All-Electric BMW i7 Review: Is This The Best Flagship Luxury Sedan?

The textbook definition for the word ‘Flagship’ is - ‘the best or the most important thing owned or produced by a brand’. Now in the automotive world, these are vehicles that offer the best of luxury, performance, and features. Such flagships come in all shapes and sizes, and today, a lot of luxury car brands have taken the electric route for their flagships. And for BMW that is the very impressive i7! We recently got a chance to spend a few days with the all-electric luxury car, to see if it really is the best flagship sedan you can currently buy in India.

The Way It Looks!

The i7 is the all-electric sibling to the seventh-gen 7-Series, and as polarising as this design may look, BMW’s flagship electric limousine sure knows how to grab attention. Let’s address the elephant in the room first. Yes, the signature kidney grille has gotten bigger than ever, and I feel BMW could certainly have gone for a sleeker design. However, looks are subjective so I’ll limit my opinion to that. 

The BMW i7's grille is too big for my liking but despite the polarising look the car know how to grab attention.

That being said, the BMW i7 gets an illuminated grille, which looks really cool, especially in combination with the adaptive LED headlights. Moreover, BMW has also integrated Swarovski crystals into the LED daytime running lights (DRLs), which further adds to the luxury quotient of the sedan.

The i7's 21-inch M Light-alloy wheels look impressive while the LED taillight adds to the elegance. 

The i7 also comes with a set of 21-inch M Light-Alloy Wheels, along with a pair of handsome-looking LED taillights. Sadly, what you don’t get are sequential LED turn indicators, which are expected in a car like this. Having said that, the chrome treatment on the car is tastefully done. You will also see some nice patterns on the rear quarter glass that adds to the car’s exotic look.

Also Read: 2023 BMW M2 Review: One For The Purists

The BMW i7 looks massive at nearly 5.4 metres long, close to 2 metres wide and comes with a wheelbase that’s over 3.2 metres long

Not just the looks, but even the sheer size of the i7 is impressive. The luxury sedan is nearly 5.4 metres long, close to 2 metres wide and comes with a wheelbase that’s over 3.2 metres long. So yes, while finding a parking spot for the car might be an issue, people will give you the way on the road.

The Doors!

BMW offers power-assisted doors that open at the touch of a button.

Futuristic is the keyword when we talk about the BMW i7, and that applies to the doors as well. The car comes with power-assisted doors which fully open for you at the press of a button. And once inside all you need to do is press the touch-sensitive button in the dashboard to close the door automatically. 

The doors can be automatically closed by clicking the touch-sensitive button or by simply stepping on the brakes.

However, as I mentioned earlier, ‘Futuristic’ is the key word here, so BMW has more than one way to open and close the doors. And you can also do it via the settings on the touchscreen infotainment system, or simply using voice commands. In fact, the driver can also shut the door by simply stepping on the brakes. And if you are not in the mood for any of these party tricks, the doors also have manual levers to open them like any boring conventional car.

What’s Inside?

The i7's cabin gets high-quality soft-touch materials and premium styling inserts.

Step inside and you will notice that everything in the cabin feels super premium and luxurious. You are surrounded by high-quality soft-touch materials and premium styling inserts all over. While there is a good mix of leather, wood and metal inserts, BMW has also used Swarovski crystals for the gear toggle switch, the iDrive controller, and even the power seat-adjuster buttons. The seats are upholstered in extremely soft BMW individual leather, and they come with ventilation, heating, and massage functions as standard.

All 4 seats get ventilation, heating and massage functions.

As for the standard creatures comforts you get a 4-zone climate control system, wireless charger both for the front and rear seat a flat-bottom M-leather steering wheel. BMW also offers a panoramic glass roof with integrated LED light graphics to create that lounge effect.

The rear passenger-side seat gets a lounge mode with auto reclining function.

However, if you are spending over Rs. 2 crore for this car, it’s the rear seats that you really need to know about, especially the one behind the front passenger seat. The boss’ seat, as I like to call it, can convert into a lounge seat at the push of a button on the 5.5-inch touchscreen panels attached to the rear doors. When you activate the lounge mode, the seat extends like a recliner, offering you a 42.5-degree recline angle with gap-free calf support. The front passenger seat automatically moves forward, while a flap on its back opens - a place to keep your feet. The entire process takes about a little over half a minute.

Features and Tech

The widescreen gets dual displays - a 12.3-inch driver instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

The i7 is also loaded with tech features that add to that futuristic theme. The main attraction inside is the wide screen which comes with dual displays – the first one is a 12.3-inch driver instrument cluster. In addition to speed and odometer readings, the unit also shows vehicle information, navigation and more. The one at the centre is the bigger 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which is the command centre for all in-car controls. It also supports gesture controls for select functions, and it doubles as the display unit for the 360-degree camera.

