Model tested: 2020 BMW 750i xDrive
Engine: 4.4-liter twin power turbo V8
Horsepower: 523
Torque: 553 lb. ft
Transmission: 8-speed Steptronic w/paddle shifters
EPA ratings: 17/city, 25/highway, 20/combined
Base price: $102,650
As tested: $126,145
Overview: Offered only in long-wheelbase format, the 2020 BMW 750i nails that delightful balance between indulgent luxury and pure driving enjoyment by marrying an exceptionally comfortable and roomy interior with a 523-horse powerplant. The 2020 BMW 7 Series offers five models. However, this review will focus exclusively on our test driver — the 750i xDrive.
Walkaround: You won’t confuse the 2020 7 Series BMW with anything else. Starting with a big new, kidney-shaped grille featuring active louvers that open when cooling is needed, and a hood raised 2 inches, everything else is new too — fenders, bumper and headlights — as well as new taillights, exhaust outlet finishing, and rear bumper trim. Adaptive LED headlights are standard, with optional BMW Laserlights. There’s also a number of new paint colors.
Interior: Creating a truly opulent environment, BMW upgraded the already top-quality leather trim and interior lighting, adding acoustic enhancements delivering a quieter cabin. There are new interior trim selections including a Nappa leather upgrade with extended quilting. The massive trunk offers a stainless-steel loading sill. Twenty-way, heated, cooled, massaging front seats are every bit as comfortable as you’d expect, and the heated and cooled, executive-style rear seats offer more legroom than many cars have front and rear combined. The new 7 Series also gets the latest version of iDrive, which now ties together the 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display (BMW Live Cockpit Professional) and the 10.25-inch infotainment control display screen. The system includes adaptive navigation as well as a hard-drive multimedia system with 20GB of owner-configurable storage. The automatic parking assistant works for both parallel and perpendicular spaces, and helps the driver find an open street, lot or garage space before arriving at a destination. Among other features you’d expect at this price point include rear seat entertainment with separate screens, Bowers & Wilkins audio, head-up display, auto-dimming high-beams, power rear window shade, wireless charging, Apple CarPlay with satellite radio and a Wi-Fi hotspot — plus more additional features than we have space to list.
Behind the Wheel: All 7 Series BMWs received powertrain and drivetrain upgrades for 2020, including adding 80 horses and upgrading the shift quality and responsiveness of the smooth, eight-speed automatic. Zero-to-60 is a quick 3.9 seconds. The xDrive all-wheel-drive system only powers the rear wheels unless conditions dictate otherwise. BMW has also improved the speed-sensing and variable-ratio steering for more precision and agility.
Bottom Line: An exceptionally bad experience with our old 5 Series at the Tacoma BMW dealership, coupled with what was previously clunky, user-unfriendly technology, turned us off from BMWs for a long time. However, this is a superbly spacious, quiet, opulent and comfortable vehicle — with technology that works. Unlike some superluxury cars, the 750i xDrive is, quite simply, a fun, decadent, indulgence to drive.
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