2024 BMW i7

Technology, comfort and performance without fossil fuel. That’s the dream. And BMW achieves it with the i7. As a luxury car with authority, thrust, and bells and whistles aplenty, the i7 is among the best in its class. As an electric vehicle (EV) with exceptional range, it loses a little ground to rivals from Mercedes-Benz, Tesla and Lucid.

But then 321 miles is still pretty good in the bigger picture, while charging times can always be made to feel even quicker when there’s a giant drop-down screen with Netflix and Hulu. Big picture, indeed.

There are pluses and minuses with every contender. For example, the Tesla Model S is old now, and the Lucid Air is still unproven. The 2024 i7 definitely deserves consideration.

The gasoline-powered BMW 7 Series is reviewed separately.

The single-motor i7 eDrive50 joins the lineup at the most affordable end of the pricing spectrum, but the bigger story this year is the introduction of the 2024 i7 M70 xDrive. BMW’s M division takes the company’s regular cars and turns them into high-performance thrill machines — boosting power, retuning suspensions, strengthening brakes, and adding aerodynamic pieces. This is what has happened to the already spry i7.

The M70 xDrive is the fastest-accelerating and most powerful all-electric vehicle produced by BMW — so far (BMW’s other EVs are the i4 sedan, i5 sedan and the iX SUV). It sends a massive 650 horsepower and 811 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels, enabling this 3-ton flagship to rush to 60 mph in a mere 3.5 seconds.

There’s quite a bit of healthy competition in this corner of the automotive world. The Mercedes-EQ EQS Sedan is the clearest alternative, but we also have the Tesla Model S and Lucid Air. The Audi e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan are both smaller and sportier, but there’s some price overlap.

Before buying a new BMW i7 all-electric large luxury sedan, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying.

The entry-level i7 eDrive50 has a single electric motor driving the rear wheels to the tune of 449 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. The i7 xDrive60 has 536 horsepower and 549 lb-ft of torque. The 2024 M70 xDrive comes with 650 horsepower and 748 lb-ft of torque — or a temporary 811 lb-ft when using M Sport Boost or Launch Control. These latter two variants have all-wheel drive as standard.

Given the size and weight of the BMW i7, it has some impressive acceleration, zipping from standstill to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, 4.5 seconds, or an “are you kidding us?” 3.5 seconds with the new M70.

Such is the joy of electric motors. They play into BMW’s metaphorical hands by being able to generate a lot of power, yet do so almost silently — which is a perfect combination for a luxury vehicle. Acceleration is remarkably swift yet serene. Those driving talents are amplified with the arrival of the 650-horsepower i7 M70 xDrive.

Competition-wise, we’re looking at 4.9 seconds for the Genesis Electrified G80, 4.1 seconds for the Mercedes-EQ EQS (with the super-expensive EQS 580 model), 3.9 seconds for the Audi e-tron GT (or 3.1 with the RS version), 2.6 for the Porsche Taycan Turbo S, and Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance. And supposedly 1.99 seconds for the Model S Plaid (not counting the first foot of rollout).

We’ve always contended that the BMW 7 Series is one of the most enjoyable large luxury sedans from the vantage point of the driver’s seat. Even though this closely related i7 electric sedan is big for the class and weighs about three tons, we still notice that same appeal. BMW has made the i7 feel a lot more agile than its specifications might imply. While still remaining supremely comfortable, of course.

We’ve absolutely loved driving this variant, regardless of how much power we might or might not have used during our time in the driver’s seat. Every mile is a reminder of how good BMW is at tuning suspensions and calibrating throttle response.

Not every day is spent gliding along the highway or breaking free of city limits, however. Which is where one-pedal driving — another attribute of electric vehicles — comes into its own. By setting brake regeneration to its maximum (easily done), the i7’s progress is controlled just by pressing on the accelerator or easing off. It’s only necessary to hit the brake pedal when a more urgent halt is needed.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of electric luxury cars, including the BMW i7.

