2019 BMW 7 Series M760i xDrive

Big luxury sedans are the ultimate expression of the luxury car ethos, offering every trick in an automaker's bag. You can expect an expansive interior trimmed in high-quality materials, incredible attention to detail, a raft of advanced technology features, and an array of powertrains with immense power. The 2019 BMW 7 Series checks all those boxes. It also has the other defining characteristic of a large luxury sedan: a jaw-dropping price tag. Opt for a higher powertrain and start fiddling with the options list, and the 7 Series can double its base price.

If you like driving the newest and flashiest hardware around, the 7 Series might not be for you. BMW introduced this generation a scant two years ago, yet since then Lexus has released a new LS and Audi is out with a new A8. The 2019 Mercedes S-Class isn't dramatically different, but it continues to be the most prestigious pick in our opinion. Still, the 7 Series, by virtue of its all-around performance and opulent interior, remains a great choice for a flagship luxury sedan.

The 2019 BMW 7 Series is available in four versions: 740i, 750i, 740e xDrive iPerformance and M760i xDrive. There are some slight variations in feature availability among them, but the main difference relates to powertrains.

The base 740i sedan comes with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that produces 320 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. Stepping up to the 750i adds a handful of additional standard features and upgrades the engine to a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 good for 443 hp and 479 lb-ft. Both offer standard rear-wheel drive or optional xDrive all-wheel drive. The 740e xDrive iPerformance plug-in hybrid uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor to produce a combined 322 horsepower. At the top of the 7 Series range is the flagship M760i xDrive, which is powered by a massive 6.6-liter turbocharged V12 that produces 601 hp and 590 lb-ft. As their names indicate, the plug-in hybrid and the V12 are only available with all-wheel drive. They are similarly equipped for the most part.

Standard equipment on the 740i includes an adaptive air suspension, 19-inch wheels, adaptive LED headlights, automatic high beams, automatic wipers, front and rear parking sensors, power-folding mirrors, a power trunklid, and power-closing doors. Inside, you'll enjoy a standard panoramic sunroof, four-zone climate control, 10-way power-adjustable seats with heating, driver-seat memory settings, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable steering wheel, a power rear sunshade, and auto-dimming rearview mirror.

Standard technology features include forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, BMW's latest iDrive interface (with a 10.2-inch infotainment screen, center console knob/touchpad controller, gesture control), integrated navigation, in-car Wi-Fi, two USB ports, a one-year trial subscription to Apple CarPlay, Qi wireless smartphone charging and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.

Several packages are available for the 7 Series, so we'll highlight the most notable. The Autobahn package adds variable-ratio steering and a system that analyzes road conditions and automatically adjusts the car's adaptive dampers. The Driving Assistance Plus package adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, lane keeping assist, front cross-traffic warning and Traffic Jam Assistant that uses the adaptive cruise and lane keeping system to steer, brake and accelerate for you in slow highway traffic.

Other packages add even more luxury for both the front seats and rear passengers. The Executive package adds 16-way multi-contour front seats with ventilation and massage, as well as rear window sunshades, a head-up display and ceramic control dials. The Luxury Rear Seating package adds heated, ventilated and massaging rear seats, a heated steering wheel, heated armrests, and a 7-inch tablet to control seat and climate functions that can be removed from a dock in the rear center armrest. For true rear-seat luxury, the Rear Executive Lounge Seating package adds a rear-seat entertainment system and reclining rear seats with extendable footrests. This package does limit the luxury options available for those in the front of the car.

Some of the above in-package items are available as stand-alone options along with upgraded brakes, a Bowers & Wilkins sound system upgrade, night vision, remote control parking, a spare tire, and multi-color LED lighting projected into the sunroof

The 740e iPerformance has the same standard features as the 740i, although it comes with unique interior accents. Upgrading to the 750i gives you the bigger engine, as well as a few extra standard luxuries, such as the multi-contour front seats. The M760i xDrive, meanwhile, adds performance-enhancing elements beyond its V12 engine, along with unique color choices and design elements.