The 5.5-inch touchscreen panels attached to the rear door can be used for several in-car controls.

You also get the very impressive BMW interaction bar, which again gets the crystalline glass styling along with 15 ambient lighting colours with dynamic illumination. In fact, BMW also offers up to 7 modes - Sport, Efficient, Expressive, Relax, Art, Theatre and Personal – which use a combination of ambient lighting, sound system and other cabin functions to set a different mood inside the cabin. This also includes the BMW Iconic Sounds Electric, which is a series of ambient sound pieces created by the renowned composer - Hans Zimmer.

As part of theatre mode, you get a massive 31.3-inch 8K display, loaded with Amazon Fire TV. 

However, the real party trick, is attached to the headliner, a massive 31.3-inch 8K display, loaded with Amazon Fire TV. Engage the theatre mode, and the screen folds down, all the window blinds go up, and you can have an immersive experience, watching your favourite shows and movies on the go. It is complemented by Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System, which comes with 18 speakers, including the ones inside the headrests.

Safety and ADAS Functions

The i7 gets 7 airbags, ABS with brake assist, electric parking brake with auto hold, 360-degree view camera and ISOFIX mounts.

The BMW i7 is also equipped with a bunch of driver assistant aids like - steering & lane control assistant, emergency braking, and active cruise control. In addition to that the car also gets active and passive safety features like – 7 airbags, ABS with brake assist and dynamic braking light, cornering brake control, electric parking brake with auto hold, 360-degree view camera and ISOFIX mounts among others.

Powertrain and Performance

India only gets the top-spec BMW i7 xDrive60, powered by two motors and 101.7 kWh Lithium-Ion battery pack.

The model with me was the top-spec BMW i7 xDrive60, which is the only trim we get in India. The car comes with two Permanent magnet synchronous electric motors, one attached to each axle. The motors draw power from a 101.7 kWh Lithium-Ion battery pack, offering a combined power output of 536 bhp, at the same time the torque output stands at a monstrous 745 Nm. 

The i7 can go from 0 to 100 kmph in 4.7 seconds.

So yes, the i7 has enough grunt to move this mammoth of a sedan. In fact, the car is extremely quick, the slightest input on the throttle pedal launches the car instantly. The 0 to 100 kmph sprint is achieved in 4.7 seconds, and that is sports car territory. If that is not enough, BMW also offers a Boost mode. There is a pedal right behind the steering wheel, and as soon as you tap it, it unlocks all the power the electric motor has to offer for 10 seconds, and the car launches like a rocket.

Boost mode unlocks all the power the electric motor has to offer for 10 seconds.

Ride and Handling

The ride quality on the i7 is very good. The electric saloon glides on the road offering a supple and very smooth ride. It takes on the undulations of the road with quite a bit of ease, and there is minimum discomfort inside the cabin. Having said that you will have to be careful around some of the larger speed bumps on that road as the i7 comes with a low ground clearance of 136 mm. However, BMW does offer a lift mode which raises the car by 20 mm, giving you more leverage to tackle the speed bumps.

BMW does offer a lift mode which raises the car by 20 mm, giving you more leverage to tackle the speed bumps.

The i7 also handles pretty nicely despite being a 2.7+ tonne sedan. Yes, you do feel the heft in certain instances but largely it’s a smooth sail. The steering too has a nice heft to it and imparts confidence even at triple-digit speeds. Being an EV, the car is certainly silent, but I certainly love how good the NVH levels are. BMW has done a fine job insulating the car to offer a quiet and peaceful setting inside the cabin. And let me tell you, I can get used to this experience.

Range and Charge Time 

A 50 kW DC fast charger can top-up the EV from 10 to 80 per cent in 21 minutes.

As for the range, this all-electric luxury sedan from BMW can offer a maximum range of up to 625 km on the WLTP cycle, on a single charge. The i7 supports both AC and DC fast charging, and a 50 kW DC fast charger can top-up the EV from 10 to 80 per cent in 21 minutes.

The Verdict

The i7 will certainly get you all the attention you deserve.

At Rs. 1.95 crore (ex-showroom, India) the BMW i7 is one of the most expensive electric cars you can get in India today. Yes, the fully imported i7 is Rs. 36 lakh more expensive than its closest rival, the locally assembled Mercedes-Benz EQS 580. However, the former has its own, very unique character that I have become a fan of. 

It’s the quintessential BMW that offers some of the best luxury features and impressive performance. If you do decide to get it, judging by my experience, the i7 will certainly get you all the attention you deserve. And that is certainly what a flagship is supposed to do.

Photos: Pawan Dagia