Range and Charging

The new i7 eDrive50 is estimated to run for 321 miles on a fully charged battery. That’s with 19-inch wheels; 21-inch wheels reduce that to 311 miles. The i7 xDrive60 does 317 miles on 19-inch wheels (20-inch wheels: 298 miles, 21-inch wheels: 307 miles). And the M70 xDrive is capable of 291 miles (21-inch wheels) or 274 miles (20-inch wheels).

Compare all this with 340 miles for the Mercedes EQS, 405 miles for the Tesla Model S, and an impressive 516 miles for the Lucid Air.
However, many rivals are in the same bracket as the i7. It’s 238 miles for the Audi e-tron GT, 246 miles for the Porsche Taycan, and 282 miles for the Genesis Electrified G80.

Charging times among these contenders are close. The i7 can take on around 90 miles of range in 10 minutes when connected to a fast charger. That’s similar to the Taycan, EQS, e-tron GT, and Electrified G80.

Slightly quicker, Lucid and Tesla both say 200 miles is possible in 15 minutes (or even 12 minutes with the Lucid Air Grand Touring).

The BMW i7’s cabin is sure to meet or more likely exceed anyone’s expectations of a flagship luxury sedan. The designs and technology are all state-of-the-art. Interior space is generous. And we’ve found the seats to be extraordinarily comfortable. Extended Merino leather upholstery and oak trim come as standard. And with the BMW Individual Composition program, buyers can tailor the interior exactly to their liking. There’s a choice of six colors for the leather, and interior trim options range from carbon fiber to four types of wood. For those who prefer to be chauffeured, an optional Luxury Rear Seating package upgrades the back seats with ventilation and massaging functions. And goodness, those headrests are pillowy.

Compared with other large luxury sedans, the BMW i7 is big. It’s about a foot longer than the Mercedes-EQ EQS Sedan and the Tesla Model S. The new-for-2024 i7 M70 xDrive comes with various aerodynamic additions, a lot of black touches, the option of an illuminated grille, Frozen matte finishes, and eight 2-tone color combinations. One such combo is the Liquid Copper lower section with a metallic Saphire (yes, just one p) Black roof, hood and trunk lid.

Panoramic Sky Lounge LED roof
This spectacular standard feature has customizable colors and an illuminated graphic design that lets users create their own mood within the i7.

Adaptive recuperation
Using information from the navigation system to optimize regenerative braking, this feature helps to optimize the BMW i7’s efficiency. It can capture and preserve electrical energy (helping to maximize range) without requiring any changes to your usual driving style.

BMW Curved Display
This is one large unit containing the Live Cockpit digital driver information display and the touchscreen for a feature-rich iDrive infotainment system that includes navigation, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a Bowers & Wilkins audio system.

IconicSounds
Created by film composer Hans Zimmer (he’s done a few Batman films, plus Dune, Gladiator, Blade Runner 2049, and loads more), the i7 offers a choice of sounds to suit moods, performance, etc. They can make you feel like you’re in your own futuristic movie.

M Sport Package
Although a true M version of the i7 debuts this year, some buyers may be happy just with a sportier look rather than going the whole M hog. This options package includes Shadowline exterior trim and M Aerodynamic alloy wheels. The M Sport Professional Package adds even more black trim, a rear spoiler, and upgraded M Sport brakes.

BMW Theater Screen
No mere rear-seat entertainment system, this is a massive 31.3-inch screen with up to 8K resolution and Amazon Fire TV compatibility. It’s stowed in the ceiling when not in use and drops down.

All versions of the 2024 i7 have a 105.6 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery. The bigger the number, the more energy is stored. This is pretty much state-of-the-battery-art at the moment.

BMW’s electric motors don’t use magnets and so don’t require rare-earth materials like cobalt. They’re known as current-excited motors and are manufactured in-house.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

BMW’s new-vehicle warranty lasts for four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. This is typical for the luxury sector. The i7’s high-voltage battery and other EV components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

The i7 has yet to be crash-tested by any agencies in the United States, but that shouldn’t deter buyers. Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and lane departure warning.