given the B7's performance, comfort and rarity, we think it's worth it.

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 now supports Android Auto, and iPhone users can enjoy wireless Apple CarPlay.

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 brings little benefit and proves inconvenient, 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 19 mpg combined (17 city/24 highway), which is average for a high-output luxury sedan. We found these numbers to be fairly realistic in our testing, 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 $140,000-plus 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 means driving the B7 always feels special.

Which ALPINA B7 does Edmunds recommend?

There's only one well-loaded trim to choose from, but you can add a few things to make the Alpina B7 your own. The Interior Design package adds a faux suede headliner, plush deep-pile floor mats, and extra wood trim in unexpected places such as grab handles and the rear center console. The Luxury Rear Seating package adds ventilated and massaging rear seats, while the Bowers & Wilkins audio upgrade delivers the clarity of high-definition surround sound. If you're often forced into tight parking conditions, the new-for-2022 Remote Control Parking option lets you use the key fob to guide the car into or out of a parking space.

2022 BMW ALPINA B7 models

The 2022 BMW Alpina B7 is a high-performance version of the 7 Series large luxury sedan. It comes in a single well-equipped trim level with a handful of packages and stand-alone options. The only available engine is a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 (600 horsepower, 590 lb-ft of torque) paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

B7
Highlights of the B7's standard features 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
Leather upholstery
Ceramic-trimmed interior controls
Heated armrests and steering wheel
Heated and ventilated front seats with massage
Heated rear seats
Power rear sunshades
10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen
16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system
Apple CarPlay (wireless) and Android Auto smartphone connectivity
Wireless smartphone charging pad
Navigation
Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)

The Alpina B7 also comes with several 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
Heated steering wheel

Rear Executive Lounge Seating package

Luxury Rear Seating package
Electrically deployable footrest for right rear passenger
Rear-seat entertainment system
Rear center 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
Remote control parking

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2022 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 2022 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

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2022 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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2022 BMW ALPINA B7 Review

2022 BMW Alpina B7 Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2022 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?

2022 BMW ALPINA B7 models

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2022 BMW ALPINA B7.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Great car

This has it all!

Alpina B7, awesome!

Beast of a sedan

2022 ALPINA B7 Highlights

Safety

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2022 BMW ALPINA B7 Review

2022 BMW Alpina B7 Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 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?

2022 BMW ALPINA B7 models

Most helpful consumer reviews

Great car

This has it all!

Alpina B7, awesome!

Beast of a sedan

2022 ALPINA B7 Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2022 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 2022 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.}