BMW X7 2019: prices, specification and release date

This is the new 2019 BMW X7, a large luxury SUV designed to sit at the top of the German manufacturer’s range, taking on the Mercedes GLS and Range Rover. It comes with a choice of petrol and diesel engines, a huge amount of standard equipment and one of the most luxurious interiors from BMW in recent years. The BMW X7 will go on sale from April 2019, with prices starting at £72,155.

The X7 is set to be the biggest car in the brand's range, measuring a whopping 5.1 metres long, two metres wide and 1.8 metres tall. The SUV makes the most of its size by offering a seven-seat layout and covering its large body in imposing and eye-catching details.

2019 BMW X7 prices, trim and engines

The BMW X7 will be available in three versions from launch: The xDrive30d and M50d diesels and an xDrive40i petrol-powered model. All models come as standard with four-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox, along with self-levelling air suspension that can be adjusted to suit the conditions at hand.

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The X7 xDrive30d is the entry point at £72,155, with 265hp, a 0-62mph time of 43.5mpg and CO2 emissions of 171g/km.

The more powerful and sporty M50d starts at £87,240 and boasts 400bhp, enough for a 5.4-second 0-62mph time; 40.4mpg and 185g/km of CO2 are claimed. The M50d has a focus on power and performance and gets an M Sport differential, 21-inch alloys and a sportier suspension set-up.

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The only petrol option is the X7 xDrive40i, which has 340hp and can sprint to 62mph in 6.1 seconds. Economy suffers, though, with a claimed figure of 32.5mpg and emissions of 198g/km of CO2. Prices start at £74,155.

An optional off-road pack can be specified on all but the M50d, which allows the car’s set-up to be adjusted to deal with various adverse conditions, including sand and snow.

Exact UK specification haven't been announced yet, but it’s likely that two key trim levels – Design Pure Excellence and M Sport – will be offered, each bringing a subtly different take on trimming and equipping the car’s interior.

Design and interior

The BMW X7 is the first of the brand’s cars to use a new, larger version of its trademark kidney grille, which extends upwards to meet the bonnet and features a polished finish. LED lights feature as standard up front and at the rear, with optional ‘Laserlights’ offered. Large windows feature all round, while the car’s rear doors are shorter than the front items to emphasise its limousine-like focus on luxury. The X7 has 20-inch wheels as standard, with 21 and 22-inch alloys offered as options.

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Inside, the X7 is just as impressive. Three rows of seats come as standard, with the option of exchanging the middle row for two separate seats for an extra dose of luxury. The car’s dashboard is an evolution of BMW’s latest design trends and features a pair of 12.3-inch screens, one behind the steering wheel and one mounted centrally. These are used to display pretty much all of the car’s information, from infotainment functions like sat nav and radio, to speed and engine status. Elsewhere, extended leather, metal and wood trip help raise the levels of perceived quality and luxury, helping the X7 take on the Range Rover at its own game.

A three-part panoramic sunroof is fitted as standard, with the special ability to display more than 15,000 graphic patterns on its glass using LED lights; ambient lighting is standard, while an ‘Ambient Air’ package brings ionised, scented air to cabin to add to the luxury feel. Four-zone climate control is standard, but a five-zone system can be specified.

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A 10-speaker stereo is standard, with optional Harman Kardon or Bowers & Wilkins systems on offer. Entertainment can also come from 10.2-inch seatback displays, which feature a Blu-ray player, USB sockets and a HDMI port. These can be used to enjoy media, or even access sat-nav maps.

Safety and driver assistance

The BMW X7 will come as standard with active cruise control, automatic emergency braking and a collision and pedestrian warning system. Optional features include a cruise control system that can bring the car to a stop before carrying on when traffic moves, along with steering and lane-keeping assistance that works through roadworks.

The standard ‘Parking Assistant Plus with Reversing Assistant’ package should help make maneuvering the hefty X7 easier; it includes a rear-view mirror camera, along with aerial-view, panoramic-view and 3D-view displays that work together to offer a 360-degree overview of the car’s surroundings. Automated reversing is also possible in parking bays.

Going on sale from April 2019, we won't have to wait long to see how the BMW X7 performs in the luxury SUV market. Prices will start at £72,155.

Check out our reviews of the BMW X7's competitors, the Range Rover and Mercedes GLS.