2023 BMW X7 review: xDrive40d | Updated 7-seat luxury SUV lays down gauntlet to Mercedes-Benz GLS

The 2023 BMW X7 is out to reset the benchmark for upper-large SUVs with a midlife facelift that's looking to put the Mercedes-Benz GLS in its rearview mirror... but then there's also the new-generation Range Rover starting to make its presence felt.
Either way, the facelifted X7 stands out from the crowd. And if you didn't like the look of the pre-facelift model, then look away because the new version takes its divisiveness to the next level with a fresh split-headlight design.
But styling is subjective, so in this expert review, CarsGuide Managing Editor Tim Nicholson spends a week with the X7's entry-level xDrive40d variant to see not only if the turbo-diesel is the best engine option, but also whether it's the luxury seven-seater you should buy.
#BMW #X7 #Review
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Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
00:36 Design
01:59 Pricing and features
03:47 Practicality
09:24 Under the bonnet
10:23 Efficiency
10:53 Driving
14:11 Safety
14:34 Ownership
15:13 Verdict
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Read Tim's full review: carsgui.de/3PnlR4N
Check out our BMW X7 hub: carsgui.de/44ehBcd
Find more SUVs: carsgui.de/2o3syZz
Visit our FamilyGuide: carsgui.de/2qpbJia
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[@oliver_mendi]

As a Limousine driver (Hire car), I can definitely agree at 6:02. Was considering the X7, went ahead with the iX to save big on fuel.

[@jamesnguyen7260]

Great presence! This is our 2nd X7 and the LCI tech update is great ! 40d has great 'get n go'' and Yes the X5 is too small ;)

[@chucknorris8704]

Please stop driving it. I vomit everytime I see one on the roads

[@siquanwu3131]

lol 😂 totally agree, when you have multiple kids and need regularly drive in-laws to their medical appointments or RSL club for their trivia nights, X5 or GLE is just not big enough, unless you really hate your in-laws😂😂😂 which I don’t, I love my in-laws, awesome people, treat me like their own son, definitely better than their daughter.

[@jacobmphambe3711]

😂😂😂😂 the intro fire

[@birreboi]

Nice review of yet another contentious looking BMW. I have watched quite a lot of youtube videos of the M60i variant. From memory, just about all of them (at least 6+) mentioned and showed (looks like some seconds were spliced from that part of the video, trying to hide something??)) a very, very slow motor moving the 2nd row seats forward. And yet not a word from you about that, in fact you praised the motors! So unless the 40D is different in that respect (highly unlikely). Imagine having some passengers waiting in the rain for the 2nd row to move forward to access the 3rd row, they may get a bet wet 😉.

[@fatmanoverlanding]

I can't wait for this big grill design era of BMW to end. IMO, they're nailing the rear-end designs and overall silhouettes of their vehicles. But the nose, errr,.... there must be something funny in the water cooler in the design department.

[@HammerRocks]

This is the new Chris Bangle era of BMW.

[@leroysithole8520]

Best review ever in detail thank you

[@deepseadweller687]

Love it!

[@tonymillar5342]

Even with a reversing camera, this Managing Editor couldn't park the x7 within the lines.....

[@elitecoder955]

I really like the car is designed, it says that cars of the future won't be designed like a traditional car. This reminds me of the dragonfly helicopter from the movie Dune!

[@planestrainsdogsncars4336]

Look on the bright side ..they could have gone with a M3 or iX shaped grill ..that would have been reallllly cool.🧐😵‍💫😵

[@Coastmac2001]

Close to 60% of sales are diesel focussed off a low base & the petrol accounts the rest .

[@youngblood6279]

bmw x7 vs mercedes gls plz

[@theemotionalremix]

No vid needed. X7 better. Just get a GLE or a Maybach.

[@mvnorsel6354]

5 zone climate, how do they stop the air mixing creating one zone ?

[@hrram3414]

what a dumb comment:) rofl

[@Jacob-gv2eq]

Most of the bad commenters are waiting for Camry's EOFY.

[@phatmeow7764]

i am firmly in team #hideousAF haha

[@zacariasfolksong-bi9jl]

but its not 7seater

[@dinosaucers6704]

This so called publication went downhill fast after Matt went out on his own

[@TheOracle1984]

I am a BMW fan but I should confess something. Mercedes has developed better interior and infotainment system in the couple of years. So, if I had enough money I would prefer GLS 63 AMG.

[@duffydon1741]

Not sure what BMW is trying to prove and it actually seems like they have given their designer an advance bonus to ensure that new BMW designs are a disaster!!

[@dalsmith]

7 seater yet it can only seat 6 😒

[@siquanwu3131]

We test-drove both X7 and GLS and Lexus LX. Lexus is the quietest and best build quality, but we need a seven seater Lexus only has the lowest spec offering 7seats, with some missing functions, Lexus is the first out, not to mention longest potential waiting time (2 years plus). Between X7 and GLS, X7 drives way better and more tech, similarly quiet. We can only drive diesel X7 and diesel GLS, X7 is slightly noisy but vibrates less. We want a petrol one, the M60 but no stock at dealership. Interior wise, GLS is better but build quality seems not as good as X7, GLS 550 can be delivered within 6 months, X7 M60 not the colour we want can be shifted to us from Melbourne within 4 weeks. So eventually we bought the X7 M60 matt grey (not the blue I want), and is now waiting patiently (1 week in) for our new X7 grey M60. Trade-in a 2019 Audi Q7. The delivery time really dominates this market now, and more or less forms the buying decision, at least for us.

[@wax333]

Everything has comprises its which ones you can live with

[@arnasle]

Hello, Did you received your X7? I’m thinking to buy one, your user experience would be great for my decision 😊

[@siquanwu3131]

@@arnasle we did, it’s a good large luxury suv. Go for it, but make sure you test drive first and ok with its look.

[@arnasle]

@@siquanwu3131 did you consider RR sport when you bought X7?

[@siquanwu3131]

@@arnasle I will never buy another JLR product ever. We used to own a 2018 RRS from brand new, it stayed with dealership for repairs (no accident) or diagnoses (they don’t even know what’s wrong some times) for more than 9 months out of 2 years. Totally piece of junk. I can’t even count how many times it failed from start in the morning or beeping crazily for engine or electrical fault when driving. It may be just us, but given how many RR and RRS and Discovery I can see in the workshop of my dealership every time I visit, I don’t think it’s that unusual. Reliability is a biggest fatal drawback for LJR. So answer your question, no, not this time, we didn’t even consider a RRS or a full-size RR.

[@View_from_Australia]

7.8 out of 10 for THIS price?

[@oliver_mendi]

BMW is a high end brand and this is how the price is now with this brand.

[@View_from_Australia]

@@oliver_mendi Well, perhaps it would be easier for you this way: 7.8 OUT OF 10 for this price?

[@vishalir1941]

I think you should make videos on indian car where u'll get more views😂😅

[@leemace9638]

It’s a shame it’s so ugly 😂

[@Model1822]

Yuck

[@apreddyignite5811]

YES YES THANKS FOR ALL 🙏🌷🙏🌷🙏🌷🌷🌷🙏🌷🙏🌷🙏🌷🙏🌷🙏🌷🙏🌷🙏🌷🙏🌷🙏🌷🙏🌷🙏🌷🙏🌷🌷🌷🙏🌷🙏🌷🙏🌷🙏🙏🌷🌷🌷🙏