BMW X7 xDrive 40d 2024 Review

As the saying goes, the longer the name the higher the asking price. In the case of the updated 2024 BMW X7, the three-variant range starts at $167,900 (plus ORCs) for the BMW X7 xDrive 40i and tops out with the V8-powered X7 M60i at $205,900 (plus ORCs).

On test here is the BMW X7 xDrive 40d M Sport, which is priced from $174,900 plus ORCs – and, naturally, that’s before options. In M Sport guise, that’s nearly $30K more than the outgoing xDrive30d it replaces, but BMW says an expanded equipment list justifies the significant price rise.

Optional extras fitted to our test vehicle include 23-inch BMW Individual light alloy wheels ($3500), trailer tow hitch ($2500), captain’s chair six-seat configuration ($1500) and BMW Individual metallic paint in Dravit Grey ($2400) for a total price of $184,800 plus on road costs.

It’s worth noting that the similarly-updated 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS is still yet to arrive in Australia.

The new-look exterior is defined by its split matrix-LED headlight design with Swarovski crystal details and ‘Iconic Glow’ illuminated grille which, at this size and scale, looks right at home on the 2024 BMW X7 xDrive40d.

There’s nothing quiet about this type of luxury. Large puddle lights act as a virtual welcome mat – consider it your red-carpet moment courtesy of BMW.

The M Sport brakes in blue high-gloss complement those optional 23-inch alloys. The M Sport aerodynamics package, roof rails and a panoramic glass sunroof are also now standard.

Inside, it’s safe to assume the basics are covered (and then some), including remote keyless entry with push-button start, Alcantara headlining and BMW Individual leather upholstery. Electric-adjust heated and ventilated front seats offer lumbar support, memory and massage functions, while five-zone climate control soothes all three rows of seating.

Ambient lighting with six pre-defined designs work with backlit graphics in setting a unique mood inside the new X7. A 16-speaker Harmon/Kardon premium surround sound system is exactly what this opulent interior demands.

Relatively new to BMW is a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, but BMW’s condition-based service schedule remains.

The 2024 BMW X7 is yet to be independently crash-tested, but the level of driver-assist technology suggests you’re in good hands. As standard you’ll find autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with cyclist and pedestrian detection, plus adaptive cruise control with speed sign recognition, front and rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist and departure warning, and driver attention detection.

The airbag count includes twin front, front side and front knee airbags, plus head-protecting curtain airbags for all three rows.

Dual screens with a combined width of 27.2 inches say it all, really. BMW’s curved screen display is something to behold.

Home to a staggering amount of clever and useful technology, the 2024 BMW X7 technology suite includes satellite-navigation with augmented reality guidance, head-up display, wireless smartphone mirroring and charging, live traffic information, news and weather apps, a plethora of USB charge points, a 3D 360-degree camera with surround sensors and an in and out parking assistant (parallel and perpendicular).

The eighth generation of BMW’s iDrive operating system is a step forward and works well. Use the central-mounted rotary dial, the multi-function steering wheel controls, browse the mammoth touch-screen or use voice controls to navigate the variety of individual settings for driver comfort, in-car settings and dynamic preferences.

With a limited number of shortcut buttons – even for climate control – you’ll be well advised to spend time learning the system to reap the full benefits of BMW’s latest technology interface.

The 2024 BMW X7 xDrive40d M Sport is powered by a smaller engine than you might expect – a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-diesel supported by a 48-volt battery that delivers mild-hybrid capability.

It sends power to all four wheels via an eight-speed sport automatic transmission. But you can rest easy, it’ll still hit 100km/h from rest in 5.9 seconds… if that’s your measure of performance for an upper-large luxury SUV, or SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) as BMW likes to call it.

Delivering 259kW/720Nm, the X7 xDrive40d brings considerably more power than outgoing X7 30d it replaces – an extra 64kW/100Nm to be precise. Those outright numbers see it deliver more grunt than the Mercedes-Benz GLS400d, which musters 243kW/700Nm from its 2.9-litre turbo-diesel.

BMW claims the 2024 X7 xDrive40d M Sport consumes average combined fuel consumption of 8.0L/100km, as well as 7.1L on highway stints and 9.6L during city-based duties. Our week of predominantly suburban driving returned an average consumption closer to 10L/100km.

The BMW X7 has an 80-litre fuel tank, so fuel stops won’t be a common occurrence, especially on road trips when your touring range is in excess of 1100km. Those stops won’t come cheap, though, with diesel hovering around $2/litre.

