First BMW X7 cheaper than expected, diesel only
German car-maker’s all-new premium SUV flagship skips on the uber-expensive price tagBMW Australia has released pricing and specification details for its upcoming X7 SUV, which lands in showrooms in May.
Effectively joining the longstanding 7 Series as the German car-maker’s new technology and safety torchbearer, the X7 will be priced from $119,900 plus on-road costs – which, relatively speaking, isn’t the premium many had expected.
That may be because the seven-seater X7 will be solely available in diesel form to begin with in Australia. The distributor has confirmed two variants, the entry-level xDrive30d ($119,900) and the flagship M50d, which tops out the line-up at $169,900 plus on-road costs. At least one petrol engine is under evaluation for Australia, the six-cylinder xDrive40i.
The pricing strategy positions the X7 line-ball with the and Mercedes-Benz GLS and a circa $20,000 premium over the Audi Q7.
Oddly, the entry-level X7 price is only $8000 more than its xDrive30d X5 equivalent.
Initially, both X7 variants will employ an inline six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, the 30d using two turbochargers to produce its 195kW/620Nm outputs and the M50d employing four (four!) turbochargers for a seismic 294kW/760Nm.
A two-axle air suspension with automatic self-levelling is common between variants, capable of adjusting the suspension for each individual wheel to achieve balance in an unevenly loaded car.
Furthermore, the two share a gaping interpretation of BMW’s kidney grille, an eight-speed automatic gearboxes and all-wheel drive grip.
On the equipment front, the xDrive30d opens the range with 20-inch wheels, adaptive headlights, soft-close doors, electronically adjustable backrests and seat positions across its three-rows, front seat heating, seven USB points, wireless phone charging, ‘Vernasca’ leather upholstery, four-zone climate control, three-part panorama sunroof, head-up display and separate 12.3-inch digital displays in the driver instrument cluster and centre fascia – the latter connected via BMW’s 7.0 operating system, which incorporates gesture control, an iDrive touch controller, touch display and voice commands.
Along with BMW’s ‘ConnectedDrive’ services, bringing real-time traffic updates and the like, the X7 is available with an optional digital key allowing owners to lock their vehicle via smartphone.
The standard safety kit is equally extensive, comprising collision and pedestrian warning with city braking function, parking assistant plus, full airbag coverage and the latest safety acronyms.
The 30d is fitted with a host of off-road driving modes as standard, and can be equipped with a specific xOffroad package as an optional extra.
The M50d treads a decidedly sportier path. Its quad-turbo diesel notches 0-100km/h in 5.4 seconds despite contending with roughly 2500kg worth of mass. An M Sport differential is fitted to the rear axle as standard, matched by an M Sport exhaust, M Sport brakes, the firm’s ‘Integral Active steering’, which provides active roll stabilisation and four-wheel steering for greater agility and cornering stability. Larger 22-inch alloy wheels are another pointer to its heightened on-road presence.
The M50d’s $50,000 premium coincides with a memory function and lumbar support for the front row, Alcantara-wrapped comfort cushions in the outer second row headrests, harman/kardon sound system, a five-zone climate control system, heated and cooled front cup holders, M leather steering, Alcantara headliner, metallic paint, Laser headlights and the car-maker’s vaunted Executive Drive Pro system.
The flagship is denoted visually by high gloss roof rails and highlights, an M Aerodynamics package and Cerium Grey finishes across its exterior.
The X7 family shares 40/20/40 split-fold seats and between 326 litres and 2120 litres worth of luggage space, depending on the position of the second and third row.
Additionally, the BMW X7 features a fully electric hands-free split tailgate that can be operated with a gesture of the foot under the rear bumper for increased loading convenience.
Two equipment packages will be available on the X7 in Australia: the Design Pure package and the performance-themed M Sport package.
Measuring 5.15 metres long and 2.0 metres wide, BMW’s flagship SUV hits Australian dealerships from May.
How much does the 2019 BMW X7 cost?
BMW X7 xDrive30d -- $119,900
BMW X7 M50d -- $169,900
* Prices exclude on-road costs
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