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Review – BMW i7 M70 xDrive Sedan (2024), penthouse on wheels

December 4, 2024

BMW i7 M70

BMW is making tongues wag, especially lately. That has to do with design in particular. This BMW i7 M70 is no exception. It has exceptionally large “kidneys. One person loves that, someone else would rather see a modification. BMW gives the model such a front design for good reason. After all, in China they feast on it. There, the BMW i7 is an outright sales hit. Whether you like the BMW i7 or not, what matters in the end is the overall picture.

Admirable

To be perfectly honest, it is admirable what is on and on this BMW i7. This car pampers you on every possible front. That starts as soon as you approach the car, with the upper light units sparkling like crystals. Upon request, the door also opens fully automatically. Closing the door itself? Well no, the car does that itself. Then the seats: so soft and comfy. The interior has a real living room vibe, but a living room of a luxurious penthouse.

BMW i7 M70

Mood lighting and SkyLounge

BMW also plays very cleverly with ambient lighting. We dare to call the ambient lighting sensational. Even in the optional SkyLounge panoramic roof, color lines run into the glass surface. The SkyLounge panoramic roof is also functional, as the special construction of laminated glass provides protection from UV radiation. The light effect in the glass is adjustable in various ways: the light is either static or dynamic and in different colors as desired. A particularly striking effect is created in the dark, but the light accent is also clearly visible in daylight. Persons sitting in the back benefit the most.

Crystal glass

Ambient lighting is even incorporated into the audio speakers, but the “crystal glass”-like strips in the doors and on the dashboard are especially striking. There is some feedback about the latter, though. When the sun is low in winter, the shiny material sometimes causes annoying reflections. Only at those moments you would rather not have them. Otherwise, it is maximum enjoyment in this BMW i7, especially by night where all the ambient lighting in the interior provides a special feeling on board.

BMW SkyLounge panoramic roof

Requires habituation

Is there some more feedback? Definitely! The iDrive controller – which is also made of crystal glass – is a bit stiff, sometimes making you do an action you didn’t want to do. This is something you can get used to, by the way. The operation of the infotainment system is also sometimes a bit cumbersome. This is mainly because BMW displays a particularly large number of app tiles. This causes restlessness and makes finding the right app a challenge at first. Of course, this gets better as you get used to the system, but at first it really takes some searching. If you really can’t figure it out, just use the smart voice assistant.

Plus points

The seating position in the front is very pleasant. The seat can be set extremely low, and the adjustability of the steering column is also very good. The displays are crisp and easy to read. Then there is the use of materials: wow! Here you clearly notice why you pay a hefty price for a car in this segment.

BMW i7 M70 xDrive

Sleeping in the back? No problem

But even sitting in the back in the BMW i7 is pampering, especially in the configuration like this M70 trim with two separate seats with reclining function. The seats also have massage modes as well as heating and cooling. You can almost sleep in them. Or watch television, as this particular example is equipped with the Rear-seat Entertainment Experience option. We cover what those options cost later in this BMW i7 M70 review.

Rear-seat Entertainment Experience

With the Rear-seat Entertainment Experience equipment, rear-seat passengers enjoy a unique cinema experience. The message is clear: sit back and enjoy: in Theatre Mode, the 31.3-inch BMW Theatre Screen with integrated Amazon Fire TV rotates down electrically from the headliner. At the same time, the car closes the sunshades of the panoramic roof and side windows and dims the interior lighting for a pleasant lounge ambience. The large panoramic display (ratio 32:9) impresses with its 8K resolution. A top-quality surround sound system provides appropriate acoustic support.

An HDMI connection provides even more options by allowing you to connect external devices such as smartphones and game consoles. Rear occupants can control the screen directly via touch or via the 5.5-inch control modules (BMW Touch Command) in the rear doors. Well, no shortage of luxury. But above all, the sound is mind-blowing. A theater on wheels is how this BMW can best be described. Does this mean that you always want to sit in the back? If you don’t care about driving, then stay in the back. If you are a fan of driving, then we would still advise you to get behind the wheel yourself.

BMW i7 M70 xDrive

Driving characteristics BMW i7 M70

There are a number of reasons for this. The BMW i7 M70 has a great suspension: wonderfully soft, but also punishing on demand when driving on a mountain pass. Like the BMW i5 – which we drove before – this i7 feels exceptionally nimble. Yet clever, since this beast weighs over 2,700 kilograms. If you then also address the power, then it’s all party time. It is unbelievable how much torque this car has. This makes very rapid acceleration possible, even at 110 km/h full throttle there is an explosion of power. But all that power is especially nice for comfortable driving, because you use it in this i7 M70 mainly as a power reserve. Above all, it feels smooth.

Specifications

But how much power does this BMW have? We are happy to list the specifications for you:

Driving range BMW i7

The range of the model depends heavily on how you drive the car. We left with full battery with a range of about 380 kilometers. That was with temperatures of about 2 degrees Celsius, though. So count on more range in summer anyway. The weight simply does not help, let alone all the energy consumers in the car. Seat massage also costs energy, as do mood lights. When charging at a public charging point, make sure you have enough space. With a length of almost 5.40 meters, the i7 needs some space. The starting price of the BMW i7 M70 in the Netherlands starts at 189,880 euros. After that, you may still loose on the options list. This BMW has the following options:

Options:

What do these packages have to offer?

The M Performance Pack consists of and rear spoiler, high-gloss Shadow Line trim and an M Sport brake system. The Climate Acoustic Pack consists of laminated and extra heat-reflective glass as well as heat comfort front and rear. The Connoisseur Pack has a massage function for both front seats as well as seat ventilation for both front seats. In turn, the Executive Pack consists of an Executive Lounge Rear Console, massage function for both rear seats, multi-function seats in the rear and seat ventilation for the rear seats.

Conclusion review BMW i7 M70

For now, the BMW i7 M70 offers the best BMW has to offer, in a distinct package. No matter whether you sit in the front or the back, this car impresses with its luxury, comfort and finish. And its price. If you can afford it, you’re buying nothing less than indulgence for yourself. But allow yourself some time to discover all its features.

BMW i7 M70


BMW SkyLounge panoramic roof









































BMW i7 M70 xDrive




































































Front view of BMW i7 M70 xDrive





BMW i7 M70 xDrive