Positioned in the driver’s seat, the 2024 BMW X7 xDrive40d feels like a huge box. It feels more like a luxury people-mover than large SUV, but the reality is that the X7 handles like a smaller, more-nimble version of itself.

The only time where the true proportions of the X7 are confronting is parking. There are few instances I can recall where I’ve given up on a tight parking spot, but the BMW X7 defeated me on more than one occasion.

My will to live proved stronger than my desire to occupy a prime parking position in a narrow street. Full credit to the X7’s parking assist, which I grew to rely on to bring my forward and rearward creeping to a complete and abrupt stop.

While overall ride comfort is great – thanks adaptive air suspension – you can bet that those optional 23-inch wheels (which look the bomb) and low-profile rubber are amplifying bumps and road imperfections. And rue the day you hit a deep pot-hole with those glitzy rims.

Despite the X7’s ominous proportions and 2415kg kerb weight, it barrels along nicely. The turbo-diesel engine is powerful and the 48-volt mild-hybrid technology does a fabulous job of hustling at low speeds where you might otherwise be cursing turbo lag. It starts ever so quietly for a diesel and there’s little road or wind noise to speak of once rolling.

The BMW X7 xDrive40d has a braked towing capacity of 2500kg, but despite 221mm ground clearance and a wading depth of 500mm this isn’t a car we’d recommend for off-roading in anything other than emergencies. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should – same goes for wearing socks with thongs.

Cavernous. And like many vehicles these days, the X7’s large dual screens dominate and set the tone inside the cabin. In the case of the 2024 BMX X7 xDrive40d M Sport the tone is modern, tech-savvy and a little edgy… verging on experimental. There’s a variety of visual elements coming together – including a new illuminated dash design.

It’s a daring departure from the angular but predictable design that the BMW loyalists are familiar with. Much like the backlash any departure from tradition elicits – a new kidney grille for example – I suspect BMW’s new interior vibe will quickly become a celebrated benchmark.

Whether the design aesthetic is to your liking or not, the overarching quality – fit and finish and pleasing tactility – is flawless. The X7 does in fact feel like a true sibling to the luxurious BMW 7 Series.

Our vehicle’s second row – equipped with just two captain’s chairs – is capacious! At the time of writing, BMW confirmed that just one-in-six new X7s ordered are in six-seat configuration.

The luxury and amenity continue in the second row, with ambient lighting, multiple charge outlets and device holders, cup holders, climate control with directional air-vents in the centre stack and B-pillars, and sumptuous electric-adjust leather seats. It’s giving business-class vibes from the get-go.

Ingress/egress to the third row is a bit of a slow process via the electrically operated middle-row seats and access is a little tight. It’s probably not the ideal process and my kids chose to squeeze through the centre of the captain’s chairs instead.

But the third row is fit for everyday use. It’s large, comfortable and well equipped with drink holders, air-vents and (more!) charging points. Outward visibility is also good thanks to the X7’s generous glasshouse.

I like the X7’s split tailgate for ease of access and my patience will extend to the extra couple of seconds it takes to lower the bottom half of the tailgate when needed.

In opting for the captain’s chairs, what you need to know is that you cannot fold them flat to take maximum advantage of the Tardis-like interior. A trip to IKEA is still doable but show restraint.

Depending on your seating configuration there’s anything from 300 to 2120 litres of cargo space at your disposal. A one-touch button in the boot area makes decisions easy – max seats or max luggage space. Nifty.

The cargo cover(s) can be stored beneath the boot floor, where you’ll also find the temporary spare tyre.

In this six-seat configuration, it begs the question why? It presents a different type of practicality and value proposition that favours lifestyle over functionality.

Assumptions are you’re not using the third row in daily use and also that you don’t need the voluminous cargo capacity that some large SUVs offer. Maybe you have two oversized teenagers that will find immense comfort in the BMW X7’s second row? Maybe the X7 is the perfect executive hire car?

While this writer still questions the rationale for not maximising the number of seats at play in a large SUV, anyone riding in that second row will not.

The BMW X7 xDrive40d M Sport is an extra-large luxury SUV at its finest. Add to this BMW’s skilfully honed driving experience and the X7’s asking price makes more sense than you might expect.

2024 BMW X7 xDrive40d M Sport at a glance:
Price: $174,900 (plus on-road costs) $184,800 as-tested
Available: Now
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 259kW/720Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 210g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested