Category: Large Executive 
Price Range: £53,695 to £68,800
A technological showpiece, huge and refined performance, amazing mix of comfort and agility, quality feel, groundbreaking design.
Some of the technology isn't standard, styling is very controversial, steering-wheel gearchange buttons badly placed.
BMW wanted to make a bold new statement, and has succeeded. No other luxury car does so much so well. But if the styling's still a bit much, the new-generation model - with the wilder edges smoothed off - went on sale in April 2005.
The 2002 (E65) was BMW's response to criticisms that it made the same car, but in different sizes. The idea was to give the 7-Series a presence that the previous car (E38) lacked, and all the better to emphasise its high-tech engineering and innovations. It's now looking less radical as it gets more familiar, and now that the Z4, 5-Series, 6-Series, X3 and 1-Series have followed similar themes, but remains truly distinctive. Revised models, on sale from April 2005, were toned down a little (see separate road test).
This 2002-2005 line-up has engines from 3.0-litre, six-cylinder petrol and diesel units to the 6.0 V12, via V8 petrols. The gearbox is a six-speed automatic, the parking brake operates automatically and the optional Dynamic Drive package virtually eliminates body roll when cornering. Inside the radically angular cabin, a large, silver turn-and-press button controls iDrive - a menu driven gateway to many of the functions usually controlled by rows of switches. Options included self-closing doors and boot, adaptive dampers, a fridge and much, much more. Finally, there are also long-wheelbase versions of all petrol models.
Latest Readers' Drives About the BMW 7-Series
wrote on 20 03 2007