A noticeably better prospect than that which went before in terms of interior quality, ride comfort and technology. Its engine, though, remains as good as it ever was. Although revised from the old 30d unit, there's the similarly smooth punch of torque just a flex of the foot away. Speed builds extremely quickly and linearly, with the eight-speed automatic gearbox exploiting the engine’s torque band superbly well.
The previous 7 was always as concerned with agility as it was with ride comfort, hence a greater front-end urgency than its biggest rivals possess and also a firmer ride. However, BMW has fitted adjustable air suspension as standard to both of the new car’s axles, to ensure a better blend of work and play.
The result is certainly a more comfortable prospect than before; the way the 7 Series sponges away sleeping policemen and cushions undulating roads in its most compliant Comfort mode is an improvement. Unfortunately, though, as the roads on our route back to the UK changed from French to English, there was still a fidget to the secondary ride at low speeds from which an S-Class just doesn't seem to suffer.
Dial it to Sport, and while the 7 Series is far from a properly engaging driver's car, there's certainly some fun to be had. Its steering is a little artificially weighted and just a touch vague off centre, but there's enough precision, grip and willingness from the chassis for it to feel light on its feet.
The front passengers get a suitably massive range of seat adjustment and enough room to literally stretch out. Likewise, It's almost impossible to be uncomfortable - or bored - in our long-wheelbase model's executive seating, complete with heated, massaging seats, twin screens and snap-in tablet computer.
BMW's iDrive has been turned up a notch for the new 7 Series. Its screen can now be controlled by both the rotary dial and touch, which makes hitting larger buttons quickly that little bit easier. Its sharp and colourful 10.3in screen looks fantastic, too, while for a further £160 it's possible to control various functions by performing different hand gestures in front of the dashboard.
Cabin quality is a step up from BMW's previous attempt, with the standard leather upgraded, a greater use and choice of different wood veneers and more advanced interior lighting options. Our car’s Bowers & Wilkins sound system is expensive at £4675, but it sounds superb and thanks to its intricate construction and soft backlighting, looks it, too.
Okay, so there's ample opportunity to spend serious cash on options, but the standard equipment list is long. Even on the entry-level short-wheelbase 730d at £64,530, you can expect 18in wheels, leather seats heated front and rear, that Smart Display key, four-zone climate control, BMW's highest level of iDrive with Bluetooth, DAB radio and sat-nav, keyless entry and drive and adaptive cruise control.
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Overdrive
The usual predictable review
But then that's the only area where he chooses to compare the two cars! He states that the 7 is light on it's feet and is a car as much to drive as to be driven in, but doesn't say how it compares to the S-Class in this regard. Nor how the car's overall refinement, interior design, ergonomics, quality, sense of luxury etc compare to the S-Class.
He focuses solely on the car's 'secondary ride at low speeds' to declare the S-Class still has the edge and leaves it at that. It's as if the tester(s) are hard-wired to always decide the 7 could never be as good as the S-Class............(now if only the 7 had an XJ badge at the back).
Winston Churchill
Overdrive wrote: The kind of
Boring. It's understandable that it should be compared the the S class. Why not try driving the car yourself and form your own opinion if the opinion of Autocar isn't good enough? You haven't driven it so how to you know?
Overdrive
Winston Churchill wrote:
How do I know what? I made no claims as to whether the 7 is better than the S-class or not, just that the review makes its judgment based on one single criteria and makes no attempt to compare the cars on the various areas that one would expect for a fair match up.
StuM82
1.8 tons!
Still, despite the weight this is still pretty rapid.
TheOmegaMan
1795kg is so light
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I'm The Ωmega Man, always talking to myself
superstevie
My problem with the 7 series
Daniel Joseph
Either way, they're still matryoshka dolls
I'm not sure it makes a lot of difference which way the design cues filter, particularly considering how quickly the latest C-class appeared after the launch of the S-class. These two, IMHO, look even more similar than the 3 and 7 Series. Where does this leave the forthcoming E-class, which seems likely to be another clone? Whatever its technical prowess, I'm afraid its appearance will be all too familiar and underwhelming. At least, with the launch of the new XF, Jaguar have three distinctive styles for their saloons, based primarily on their different side window arrangements.
superstevie
Daniel Joseph wrote:
I get what you mean, but I would have thought it would be better to have the range topping saloon be the start of a new generation of styling, rather than the other way around. This 7-Series looks so much like a 3-series, and that has been out for 3 or more years now. Perhaps BMW got scared after the Bangle 7-series (2 generations ago now?) that was a monstrosity.
You are right that the S & C now look alike, but the S came first, which makes the C look better in terms of marketing. I know it is all a moot point really, but it just seems a more logical way of doing it.
Daniel Joseph
@superstevie
Broughster
Merc usually better at this level
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