Category: Large Executive 
Price Range: £53,695 to £68,800
Not expensive by class standards, well made, wide range, a good drive.
Big-engined versions are still depreciating fast. Apart from rear room, offers little over the smaller BMW 5-Series.
Competent but somewhat undistinguished.
Very relaxing to pilot, with virtually every conceivable driver aid on board. And though it's a big car to manoeuvre in town, a radar parking aid helps. Clear instruments but a huge array of buttons - you'll need several days swotting up with the handbook. Good engines and transmissions, decent steering and fine stability mean it's rewarding and secure to drive, though it can feel cumbersome on tight roads.
BMW's smooth engines always deliver. Even the basic 728i, powered by the famous straight-six, is still fleet. The V8 735i and 740i are true autobahn munchers with excellent automatic transmissions. But the 750iL, with its 12-cylinder engine, doesn't press home the power advantage.
Latest Readers' Drives About the BMW 7-Series
wrote on 20 03 2007