2026 BMW 7 Series

Indulgence, presence, prestige, technology, and a wide streak of driver appeal all converge in the 7 Series. This flagship sedan demonstrates that BMW can do luxury just as well as the next celebrated German marque and still add a certain spice to the experience. We’re big fans of the 7 Series, not just because it does so many things right, but also because it steers away from blandness.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of luxury full-size cars, including the BMW 7 Series.

The BMW 7 Series comes into this model year virtually unchanged.

The majority of 7 Series buyers go for the 760i xDrive, which we’re happy to recommend.

Choosing a car from this class is a great conundrum to have, because rivals include the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Porsche Panamera, and Genesis G90, plus the new-for-2026 Audi A8 and Lexus LS.

Before buying a new 7 Series large luxury sedan, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. If it matters at this level of expenditure, the LS, Panamera and S-Class enjoy stronger resale values. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

We especially love the 536-horsepower V8 in the 760i xDrive. It sounds glorious and its power delivery is just as wonderful. BMW says this car can sprint from a standstill to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds — a feat that would please most sports car owners. If you’re going to drive a flagship luxury sedan in such a manner, this BMW is the one to have, which is exactly the conclusion reached by about half of all 7 Series buyers.

For a little performance context, the 496-hp Mercedes-Benz S 580 hits 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Even the most modest BMW 740i will still hit 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, which really isn’t slow at all, and similar to the rest of the class.

Just like a typical flagship sedan, the 7 Series can be super-luxurious, extremely comfortable (an air suspension is standard), and can lay on all sorts of gadgetry to help pass time on long trips. Yet it’s always had an edge, a different personality waiting to come out whenever the accelerator pedal is pressed hard and the steering wheel is turned with a bit of gusto. Select the Sport driving mode, and the responses and agility of the 7 Series seem more like those of the compact 3 Series than the anticipated attributes of a 2.5-ton palace on four wheels.

The 750e xDrive plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) makes a healthy total of 483 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque.

Fuel Economy

The popular 760i xDrive achieves 20 mpg in combined city/highway driving, just one mile shy of the Mercedes-Benz S 580 4Matic. The 740i returns 28 mpg combined, listing one mile per gallon with all-wheel drive. The 750e xDrive PHEV can run for 35 miles on battery power alone.

The all-electric version of the 7 Series, the i7, is reviewed separately.

Successive generations of cars tend to grow larger. We did a little digging and found that this generation of 7 Series has about an inch less rear legroom than before. But 43.3 inches is still a lot of real estate in which to stretch your legs.

Everything is put together in a suitably high-class manner. This cabin is the place where fine leather meets smart tech (which can change the mood of the entire car), then gives everyone a comfortable place to sit. Who needs a Rolls-Royce? The 7 Series offers self-closing doors and some of the best massaging seats on which we’ve ever rested our weary bones.

This is also the most screen-tastic 7 Series ever. A large unit up front (the BMW Curved Display) contains a section for driver information as well as an infotainment touchscreen. Even the rear seats have screens in the door panels for climate control.

The BMW Individual Composition program offers buyers a wide range of leathers and wood trim to personalize their new 7 Series to a greater degree.

Trunk space is 19.1 cubic feet, one of the biggest in the class.

Love it or walk away slightly mystified, the 7 Series definitely has its own look going on. It works for us. All in black, with black wheels and a black grille, we could imagine such a car being a star turn in a high-budget Netflix thriller series set in Germany. Other color choices include Frozen Tanzanite Blue Metallic ($5,000) and two-tone paint schemes.

Sizewise, the current 7 Series is about five inches longer than its predecessor, about two inches taller, and almost a couple of inches wider. It’s big and imposing; BMW imports only the long-wheelbase version of the 7 Series into the United States. Mercedes-Benz does the same with the S-Class.

iDrive
We’ve found BMW’s infotainment operating system to be excellent and user-friendly, and will obey voice commands. The 7 Series comes standard with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging, and over-the-air update capability.

Sky Lounge LED Panoramic Roof
A standard feature in the 7 Series, this is a huge glass roof with thousands of LEDs set inside, creating a series of interesting patterns.

Luxury rear seating
Even though the 7 Series is enjoyable from the driver’s seat, this kind of car is expected to provide lavish accommodation for rear passengers. An optional package brings heated/ventilated/massaging seats with powered adjustment.

Bowers & Wilkins audio
It’s an expensive option, but we think this 1,965-watt, 40-speaker surround-sound system (including speakers set into the front headrests) is beyond superb. “Loud and clear” only begins to describe it.

Theater Screen
Dropping down from the ceiling, this massive 31.3-inch, high-resolution display is a must-have option for VIPs ensconced in the rear seats. It’s compatible with streaming services and Amazon Fire TV, comes with the Bowers & Wilkins system, and a rear window shade that closes automatically when the screen is deployed.

Parking Assistant Professional
This optional self-parking feature includes a 360-degree camera system, illuminated grille, plus a drive recorder and a remote theft recorder. We think it’s well worth considering.

BMW vehicles are renowned for their handling, yet BMW engines are also excellent. One of the company’s hallmarks is a 6-cylinder unit, with those cylinders all in a line (as opposed to a V-formation). That’s the 740i’s setup, which coaxes a turbocharged 375 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque from a 3.0-liter displacement.

This amount of power is perfectly adequate while balancing relatively reasonable fuel economy. Some rivals start out with more power, some have less.

At its most affordable, the 740i deploys rear-wheel drive (RWD). All-wheel drive (AWD) is optional.

The 750e xDrive plug-in hybrid employs a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 and an electric motor to make 483 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque (which isn’t quite as powerful as the S-Class PHEV, but gutsy enough). Drive goes to all four wheels as standard. Using just the battery, it can travel for around 35 miles.

The twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 in the 760i xDrive is a thing of mechanical beauty, endowed with 536 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque.

All engines connect to an 8-speed automatic transmission; premium gasoline is required throughout.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

BMW covers its vehicles and powertrains with a warranty lasting four years or 50,000 miles, whichever occurs first. This coverage is typical for European luxury car makers. There’s also roadside assistance for the first four years, with unlimited mileage, plus three years or 36,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance.

Safety Ratings

Big luxury cars are not usually crash-tested by independent agencies. Still, there’s plenty of standard safety equipment — such as forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, Active Blind Spot Detection, adaptive headlights, and lane departure warning. The optional Driving Assistance Professional package is worth the investment, adding assistance for changing lanes, evasive steering and emergency stops, plus a hands-free highway driving feature.