Laden with comfort, convenience and safety technology, this version of the 7 Series is no longer a crisp and sporty luxury liner. Contrary to expectations, handling lacks agility and the long-wheelbase 750Li we tested didn't shine at its limits. Ride is steady and supple, but not as cushy as the best in this class. Many controls are complex and frustrating to use. On the upside, the 400-hp, turbocharged V8 is smooth, refined and punchy. The roomy cabin is super quiet, impeccably finished, and seat comfort is tops. Overall though, the 750Li scores too low against its peers to be a good choice.
Notable changes
For 2013, the 7 Series got an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive was made available with the six-cylinder engine. For 2015, models were offered with a 255-hp diesel engine that came standard with all-wheel drive.
The 2016 7 Series featured a 320-hp, twin-turbo six-cylinder in the rear-wheel-drive 740i, or a 445-hp twin-turbo V8 in the all-wheel-drive 750i xDrive. A 2.0-liter, four-cylinder plug-in hybrid, with a claimed 23-mile electric range, was also offered. An eight-speed automatic was standard. A lighter-weight chassis and extensive use of carbon fiber helped restore some of the driving prowess. Features included remote-control automatic parking, gesture control for the infotainment system and a tablet for operation of rear-cabin audio and climate control systems.