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You are looking at the fifth-generation BMW 7-series, and if you’re surprised by how similar to the previous model it appears then you are quite clearly not alone.

The new Seven is visually so similar to its predecessor – the first BMW to feature Chris Bangle’s controversial ‘flame surface’ styling, remember – that you could easily mistake it for a mid-life revamp model.

In reality the new 7-series is an all-new car featuring a new platform and an entirely new bodyshell, which j...Read the full article

So the upshot of this test is that the new 7-series has "clumsy" handling, but pretty good ride and refinement. Yet only a couple of weeks ago in another test Autocar found that the new 7-series was "top of the class" for handling, but had under par ride and refinement (see here http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/BMW-7-Series-750Li/236015/ ).

So which is it?

It's disparity and inconsistency in testing/reporting of cars, which undermines the credibility and veracity of car magazines and makes you wonder if subjectivity is the order of the day, instead of objective and balanced testing. I say this because on occasions I get the feeling that Autocar writers decide they are going to dislike a car, no matter what. In this case the new 7-series was obviously never going to be allowed to beat the perennial class leader, Autocar's beloved S-Class. The magazine's testers were going to slagg it off, even if they ended up contradicting each other on the car's strengths and weaknesses.

Maybe I'm talking cobblers, but hey, I can be subjective and biased too.

I agree with Overdrive. Every other report of the new 7 laudits it as a driver's car par excellence, a big 3 series if you may. Yet Autocar slashes it as having clumsy road manners, contradicting its own previous assessment. I have lost faith in Autocar many years ago but the continuing inconsistency is just infuriating. The only saving grace of the publication is Steve Sutcliff.

"Against Wind noise, clumsy handling, lifeless steering"

Who in their right mind would pay £54000 for a car described like this?  

Autocar:

The new 7-series is a deeply impressive car ... fails to tread new ground when it comes to luxury transport. Despite being an excellent car technically and on paper, it is curiously disappointing in reality

Funny how this road test or headline hasn't mentioned anything like "Has BMW finally beaten the S-Class?" or something along those lines. Yet, when ever there's a road test of a new C-Class or E-Class, there's always a front cover headline asking a similar question against it's BMW rival!

Autocar could do well to remember that the S-Class has been best in class since the W220 of 1998, seeing off every 7-Series during that period, while for almost all of the time through it's previous incarnations the Merc has reigned supreme. If memory serves me right, the last 7-Series to be best in class according to this mag was a revised E38 back in 1997 - but for only a few months before the W220 came along. And the rest, as they say, is history!

 this is responding to what "Ihatewhitevanman" said

my dad has just bought one so there is people out there who would buy one!!!

AB17790:

 this is responding to what "Ihatewhitevanman" said

 

my dad has just bought one so there is people out there who would buy one!!!

Good for your dad. I hope he likes the car.

If you get a chance lets us what your dad (and you) think of the car. At the very least your views are bound to be less subjective and more worthwhile than the contradictory nonsense served up by the Autocar testers.

Hi AB...

I wasn't having a go at the car, I was having a go at the comments made by Autocar.

I have no idea if the comments are valid, or if your dad read them before deciding to choose the car. I hope it proves to be a good car for him. I sometimes think that we all read too much into road testers comments. So much of it comes down to driving styles & what it is you want from a car. I remember  a road test of a Rolls Royce some years ago that showed the car sideways on opposite lock & some critisism of its handling at the limit.  I thought then,  so who buys a Rolls to drive it like this.

I owned the RS4 (B7) and M3 , before the new X635D I have now, I just had the 730D SE for a day or too on test, I found the ride and handling very very good for what the car is, the performance was very strong and economy was "outstanding" I got 42MPG and I was not babying it.

It coped well with "ALL" types of road and inspired confedence, sorry your reports are very misleading and inaccurate, get someone on your staff who can made "Consistant judgements".

I suppose not owning fast powerfull cars and just "running them round the houses" is the problem.

Autocar may have got it wrong first time round but they have got it spot on this time. I owned an old model 730d Sport until recently and I've had a new model 730d SE on test today and, you know what, the new 730d doesn't handle or ride as well as the old model despite the suspension electronic trickery. Autocar are right in that it doesn't do comfort and it doesn't do sport. The old model was quite firm but it handled really well for such a barge but somehow BMW have lost that sportiness in the new model. I may be wrong but I think the run flat tyres have got something to do with this. I think BMW have had to soften up the suspension a lot to cope with the crashy ride of the run flats. Punters might put up with a hard ride in the 3 and 5 series but they're not going to stand for it in a 7 series. I also think the run flats affect the steering feel. I have noticed the same thing on my wife's run flat shod 5 series in that the steering feels disconnected and floaty on the straights and only weights up a little when cornering

In other respects, the new 7 is a better car than the old 7. It looks better, the 3.0 diesel engine goes even harder, the interior is more luxurious and the I drive is a bit more logical. But it's certainly no longer the ultimate driving machine

There are a few things that I'm not sure I like this car. The problem is the cash, I mean you wouldn't pay 50 grand anyway but it is recession and do you want to dig yourself deep into the hole? Plus I know that BMW have that certain look with the grill on the front and that, but I'd like something more interesting about the style of the car. Other than these few set backs it's quite a good car.

My verdict is 5.8/10.